Summary Of If You Don T Feed Teachers
The book I have chosen to review is “If You Don't Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students! Guide to Success for Administrators and Teachers” by Neila A. Connons, Ph.D. Neila A. She has written many articles and has made numerous presentations to provide inspiration and direction for teachers and educational leaders all over the world. “If You Don't Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students!” has documented the author's real-world experience as an educator and a school leader, addressing both the desire of teachers in their quest to perform well and the required skills of administrators to empower and encourage them.
A common theme throughout this book is, “Administration is a difficult business and it takes very special people with special …show more content…
skills to perform the actions identified” (Pg140). I chose to review this book because it encourages school leaders to self assess, identify and improve their strengths and weaknesses to become better people to be more effective in leading the school. Sometimes in the race to produce best scores, do well on standardized assessments; ensure that curriculum completion is on track, everyone is on task; it becomes so technical that we forget the human aspect of being an effective leader. This book has great tools and reminders that touch upon that aspect of being school leaders, which is a crucial aspect to establish successful schools.
The premise of the book is grounded in the fact that teachers are a driving force in any school and to ensure that students are receiving the best services they need/deserve, the leaders must keep their teachers contented and satisfied by fostering a school climate that promotes learning, respect and appreciation for both the students and the teachers. Although this book is not based on data collected through surveys or research, it has detailed several strategies and guidelines to assist the administrators in their journey to develop successful schools based on experience and observation.
The content of the book is narrated in a very unique and interesting manner by using creative acronyms. The experience of running a successful school by being an effective mentor and guide is analogized to an impressive and fine dinning experience.
I think the author has presented a very practical picture of the workings of different elements in a school and what it will take for astute administrators to develop personal and professional skills to maintain a happy balance between work and life of their own as well as their staff. This will develop a school culture that is ingrained in meeting everyone’s need to learn, grow and prosper whether it’s the students or the faculty and even the administrators themselves.
I agree with the author that it all starts with an administrator who is willing to self assess their strengths and weaknesses both as a person and a leader. They are able to reflect upon if they are well-adjusted leaders and how they can improve upon the characteristics that are required to fit the bill. The book has outlined a few questions to help the administrators get started in this regard and based on the responses to this survey the administrators can identify the areas of improvement within themselves and set goals to overcome their weaknesses, thereby creating a personal mission statement – guidelines to live by and strive for so they can be the most productive leaders.
The next step in the process is to decide if there is actually a need to feed the teachers and, if they are hungry at all. We all know that teachers are not in the business of education for money or other perks, but they are always hungry for appreciation and support. Some of the characteristics of effective administrators identified in the book include that they have a low teacher absentee rate, they take time to plan, organize and implement plans without burning out, share their beliefs with the staff, share good as well as controversial school issues with the teachers, ask staff/faculty to evaluate their performance, avoid unnecessary distractions for themselves and the staff, include the teachers’ input into their decisions to name a few. This chapter also identifies a belief that I completely agree with, that administrators also need to be fed through appreciation, respect and dignity by the staff.
After the administrators have identified the strengths and weaknesses of their teachers, they must establish an environment conducive to improvement and learning, which in the book is compared to creating the proper ambiance while preparing to dine.
Effective leaders monitor, assess and enhance the school climate by ensuring the safety (physical, social, emotional and social); encouraging change by inviting ideas; encourage risk taking and recognize gains; hone their human relation skills; believe in the power of public relation; communicate both the successes and failures and celebrate. I firmly believe that attitudes are determined not by circumstances, but how one responds to the circumstances and this book has identified many strategies that an administrator can adopt to hone such …show more content…
skills.
"Great administrators are like chefs. They both spend an inordinate amount of time preparing, planning, and visioning before they even begin to COOK or implement. During this time, they keep their focus on the outcomes and the clients. They continuously re-adjust, refocus, and re-evaluate their plans and efforts." N.A. Connors (pg. 59). According to the book the best CHEFS (Chief Heads Envisioning Future Successes) respect and recognize the effort, provide opportunities to make a difference, walk the talk of fairness, allow open and engaged discussions, and provide an honest and flexible work environment. The next topic in the book deals with the M.E.A.L.S. These are Meaningful Experiences Affecting Long Term Success for all adults with the benefit of the students in the forefront for continuous improvement and long-term success. Leaders make great strides to develop curriculum and programs based on the needs of students, purposeful committees, ample planning and collaborative opportunities, positive parent programs, shadowing and mentoring programs for students and teachers.
