Principals: Your Team needs to know this from you as your start the year

For the first time in 14 years, I'm not in the trenches launching a new school year because I am on sabbatical working on my dissertation and a second master's degree.  However, my mind, heart, and friends are all launching the new school year and I can't help but share some thinking with you about launching the new school year.

As an administrator, there are things teachers are dying to know right now (and some things they may prefer not to know, but deep down crave).  Here's my starting list:

Teachers Need to Know.... from Their Principal as the New School Year Starts:

• You value them as professionals and have high expectations for their work
• Our collective priorities are:  A, B, C ... our instructional approach and expectations are ... A, B, C  Clearly state these priorities! Help your team determine what's the most urgent priority.
• You are here for them and available when they need you.... and specifically tell them how and when to contact you with different types of information (how to get you in an emergency, how to share an idea, etc)
• You are approachable and care about them as a human, a professional, as an educator, and as a colleague
• You know that COVID stressed everyone and changed everything and we are all adapting to the changes, the stress, and moving forward. The stress hasn't just magically ended.  The pain/stress/challenges linger.
• Our work is hard and emotionally draining.  Teachers need to hear you give them permission to take care of themselves, to be balanced, AND to be committed to high quality work.
• Teachers want to know your expectations in a crystal clear way now. You may think they are universally understood, common knowledge... they aren't, and they very from school to school, leader to leader.  Make sure you are clear about:
  
  • Time expectations (on time, end of day, responding them to parent emails, what to do if running late)
    
  • Priorities--- our children are first!   All decisions are made with kids at the center or the decision.
    
  • Sick leave--- it's for sick days, not vacation.
    
  • Substitute plans-- be crystal clear and consistent about your expectations across your school.
    
  • Communication expectations--- how often should all teachers share general information with families, what is needed ahead of meetings, how should concerns/problems be addressed?
    
  • My personal favorite--- no surprises!   If something happened and you wonder if the principal needs to know about it or if it will just go away..... don't take the gamble.  When the principal is aware and ahead of it, the reaction will be far better planned and received than if the principal is caught off guard with an angry family, crying student, frustrated colleague....  give a quick heads up--- a simple text message or email to let your principal be able to be in the know and be prepared rather than surprised. 

There are so many more things that are needed to be shared now.  What would you add to the list?