What if I told you I have a piece of inside information that
will virtually guarantee your success as a classroom teacher. Would you be interested? Of course, you would! Then here it is: the two best friends you
could ever have in a school are the school secretary (administrative assistant)
and the custodian(s). These two people,
more than anyone else, run a school. It
doesn't matter whether you are teaching in a rural, suburban, or inner city
school or whether you're teaching elementary school or high school; your
friendship with the secretary and custodian(s) will virtually guarantee your
success as a teacher!
Why is that? Just
think about all the tasks and duties these people provide. How would the school be able to function, how
would it exist from day to day, without the work and efforts of these
individuals? The number of times the
secretary saved my neck or the number of times the custodian got me something I
really needed are more than the number of pages in this book. They were my lifesavers when I needed
materials ordered, a lightbulb fixed, a report sent in on time, a bucket and
mop for a classroom "accident," a call made to an irate parent, or a
bunch of tables in my classroom for a special science experiment.
My friendship with the custodian and secretary paid more
dividends than I could ever imagine. Notice that I used the word friendship. I depended on these people so I could do my
job. I valued their support; I valued
their input; but most important, I valued their camaraderie and friendship. Establishing, fostering, and maintaining
positive relationships with the secretary and custodian(s) is important both
professionally and personally. Here are some guidelines:
·
Don't assume that less education means less
intelligence. One of my custodian
friends can tear down and rebuild any computer hard drive faster (and better)
than any technician at the local computer store.
·
Learn the names of the secretary and custodian
early on. Take the time to find out
about their families, hobbies, and pastimes. Talk with them about their lives
away from the school.
·
Always treat the secretary and custodian with
respect and courtesy. Greet them every
morning with a smile and a pleasant comment.
·
Here's a neat idea. Make it a point to stop and converse with the
secretary and custodian every day. Move
beyond the simple "Hi, how are you?" greetings we often exchange with
people as we rush through the day. Take
2 or 3 minutes for a brief conversation or a friendly talk. You may discover
something interesting. You may discover
a kindred spirit.
·
As appropriate, send them a birthday card or
note thanking them for their work.
·
Talk positively about the secretary and
custodian in your conversations with colleagues. Acknowledge and celebrate their contributions
to the school community.
Obviously, the friendships you establish with the secretary
and custodian are not simply for the purpose of getting something done later
on. These people are valuable and
critical elements in the overall functioning of the school and of the community
in which you work.
Looking for more "First Year" ideas? Check it out:
