1. How is the challenge of making stakeholders feel welcome to your school (or place of work) connected to your school mission?
Students, parents and teachers are part of the school's mission. These groups are also the stakeholders and it is clear that they must be a focus point when creating a welcoming place. Even though our mission is based on creating a meaningful environment for these stakeholders, staff must be on board to creating and meeting this steps to ensure that. There are some areas where we must address our weakness in order to reach all groups.
2. What did you do to assess which stakeholder group (or subgroup) could be more effectively welcomed? And what did you find?
Our school is always looking to move from good to great. Informal and formal questionnaires told us that parents are a group that we can better target to feel more welcomed. Parent groups are very low if not present. Plus, as a staff we reflected on all the in house business we take care of with the students, that information is not being passed to the parents. Additionally, through data analysis of attendance, we noticed that there are certain students that are consistently absent. We feel as if that group also needs attention and we must make a point to let them know that their absence was noticed.
Parents!
Students that are consistently absent!
3. Future Sphere of Influence: What would you do to improve welcoming this group if you were the school leader?
More parent nights and groups. I would create back to school nights where parents can continue to form relationships with the teachers and staff. Additionally, I would form groups based on what the parents want. There is high Muslim population, are we addressing the needs of their students. Could there be an advisory group. Also, the PTA is led and taught by parents. We need to get parents that have time to invest into the school and our student population.
Students that are consistently absent will get a call home saying that we miss them. Check in with parents on how things are going. Send home letters that have teacher signatures on it saying that “We miss you.” Possibly include data about attendance and success, but present it in a positive manner, not to shame them.
4. Current Sphere of Influence: What can you do in your present position to enhance welcoming these stakeholders?
As a classroom teacher, there are many things that I can do. First, I can write letters home to parents congratulating student success. Parents will then start to get to know me through personal contact. I can commit to calling parents to tell them how great their student is performing academically or demonstrating grit. Additionally, I can invite parents to events at school or class presentations. Some of the honor students teach lessons and it would be great to have parents notified and invited.
Current Sphere of Influence: Commit to 5 things you are willing to do this semester that will make your school a more welcoming place:
Students, parents and teachers are part of the school's mission. These groups are also the stakeholders and it is clear that they must be a focus point when creating a welcoming place. Even though our mission is based on creating a meaningful environment for these stakeholders, staff must be on board to creating and meeting this steps to ensure that. There are some areas where we must address our weakness in order to reach all groups.
2. What did you do to assess which stakeholder group (or subgroup) could be more effectively welcomed? And what did you find?
Our school is always looking to move from good to great. Informal and formal questionnaires told us that parents are a group that we can better target to feel more welcomed. Parent groups are very low if not present. Plus, as a staff we reflected on all the in house business we take care of with the students, that information is not being passed to the parents. Additionally, through data analysis of attendance, we noticed that there are certain students that are consistently absent. We feel as if that group also needs attention and we must make a point to let them know that their absence was noticed.
Parents!
Students that are consistently absent!
3. Future Sphere of Influence: What would you do to improve welcoming this group if you were the school leader?
More parent nights and groups. I would create back to school nights where parents can continue to form relationships with the teachers and staff. Additionally, I would form groups based on what the parents want. There is high Muslim population, are we addressing the needs of their students. Could there be an advisory group. Also, the PTA is led and taught by parents. We need to get parents that have time to invest into the school and our student population.
Students that are consistently absent will get a call home saying that we miss them. Check in with parents on how things are going. Send home letters that have teacher signatures on it saying that “We miss you.” Possibly include data about attendance and success, but present it in a positive manner, not to shame them.
4. Current Sphere of Influence: What can you do in your present position to enhance welcoming these stakeholders?
As a classroom teacher, there are many things that I can do. First, I can write letters home to parents congratulating student success. Parents will then start to get to know me through personal contact. I can commit to calling parents to tell them how great their student is performing academically or demonstrating grit. Additionally, I can invite parents to events at school or class presentations. Some of the honor students teach lessons and it would be great to have parents notified and invited.
Current Sphere of Influence: Commit to 5 things you are willing to do this semester that will make your school a more welcoming place:
- Monthly contact with at least 5 parents to spotlight student achievement
- Check in with students that are absent and welcome them back
- Parent leader for 10th Grade
- Invite parents to big events in classroom or school
- Hold conversations regularly outside the classroom with students about their aspirations and goals