I am not an administrator, so it's easy for me to criticize administration on all levels.  The truth is that I like our school principals but I hate the system that governs education.  When I ask teachers what they want in education, I usually hear something about more materials and smaller class sizes.  As long as we are making a list, I would like to be paid a living wage and have decent health care.  Yet, I think there are three things all teachers want that administration could easily offer:

1. More autonomy - Teachers want to be lead and not managed.  We want to be treated as professionals - no, as experts - in our field.  We don't like being told to do a Word Wall or a Blackboard Configuration or SIOP Lesson Plans. 

2. More encouragement - Teaching is a difficult job.  Students will not often walk up to a teacher at the end of the day and say, "Thank you so much for that engaging lesson on polynomials."  Yet, administration can offer positive, specific feedback to teachers with a simple e-mail or handwrittten note. 

3. More time - Whether it is an increase in prep time, fewer professional development meetings or fewer committees, all teachers need more time. 

 

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