Effective leaders take care of the situations that are stressful in an efficient manner all the while making sure that the reasons/causes are not transferred to the teachers who will then pass it on to the students and ultimately the parents. Situations that can cause stress in a life of an administrator are abundant in a day, but they can effectively deal with those by either modifying the situation, eliminating it altogether or learn to stay unaffected by it. The book has a very apt reminder for administrators, “ Don't let people who are D.U.C.K.S (dependent upon criticizing and killing success) affect your attitude!”(Pg.104)
We finished our MEALS and now its time for FAT-FREE D.E.S.S.E.R.T.S.
(Defining Experiences Structured to Support, Encourage, and Reward Teachers' Spirit). Great leaders are always aware that employees want to feel appreciated, respected and valued. Some very creative ideas are presented in the book such as “ Wind beneath our students’ wings” badge for going above and beyond to help a needy student; “You helped me out award” which starts with the leader choosing a teacher and then each week the previous winner recognizes someone else etc. We can all vouch for the fact that appreciated and happy teachers will go above and beyond to be more productive and effective in their classrooms to cater all the needs of their students.
I like that the book has detailed a complete experience of fine dining for us, including the MINTS (masterful ideas needed to survive) in the end.
These ideas stress upon staying positive, believing in one’s ability and trusting and nurturing the teachers to be their best.
The book has a very simplistic approach and identifies that some of the concepts and ideas are repetitive, which stresses upon the fact that “repetition is the best teacher”. I believe that this can be vapid for some of the readers, but the clever use of acronyms; insights from other administrators, etc has made up for the minor lull in the reading. Examples from real situations would have definitely added to the flavor of the book and enhanced the reading experience, making it much more convenient to relate to the content and
scenarios.
Supporting teachers is sine qua non for continuous school improvement. Teachers need resources, time, professional development opportunities, respect, trust and freedom to work towards school’s improvement. In order to develop successful schools administrators must develop school cultures that encourage caring relationships among colleagues, mentorship, high expectations, opportunities and time for collegial decision making and planning. Effective schools only survive if they have an exceptional leader with a vision, leading the way as the “ head cook”. This book has successfully identified practices and characteristics of effective leaders that are implemented in many schools. Perceptive leaders find the strengths of their staff and lead by collaborating, communicating and celebrating the successes. This book is definitely a must read for all who are aspiring to be great administrators or are already practicing the craft, as an appropriate checklist of how to effectively develop school’s human resource (teachers) by developing collective responsibility, passion and love for their profession and do their jobs with zeal and fidelity.
A common theme throughout this book is, “Administration is a difficult business and it takes very special people with special …show more content…
skills to perform the actions identified” (Pg140). I chose to review this book because it encourages school leaders to self assess, identify and improve their strengths and weaknesses to become better people to be more effective in leading the school. Sometimes in the race to produce best scores, do well on standardized assessments; ensure that curriculum completion is on track, everyone is on task; it becomes so technical that we forget the human aspect of being an effective leader. This book has great tools and reminders that touch upon that aspect of being school leaders, which is a crucial aspect to establish successful schools.
The premise of the book is grounded in the fact that teachers are a driving force in any school and to ensure that students are receiving the best services they need/deserve, the leaders must keep their teachers contented and satisfied by fostering a school climate that promotes learning, respect and appreciation for both the students and the teachers. Although this book is not based on data collected through surveys or research, it has detailed several strategies and guidelines to assist the administrators in their journey to develop successful schools based on experience and observation.
The content of the book is narrated in a very unique and interesting manner by using creative acronyms. The experience of running a successful school by being an effective mentor and guide is analogized to an impressive and fine dinning experience.
I think the author has presented a very practical picture of the workings of different elements in a school and what it will take for astute administrators to develop personal and professional skills to maintain a happy balance between work and life of their own as well as their staff. This will develop a school culture that is ingrained in meeting everyone’s need to learn, grow and prosper whether it’s the students or the faculty and even the administrators themselves.
I agree with the author that it all starts with an administrator who is willing to self assess their strengths and weaknesses both as a person and a leader. They are able to reflect upon if they are well-adjusted leaders and how they can improve upon the characteristics that are required to fit the bill. The book has outlined a few questions to help the administrators get started in this regard and based on the responses to this survey the administrators can identify the areas of improvement within themselves and set goals to overcome their weaknesses, thereby creating a personal mission statement – guidelines to live by and strive for so they can be the most productive leaders.
