HIT: Raising staff morale

[Rena Deutsch <renadeutsch@worldnet.att.net>]

Thanks to everyone who sent their suggestions on how to raise staff morale
(or keep it high).

This HIT is in three parts.  Part I is a summary of the general categories
of activities people mentioned.  Parts II and III are for people who would
like to read in detail what people said.

Things fell into categories of what the administration can do; the PTA;
activities involving food, parties, celebrations and outings.

As one person pointed out, "staff morale is a two-fold situation... the
administration plays a large part of how the staff feels about the work they
do; however, I also believe that the staff should provide some positive
strokes toward their professional peers."  If your staff is divided among
itself, even the best efforts of the administration may not be able to pull
up staff morale.

Here's part I:
Administration activities:
Listen (to problems, etc)
Have faculty meetings only when necessary
Provide positive reinforcement – sending notes and informal written thanks,
letters of commendation in personnel file
Give certificates , including “celebrations” certificates, gift certificates
a monthly ABCD (Above and Beyond the Call of Duty) award to a teacher.
Have door prizes at faculty meetings
Give staff time off / or free up time for teacher during school day


PTA activities
on teacher appreciation day in May:  give food, flowers,  certificates of
appreciation
provide teachers with money at the beginning  of the year to buy supplies,
give monthly gifts


Food
Sharing meals (pot lucks)
Going out to dinner together
Serve breakfasts at in-service meetings
Serving food at every faculty meeting
Special food in teachers’ lounge for non-special occasions
Breakfasts before school on pay days


Parties and Off-campus activities
Parties at beginning of the year, Christmas, end-of-the year
After-School Get-togethers organized by one or more faculty members
(including theater parties, Friday afternoon get-togethers,  etc)
Luncheon or informal get-together for new staff
Organized wellness activities (golfing, ice skating)
Annual shopping trips for staff


Faculty Groups
Women’s support group
Reading Club
Work with others on curriculum project


Social Committees (e.g., Flower Fund, Sunshine Committee)
To acknowledge good times and bad. With cards, flowers, gifts, etc.

Activities with students
Caroling in one another’s classrooms
Inviting other staff members to parties and celebrations in your classroom
Student v. staff games, e.g., basketball, volleyball games


Miscellaneous
Fun awards assemblies (with humorous awards)
"Secret Santa" and other gift exchanges (either during holiday season, or
orgoing throughout the school year)

Rena Deutsch
High School for the Humanities
New York, NY 10011
renadeutsch@worldnet.att.net

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