May 3, 2021. Building a Partnership with School Administration. I'm excited to introduce this week's guest blogger, Braylon from That Special Educator, to talk all about ways to partner with school administration. Special education teachers know a lot about teamwork. Teamwork makes our academics, classroom management, and case management easier. When thinking about the team, it's easy to include teachers, parents, students, service providers, and specialists. Oftentimes administration is a forgotten member of the special education team. Before we begin, it is important to acknowledge that sometimes school administration can be a hindrance or stumbling block in the special education process. Many teachers struggle with their principals, assistant principals, and directors. If this is your experience, just know that you are not alone. Why are they important? Administration can make or break a special education team. They often control the resources, the rules of the school, and the staffing. The focus for everything that we do should center around the students. Their quality of education, health, progress, and family support is the most important. Principals and assistant principals play an important role in the school community. They set the tone for the school culture, staff culture, organization, and budget. They can also control the special education staffing and caseload allocations. Many school initiatives related to inclusion, special education research-based methods, and curriculum updates are based on the decisions made by these principals. As teachers, we need them to do their jobs effectively. When they are not aware of our needs, then we will not get. Tips of working with administration. Ask for help. If you are unfamiliar with a procedure within the school, ask for help. Questions. Confused about something? Ask them. Set up a meeting with them, with a written agenda. Ask for their advice or challenging circumstances. Show that you value their thoughts and judgment. Get to know the administration. Know their name, say hello in the hallways, and be willing to support the school's simple jobs and committees. Invite them into your classroom. It seems unnatural to have people observe you. Oftentimes, principals and admin only come into the classroom once or twice a year. Invite them in for a cool lesson. Allow them to meet your students and build connections with them. Pay attention to the culture of the school. Special education teachers observe and pay close attention to the culture of the school. Who is working together? Who does the administration like? What qualities does my admin find more important? What if my administration is hard to work with? It is a common challenge. There are many small things that can be done to help support your journey as a teacher. These tips are just the beginning. For many people, challenging administration is a catalyst for a change in school or district. If you relate to that situation, just know that you are not alone and that you have done all that you can to make it work. For many, including me, a school change was just what I needed to feel supported in my position. Make sure to meet all of your deadlines. The administration may be challenging to work with, but doing your job to the best of your abilities will relieve your own conscience. You can be proud of all of your work. Find an informal mentor to support you in the day. Sometimes teachers can feel unsupported when they are in a hard environment. Find one mentor or ally that you feel safe with. Create hard-lined boundaries for your work and your life. Oftentimes challenging administration can take a toll on a teacher. It has taken a toll on me in the past. When this happens, creating boundaries can help. The negative thoughts and emotions surrounding your job can carry over into your home life. Please do not let it. Examples include leaving work at work, journaling, or confiding in a friend. Seek support from a higher-up if necessary. Whether this is your union rep, a principal, an HR person in the head office, anyone who is able to support you and help you resolve the conflict. Focus on the students and the amazing opportunity that you have. You get to educate some of the best students in the world. It's an honor and a privilege. Conclusion Being a teacher is not easy. I often wish that I would have learned how to interact and support adults instead of kids in college. Working with adults and collaborating with administration is a huge part of our jobs. When collaborating and working with principals, directors, and facilitators, we have to keep our students and their needs in mind. If you'd like to hear more about Braylyn and her special education journey, check out her YouTube channel here. Want to know more about building partnerships? Read more about building parent collaboration in your classroom. Looking to get administration on your side while building a classroom business? Read this post.