#APChat Archive
Professional development expert Jared Wastler, hosts a Twitter conversation at 8:00 p.m. (ET) using #APChat.
Sunday March 13, 2016
8:00 PM EDT
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Welcome to . Please take a moment to introduce yourself.
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Hello! I'm Merri, a PreK-6th grade AP from KY.
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Jared Wastler. Principal, PD Faculty, and moderator for
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Hello again . Kat-- a MS AP in NC
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Hello, I am Steve, a Middle School Assistant Principal from Missouri
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Tonight we are discussing “Maintaining Morale”
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Q1: How do you assess the morale within your school?
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A1: Having meaningful convos w/ Ts and Ss and seeing how they are
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A1. We are visible in the building. We have an open door policy for staff & parents. Also survey staff using PBIS & TELL surveys.
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Q2: What strategies have you used to build positive staff morale?
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A1 - Making time to be around Ss and Ts, building relationships and trust helps you understand highs and lows of morale.
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A1:Our coaches are very helpful.Our teachers tend to go to them more than admin on morale type conversations. We are working on it...
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A1: Student morale--middle schoolers will tell you everything-good or bad. All you have to do is listen. :)
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A2 - Started the school year with a hand written note to all faculty & staff. Always find opportunities to spotlight great work.
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A2. We have recognize & acknowledge staff: we have a staff spirit award, write positive notes, send shout-outs on Fridays
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I really like Staff in the News & Staff Acknowledgement bulletin boards
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A2:Social committee plans quarterly fun staff trips. Counselor leads "staff challenge"-random acts of kindness for dojo pts
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We just ordered 20 bulletin boards for our school! One will be in the mailbox hallway for me to make staff-fabulous
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Awesome! Each schools' staff works HARD and deserves recognition!
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Q3: What impact does negative morale have on a school?
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negativity travels at a speed 10,000 times faster than positivity.
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A3 - Negative morale can be cancerous and quickly spread throughout staff.
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A3 - Hard to focus on the good work or the positives when the mindset is negative.
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A3. Negativity destroys morale, in Ss and Ts. Achievement drops, loss of productivity, and sick days increase.
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Q4: What role can students and the community play in sustaining morale?
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Q2 constant positive recognition in weekly bulletins. Surprising what good things people don't know that's happening in our bldg.
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discipline referrals also increase--students less motivated, teachers less tolerant
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A4. Ss, Ts, Admins, and Ps can Fill Others Buckets w/positive notes. Staff gives positive tickets, maybe we should allow Ss and Ps
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A4: it's all about the kids.If we could just bottle their energy, morale would be through the roof! :)
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Absolutely behavior referrals increase. I ran out of characters.
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Sometimes I just have to stop principaling and go play with Ss in PE and then I'm feeling better
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We need parents to help tell our story in the community. We are working on this-looking outward, not just inward.
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I like hanging out in PE and the library too. I browse the shelves with Ss and recommend books
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Q5: Starting strong is easy; how do you finish the year strong?
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Excellent point! We need to tell our positive stories with the community.
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indoor recess is a good spot too. I play a mean game of "uno"
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A5. Finish strong by revisiting goals, keeping the main thing the main thing, and keeping your circle/PLN positive and focused.
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A5: refocus after SB. What has to be done - prioritize. And no countdowns to summer!
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A5: coffee. a lot of coffee.
(no really--we set out a basket of K-Cups)
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A5. Stay focused. Build Ss and Ts morale. Have fun - we're doing March Madness to relieve stress.
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we are about to have individual meetings with our high flyer Ss to set academic and behavior goals for last quarter
