What does your school community need to be successful?
As we work our way through the winter months, many educators and school leaders have their sights now set on the 2024-25 school year. We are here to support you with tools for building and strengthening your school community in the years ahead. We’ve outlined four of the most important tools for a successful school year. From parent communication to hiring and onboarding, it takes a lot to prepare for the next school year. With the right tools, you can set your school up for an exceptional 2024-25 school year year.
Create a Family Partnership Agreement
A partnership with families is critical to the success of our school communities and makes all the difference in our ability to support children, teens, and families alike. Yet how can we best communicate our expectations to our families, ensuring that we are providing clear guidelines about both what they can expect from you and what you need from them to have a successful and vibrant partnership?
If you are not yet using a Family Partnership Agreement, this is an essential component of communication with families. We have developed a Family Partnership Agreement for schools to ensure that all parties understand the expectations right from the start of the relationship. Click here to download your copy of the Family Partnership Agreement. Consider including a Family Partnership Agreement in your admissions and re-enrollment plans for the 2024-25 school year. As we like to say at Greenspring, clarity is kindness!
Support new staff through smart onboarding
The way you bring new staff into your school community makes a significant difference in their feelings of belonging, success in the role, and longevity at the school. However, it can be difficult for small organizations with limited time and resources to successfully onboard new staff members. As part of our Workshop Series: Creating a Culture of Belonging, we are sharing this key onboarding resource for schools and organizations. Click here to download your copy of our Staff Onboarding Checklist.
Have new faculty and staff join Mentoring Communities
The first years of teaching are hard! Many practical, hands-on pieces are essential for those first years to run smoothly. While it is proven that teachers’ confidence and self-assurance in managing their classrooms are significantly related to burnout (Aloe et al., 2014), many school administrators and veteran teachers do not have the bandwidth to successfully mentor new educators and school leaders. In our Mentoring Communities for Montessori faculty and school leaders, experienced Montessori mentors have the tools and time to support the newest members of your team.
It is more important than ever that we not only attract and prepare people for this critical work, but that we continue to support and retain quality Montessorians.
Learn how to Create a Culture of Belonging
There is no magic to creating a successful culture, but a clear pattern emerges from top-performing organizations. Great teams have clear strategies and actionable steps for creating strong models of safety, vulnerability, and shared purpose which are incorporated throughout their organizations.
So how do we bring these strategies to life in our schools? Join Tamara Sheesley Balis for a Workshop Series: Creating a Culture of Belonging designed to help you build a vibrant culture of belonging and ownership in your school community. Topics include building trust, most effective onboarding techniques, resolving staff conflict, leading with strength, grace and vulnerability, supporting struggling staff, building strong teams and high-quality classroom practices, effective communication practices… and much more! This is an interactive workshop designed for self-reflection and connection while providing you with tools to use immediately.
As you plan for the 2024-25 school year, what are your aspirations for your school? Do you have the tools to achieve them?
