Sometimes I feel like the power structure at my school, and the district on the whole is a Brick House, mighty mighty just lettin' it all hang out. The power structure of our school and district seems immovable and unapologetic to me. This may be a jaded perspective because I am laid off year to year and it causes "this old [wo]man wish for younger days."
The people who have been in adminstration and on the school board making major decisions have been in those positions for years while those of us in the trenches get moved around like pawns on a Chess board waiting to be sacrificed for our queen to stay on the board.
In my experience in this district, level the best way of utilizing this knowledge is to be as visible as humanly possible. Invite the adminstrators into your classroom, participate in staff meetings, voice your opinion. The key for me has been to make myself invaluable. I know I would not have the job I have now had I not forged that type of relationship with my former principal. I know he went to bat for me at the end of the year - he knew he wasn't going to be able to find a place for me at his school, but as soon as he saw a job opening - even if it wasn't exactly what I was used to doing - he made sure my name was out there.
Smart move making yourself invaluable at your school! Positive visibility is one of the biggest ways you can protect yourself in our position.
ReplyDeleteIt often feels unfair that we don't have more decision making power considering how much we do for our schools. But, if we can make it clear that we are 100% invested in what we are doing, our opinions can begin to matter and be considered as teacher leaders.
Trina said it exactly right, "positive" visibility. We so often keep quiet and stand to the wayside, just to not cause a big scene and have 'negative' attention surround us. Well in this day and age in our school, if we DON'T have a voice and if we DON'T make ourselves seen, then we WON'T have a job next year. With so many cutbacks in the system plus who knows what's to come for the future of education, it is up to us to stand up and make our voice heard in what we believe is right for education in our school! It is here and now that we must make a stand, have positive visibility and valuable input, for our students and for our sake as well!
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