Positive and upbeat Principals create a “ripple effect” leading to positive and happy communities. The happiness of individual Principals has a far reaching affect. According to author Andy Cope, “Your happiness reaches three degrees of people removed from you, so if you’re really happy and positive, then every single person you meet during that day is going…
Education Crisis Looming
A perfect storm is brewing in Australian education and it’s likely to have a major impact for many years. An aging population of stressed teachers at risk of burnout, problems retaining new graduates, rising enrolments, challenging student behaviour and the declining status of teaching all contribute to a potential crisis in education. Quality teaching is…
World Teachers Day Postcards Boost Staff Morale
Teaching and working in schools can be stressful. We work with people every day. We all know that people can be unpredictable. Whilst many schools will hold a special assembly or morning tea to mark World Teachers’ Day on Friday 30 October, I believe that a personal touch in showing appreciation is even better. This…
Self Nourishing Activities
I hope that you have spent a week being on YOUR own side – this can simply be internally in terms of your self-talk and how long you stay with positive emotions and experiences but it might also be an external practice where you physically and spiritually nourish yourself. I’m urging you to try the…
US Schools Recognise Importance of Teacher Wellness Initiatives
The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) in the United States have recognised the importance of Teacher Wellness initiatives. An article by psychologist and author Adam Sáenz in the latest edition of Principal magazine highlights “Principals play a key role in this crucial—but overlooked—aspect of staff development.” “Kids can’t do their best in school if they…
Awesome Response to World Teachers’ Day
World Teachers’ Day 2012 will be special for over 8000 teachers across Australia. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of leaders in Happy Schools, over 8000 teachers across Australia will receive a handwritten note of thanks to mark World Teachers’ Day. The response to our offer of FREE postcards for schools who subscribe to receive…
Is Anybody Else Worried About Teacher Morale?
I’m worried about the morale of teachers. Just quietly, many of them are NOT happy! They may not say that openly to the Principal or other school leaders but many are feeling unhappy and frustrated. They often vent to their partners, their colleagues and even to strangers in social settings. Unhappy teachers often present a…
Revolution in the Classroom
Interesting program on Aust ABC TV this week. The program touches superficially on the private vs public school resourcing debate. However the main focus was on strategies being implemented in schools to enhance the quality of teaching. The program looked at some interesting initiatives for giving teachers feedback on the quality of their teaching. The…
Meetings Are Toxic
I’m currently reading REWORK by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson and have come to the section ‘Meetings Are Toxic’. This is an area that troubled me as a school principal so their observations about meetings really resonated with me. “The worst interruptions of all are meetings. Here’s why: They’re usually about words and abstract…
“The Most Honorable of ALL Professions”
99% of adults when asked what is the most important thing in their life will reply ‘their family’. For the vast majority of people, the well-being of our children is our most prized possession, more valuable than our house and our car. Parents entrust their most prized possession in the care of staff who work…