President's Perspective

ENCOURAGING POSITIVE SCHOOL CULTURE

Stacy DeFoor, AAEA Board President

Who is ready for some fall weather? For those of you who enjoy football, hunting, hiking, etc., this may be your favorite time of the year! Have you already witnessed some of the excitement and positivity from the beginning of a new school year start to deflate on your campus? What are you doing as a leader to keep the positive momentum and healthy school culture alive within your district or building? Whether you serve as a leader at the elementary or secondary level, it is vital that we keep a pulse on our campuses. I’m sure that your to-do list continues to grow each week, but one thing you should never mark off as complete is celebrating your teachers and staff for their accomplishments or effort. I hope you can utilize some of the ideas below to celebrate your faculty and enhance the positive culture and climate within your school/ district. I firmly believe happy teachers and staff enhance student learning and promote positive student behavior.

Spotlight Awards: Regularly highlight outstanding teachers in newsletters or during staff meetings showcasing their achievements and contributions.

Teacher of the Month Program: Create a monthly recognition program with a dedicated spotlight, featuring a photo, door hanger sign, and a brief bio of the winner.

Personalized Thank-You Notes: Simple, handwritten notes expressing gratitude can go a long way in making teachers feel appreciated.

Peer Recognition Programs: Create a system where teachers can nominate each other for monthly recognition, fostering a supportive community.

Social Events: Organize regular staff appreciation lunches or after-school gatherings to build camaraderie and celebrate achievements.

Recognition Boards: Set up a dedicated space in the school to display photos and accomplishments of teachers.

Digital Recognition: Use social media to celebrate teacher achievements and milestones, reaching a broader audience.

Jeans Day: What teacher doesn’t like an email or text that says you can wear jeans? This doesn't cost anything!

Celebration Days: Designate specific days, like “Teacher Appreciation Day,” with themed activities or treats throughout the day.

Woot-Woot Wagon: Grab a cart with some snacks, Sonic drinks, popcorn, candy, etc., and deliver them to classrooms as a surprise.

Favorites Survey: Have your faculty or staff complete a beginning of the year survey with their favorite items such as candy, drinks, salty snack, etc., and place these items in their mailboxes or on their desk.

Personalized Video Messages: Have students create video thank-yous for teachers, adding a personal touch to recognition.

Fun Challenges: Implement friendly competitions among staff, like decorating their classrooms or participating in spirit weeks, with fun prizes.

Whether you are a novice administrator or veteran, I hope some of these ideas will either be new or a reminder of something you did in the past so that you can foster the culture and climate to best serve your students, faculty, and community. I hope to see you at the AAEA Fall Conference on October 22nd. Thanks for all that you do each day!