Sick and Tired!

Classroom teachers have heavy loads on their backs. They are nurses, doctors, parents, counselors, referees, and coaches. Between all of this, they are responsible for making sure that all students reach their fullest potential, not to mention, AYP!!! I say this to say, that I feel that they are being hounded to death!

As an administrator, it is my job to be sure that student achievement is our focus and this is done by using data to drive instruction. In the primary setting, our teachers are not accustomed to a planning time. These teachers only have 30-45 minutes out of the entire day to use the restroom and eat lunch. Our board, so graciously, implemented an initiative for all teachers (county- wide) to a one hour uninterrupted planning time that will allow the teacher an opportunity to plan. This decision was a result of teachers compiling that the initiatives that our system has adopted forces them to do more work after school and on the weekends. Now, administration for 2 more days. Administration forces them to meet at least once a week in their professional learning communities to share ideas. Another day of the week, they meet as a grade group to talk about housekeeping issues. Another day of the week, they will meet with the literacy coach to discuss their reading lessons...that leaves them 2 whole days to plan. We did it again!!!

Another issue is the teachers' having to set one million goals. Our state requires them to set a student achievement and professional development goal for the school year. I require them to reveiw the test data from the previous year and set a goal using that data. The state has goals for the 3rd grade students to meet standards on the CRCT in order to make AYP. How do we compile all of these goals??? Our leadership team is working now to decide what is the most effective way to combine all of this to make sure that the teachers do not get confused about their expectations. When they lose sight of their goal, their focus is gone!!

In addition, I am responsible to being sure that the teachers are implementing district initiatives and exhibiting traits that prove that they have learned something.This evidence is acquired by administration going in classrooms daily. Our county is Learning Focused Schools trained; therefore, all administrators are mandated to visit at least 5 classrooms a day for 5 minutes. Sometimes we are able to do more. At the end of the month, we must submit our documentation to the curriculum director. After visiting a teachers classroom about 20 times, it is evident to me whether they are effective or not.

About after the 3rd year, you begin to see the same practices over and over again. The only positive aspect is that the students see the principal in and out of their classroom on a consistent basis. I would like so badly to comfort them (and myself) because it takes away from the fun of visiting. At this point, our teachers are pretty used to their doors swinging open, then shut, and that is another positive. I always wondered how other administrators monitored their classrooms.

Really curious,
Appolos (Stephanie)