The Professional Development Partnership: Teachers and administrators working together toward a common goal.

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           I once had an administrator tell me that it is good practice, as an administrator, to not get too close to your teaching staff.  To me, this meant that you shouldn't become so close that it can cause a conflict of interest whenever a disciplinary action or the like comes up.  While I agree with that to a point, I also believe that it can cause a rift in what I believe is the central tenet of education today.  That belief is that we are all supposed to be providing the absolute best educational experience for our students.  I believe that in order for educators to accomplish this, there must be a positive working relationship between teachers and administrators.  One method of accomplishing that positive working relationship is by administrators being willing to do what they ask of the teachers.  For example, if an administrator is going to ask a teacher to participate in a certain professional development activity, then they, too, should participate.

Throughout my tenure in education, I have had multiple opportunities to expand the knowledge base of the teachers in my school.  One recent example occurred when I hosted a series of “help” sessions for our class web pages and online grade book system.  During this time, I was able to answer questions about how to best use the sites, and clear up any confusion.  Even with these opportunities, I have repeatedly been asked by the teachers and administrators in my building questions about the websites that would undoubtedly have been answered if they had attended one of my sessions.  

One common reason that many administrators give for their absence, is that their presence in the session will only hamper any true development.  I don’t believe that has to be true.  Sure, it will cause a little bit of an uncomfortable feeling at first, but doesn’t that happen any time there is something new happening?  If it is a new development in your school that administrative team is sitting in and actively participating, then it will be strange.  BUT, like any other new thing, the awkward feeling that happens at first will give way to a true partnership when the administrators are engaged with the classroom teachers, not necessarily in a presenting role, but rather a participating role.

To sum this up, teachers and administrators have the same goal, and that is providing the absolute best educational experience to our students as possible.  In order to do this, it takes a partnership between the administration and teachers in a building.  One way we work to ensure that we are doing the best that we can is by providing high-quality professional development for our teachers.  I contend that the professional development can be more effective if the administrators would be actively involved with the teachers, which would allow for the partnership to be strengthened.  Just something to think about...