The next step in the process is to decide if there is actually a need to feed the teachers and, if they are hungry at all. We all know that teachers are not in the business of education for money or other perks, but they are always hungry for appreciation and support. Some of the characteristics of effective administrators identified in the book include that they have a low teacher absentee rate, they take time to plan, organize and implement plans without burning out, share their beliefs with the staff, share good as well as controversial school issues with the teachers, ask staff/faculty to evaluate their performance, avoid unnecessary distractions for themselves and the staff, include the teachers’ input into their decisions to name a few. This chapter also identifies a belief that I completely agree with, that administrators also need to be fed through appreciation, respect and dignity by the staff.
After the administrators have identified the strengths and weaknesses of their teachers, they must establish an environment conducive to improvement and learning, which in the book is compared to creating the proper ambiance while preparing to dine.
Effective leaders monitor, assess and enhance the school climate by ensuring the safety (physical, social, emotional and social); encouraging change by inviting ideas; encourage risk taking and recognize gains; hone their human relation skills; believe in the power of public relation; communicate both the successes and failures and celebrate. I firmly believe that attitudes are determined not by circumstances, but how one responds to the circumstances and this book has identified many strategies that an administrator can adopt to hone such …show more content…
skills.
"Great administrators are like chefs. They both spend an inordinate amount of time preparing, planning, and visioning before they even begin to COOK or implement. During this time, they keep their focus on the outcomes and the clients. They continuously re-adjust, refocus, and re-evaluate their plans and efforts." N.A. Connors (pg. 59). According to the book the best CHEFS (Chief Heads Envisioning Future Successes) respect and recognize the effort, provide opportunities to make a difference, walk the talk of fairness, allow open and engaged discussions, and provide an honest and flexible work environment. The next topic in the book deals with the M.E.A.L.S. These are Meaningful Experiences Affecting Long Term Success for all adults with the benefit of the students in the forefront for continuous improvement and long-term success. Leaders make great strides to develop curriculum and programs based on the needs of students, purposeful committees, ample planning and collaborative opportunities, positive parent programs, shadowing and mentoring programs for students and teachers.
Effective leaders take care of the situations that are stressful in an efficient manner all the while making sure that the reasons/causes are not transferred to the teachers who will then pass it on to the students and ultimately the parents. Situations that can cause stress in a life of an administrator are abundant in a day, but they can effectively deal with those by either modifying the situation, eliminating it altogether or learn to stay unaffected by it. The book has a very apt reminder for administrators, “ Don't let people who are D.U.C.K.S (dependent upon criticizing and killing success) affect your attitude!”(Pg.104)
We finished our MEALS and now its time for FAT-FREE D.E.S.S.E.R.T.S.
(Defining Experiences Structured to Support, Encourage, and Reward Teachers' Spirit). Great leaders are always aware that employees want to feel appreciated, respected and valued. Some very creative ideas are presented in the book such as “ Wind beneath our students’ wings” badge for going above and beyond to help a needy student; “You helped me out award” which starts with the leader choosing a teacher and then each week the previous winner recognizes someone else etc. We can all vouch for the fact that appreciated and happy teachers will go above and beyond to be more productive and effective in their classrooms to cater all the needs of their students.
I like that the book has detailed a complete experience of fine dining for us, including the MINTS (masterful ideas needed to survive) in the end.
These ideas stress upon staying positive, believing in one’s ability and trusting and nurturing the teachers to be their best.
The book has a very simplistic approach and identifies that some of the concepts and ideas are repetitive, which stresses upon the fact that “repetition is the best teacher”. I believe that this can be vapid for some of the readers, but the clever use of acronyms; insights from other administrators, etc has made up for the minor lull in the reading. Examples from real situations would have definitely added to the flavor of the book and enhanced the reading experience, making it much more convenient to relate to the content and
scenarios.
Supporting teachers is sine qua non for continuous school improvement. Teachers need resources, time, professional development opportunities, respect, trust and freedom to work towards school’s improvement. In order to develop successful schools administrators must develop school cultures that encourage caring relationships among colleagues, mentorship, high expectations, opportunities and time for collegial decision making and planning. Effective schools only survive if they have an exceptional leader with a vision, leading the way as the “ head cook”. This book has successfully identified practices and characteristics of effective leaders that are implemented in many schools. Perceptive leaders find the strengths of their staff and lead by collaborating, communicating and celebrating the successes. This book is definitely a must read for all who are aspiring to be great administrators or are already practicing the craft, as an appropriate checklist of how to effectively develop school’s human resource (teachers) by developing collective responsibility, passion and love for their profession and do their jobs with zeal and fidelity.