Introduction

I have spent twenty years of my life employed in public schools teaching the next generation of young people who will one day lead our world. Having the opportunity to impart wisdom, skills, and knowledge to our youth is one of my proudest achievements to date. As a novice teacher, I was able to experience various school districts around New Jersey in the role of athletic coach and substitute teacher. The very first full-time job I obtained was that of an inclusion teacher, visiting several classrooms across many grade levels. Through the years, I became a middle school language arts / social studies teacher and earned tenure in two different school districts. Years later, I took the leap into school administration. I had long sought to reestablish and create a school building with positive teacher morale, deeply rooted in its caring and loving culture. 

 Through my experiences, I have worked in school buildings that were warm, inspiring, inviting, and positive. However, I have also experienced school buildings that were cold, isolating, uninviting, and borderline toxic. It struck me that as educators, we spend the bulk of our lives giving to others; hyper-focused on our students, their well-being, their success, and carefully monitoring interaction with their peers. We genuinely understand that student behaviors potentially set the tone for the classroom, grade level, or even the building. However, as the building's key role models (teachers and staff members), have we ever examined how the adults in the building carry themselves? How do our interactions with our peers affect our students? Have we ever thought about our behaviors, our contributions, or the vibe we indirectly create on a daily basis?

 As a school leader, I understand taking the time to inspire, support, and encourage teachers is critical. You are setting the tone and contributing to a happy, healthy, and productive work environment for your staff. By investing time and effort in building staff morale will plant the seeds of success for your students, and they will blossom! Remember, kindness is contagious. A happy teacher is a motivated teacher, and when teachers are motivated, there is nothing they can’t accomplish.

Readers, get ready to gain all the ideas and tools to... MAKE YOUR SCHOOL AWESOME!!!

How’s Your Vibe?

Everything we do, we do for our students. Every teacher and administrator has one common goal: creating the ultimate learning environment for their learners. But what is the ultimate learning environment? Take a minute, close this book, and think to yourself.

I'm sure many of you envisioned high-tech classrooms, state-of-the-art equipment, and some funky Jetsons-looking furniture. Sure, why not! But what if I told you one of the most influencing environmental factors in a school is you and your energy? Wow, imagine that! Regardless of whether you’re a paraprofessional, educator, volunteer, staff member, or administrator, the way you carry yourself at school and the energy you exude impacts your co-workers and the learning environment as a whole. Administrators and lead teachers can influence staff the most by creating energy and tone within a department, grade level, or even an entire school. Be mindful that this energy could positively or negatively affect the building's overall climate. 

Ask yourself, what is the vibe in your school? Better yet, take a close examination of a small group of coworkers you frequently mix with. What’s the vibe in that tribe? Take some time and think. How would you rate your school or district's overall feeling or atmosphere?  Imagine you are a brand-new substitute teacher in your school. You venture into the teachers’ lounge; what do you see? What do you hear? As a new substitute teacher, you stroll into the main office to wait patiently for your schedule. What’s the vibe like in there?  How do you feel walking down the hallways? Are you welcomed with warm, authentic smiles from fellow staff members who are eager to assist you with any questions you might have? Ask yourself one important question from an outsider’s perspective: would you want to work here?

Why Having a Positive Work Climate Is Important

Leave it to Google to make everyone else look bad regarding promoting lavishing perks while creating exceptional work environments for their employees. This billion-dollar company sets an extremely high bar when it comes to splurging on their staff.  Many of you are probably reading this while sitting in your office or classroom, stuffing an expired Twix Bar from the only operational vending machine in the school, but let’s take a closer look at how large corporations allocate and invest tremendous amounts of money explicitly earmarked to promote positive work environments. 

It is not uncommon for large corporations to provide complimentary refreshments, occasional corporate lunches, and everyone’s favorite, “casual Fridays,” but companies like Google take it to a whole new level. Google’s employees can feast throughout the day on assortments of delicious snacks from their micro kitchens to their endless supplies of free breakfast, lunch, and dinner in their cafe-like, in-house eateries. Like various organizations, they also have a gym, but with a twist. Their facilities have high-end, state-of-the-art workout equipment, and staff has limitless access to exercise. After a rigorous workout, many personnel take advantage of relaxing in several of their modern employee lounges equipped with futuristic furniture, outfitted with games. Who’s down for a quick game of foosball? Hey, and don’t forget about the occasional deep tissue massage. Don’t worry; they may have these perks, but do they have the pleasure of shaping the minds of future leaders of the world like we do? Didn’t think so. Don’t quit your day job in education just yet.


How Does this Apply to Education?

If anyone deserves a happy and healthy work environment, it's our AMAZING teachers. Many have endured years of pressure from top-down initiatives and constant alterations to curriculum and district restructuring. Several have experienced forever-shifting environments where leaders (school administrators) come and go often. Some schools, unfortunately, feel as if their buildings have an unstoppable revolving door…………