President's Perspective

BALANCING YOUR DAY

Stacy DeFoor, AAEA Board President

I hope that the beginning of your school year is off to a great start. Those beginning of the year routines that you’ve established and communicated help to shape what the remainder of your year will look like. Once the dust settles and you get into a daily routine, have you thought about planning out your day? How will you be a visible leader? What percentage of time will you devote to classroom observations, emails, greeting students and parents, but still take care of those pesky managerial tasks that must get done? I’m hopeful that some of the items below will provide some tips for balancing your day so that you feel accomplished as you walk out of your building or office at the end of the day.

Prioritize and Plan:

• Set Clear Priorities: Identify what tasks are most critical each day. Allocate time for each priority accordingly.

• Create a Weekly Schedule: Block out time for specific activities, including classroom observations, parent meetings, and administrative work. Stick to this schedule as closely as possible.

Efficient Classroom Observations:

• Schedule Observations in Advance: Use a scheduling tool to arrange observation times with teachers, ensuring that you respect their class time and avoid conflicts.

• Use Observation Templates: Develop a standard template or checklist for observations to make the process more streamlined and focused.

• Provide Feedback Promptly: Offer constructive feedback soon after the observation to maintain relevance and support teacher improvement.

Manage Emails Efficiently:

• Set Email Check Times: Designate specific times during the day for checking and responding to emails to prevent constant interruptions.

• Use Email Management Tools: Tools like filters and folders can help organize and prioritize your inbox, making it easier to manage high volumes of messages.

• Delegate When Appropriate: Share the email load with administrative staff or department heads if possible.

Optimize Office Time:

• Limit Interruptions: Use office time for tasks that require focus and minimize interruptions by setting boundaries with staff and scheduling specific times for meetings.

• Delegate Routine Tasks: Assign routine administrative tasks to staff members to free up your time for more strategic responsibilities.

• Review and Reflect: Regularly assess how you’re spending your office time and adjust your schedule as needed to ensure that you’re addressing your priorities effectively.

Handle Discipline Effectively:

• Implement Clear Policies: Ensure that discipline policies are well-communicated and consistently enforced. This helps in managing behavior proactively.

• Address Issues Promptly: When discipline issues arise, address them as soon as possible to prevent escalation and maintain a positive school environment.

• Document Everything: Keep detailed records of disciplinary actions and communications to track patterns and support decision-making.

One last thing is to practice self-care, flexibility, and giving yourself some grace. Even the best daily plans often get off track with unexpected events throughout the day. I hope to see you at our AAEA Fall Conference on October 22nd. Have a great September and cooler weather should be just around the corner.