Around Every Great Teacher...

No one exists in isolation. We live and work with so many people all around us. Even if we choose to ignore those around us, they are still there. As teachers, we interact with so many different types of people. Each and every individual that works alongside us as educators is important to the overall success of our mission. We would not be able to truly be great as teachers without the very important support staff that is all around us.

A very unsung group that surrounds teachers with their support is the custodial staff. I have a unique perspective since my husband is the head custodian at our school. Many people do not realize that he could have a much better paying job, and is just a few semesters away from a doctorate degree. He is at the school because he values education and wants to see each and every student have their best chance to be successful. The custodial staff of any school is made up of individuals that provide a very important service to teachers and the school. Think of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Custodians ensure that the school buildings are clean and safe. Without these very important individuals, teachers and students would not be able to focus on learning because their environment would not be conducive to learning.

I spent three years as a paraprofessional before becoming a teacher. I will tell you that there are some teachers that really showed me how much they valued my help, and there were some teachers that did not. Paraprofessionals often end up with the tasks that teachers themselves do not want; recess duty, lunch duty, grading papers, running copies, etc. Their insight into students during unstructured time can be invaluable. They also help ease the load for teachers so that we can focus on a bigger picture mindset and not get bogged down in the minutia. Remember that these individuals are there to help you and offer a very valuable service.

The last group I will discuss is the secretarial staff of the school. These individuals are often on the front lines of parent and community interaction. They are the first to answer the phones and doors. They handle ordering supplies and sorting it out for where it goes. They keep track of lunch money, milk money, and who is absent and why. These individuals manage day to day minutia of running the school ( and keeping your administrators on track :) ).

So, thinking about all that each of these groups do for the school, and for you, would you really like to have to do each of these jobs yourself? Think about how much time you already spend at the school and on school tasks. Do you want to add on the tasks these very important individuals take off your hands? I challenge you to take the time and figure out a way to show each of these individuals that you value their help and support. It could be a thank you note or maybe their favorite snack. You could have your students surprise them with a class thank you party. There are so many ways to show these people your appreciation, but the place you must start is to treat them with respect. Make sure they feel your respect in how you talk to them and treat them. Honestly, that is the first step toward any proper thank you.