Private school leaders face yearly turnovers. They think that teachers leave because of the salary offers in other school. In this country, the government schools offers higher starting salary for teachers.
Is it impossible for a school to experience no turnovers?
Is it impossible for a school to experience no turnovers?
It is not! It is achievable. Because this year, the school where I lead has no turnover report (by His grace).
Believe it or not, the compensation in my school is not that attractive compared to the compensation that a teacher can get from the public schools. By all means Makati City public schools offer higher benefits and other additional compensation to public school teachers/employees that can really make a teacher leave the private service.
But salary is not all that matters to teachers.
A great factor to teacher turnover is their LEADERS.
Teaching is a very challenging task. Everyday, teachers are exposed to so many different challenges like the overly pampered pupils, very hands-on parents, politics in the faculty, the ever so changing curriculum and their own personal concerns. And so they need a leader who will not add up to the burden but a leader who can help them carry the burden with them.
Leaders need to look the teachers not as subordinates but partners. Let us admit it, we can’t run the school alone. We need to work with the teachers in as much as we work with the parents, students and the Education community. Unfortunately, some leaders look at teachers as subordinates, not their equals that creates a barrier between a teacher and the leader. Some leaders have an attitude that “I am higher than you so do as I say!” and this gives a feeling of separation from the teachers. Some leaders have the “entitlement mindset” that they think they should be more favored than the teachers.
Leaders need to not only be concerned by how well teachers do their jobs but also how well they are coping up with the other concerns. Teachers need to feel they have a strong leader support who will stand by them when they fall and not leave them when parents complain arises. They need a leader who will tell them what they did and help them realize the consequences of their own actions and not to condemn them or humiliate them in front of a complaining parent. They need a leader who can understand their weaknesses and help them become a better person by their able guidance. They need a leader who prays for and with them, a leader who will not just be concerned about their professional and personal journeys but also concerned about their spiritual journeys. Unfortunately, some leaders don’t even have time to ask “how are you doing?” to their teachers. Some already know that the teachers are going through a rough time, yet don’t even ask the teacher what can they do to help. This gives teachers a feeling of being alone amidst of the crowd in front of them.
Leaders need to look at the teachers as members of a family. Each member has their own task to fulfill but for one specific goal. Leaders need to feel what their teachers feel by being always available. Leaders need need to bridge the gap between members of the faculty, They need to make everyone feel that they are equally important. In some organizations, leaders favor the ones “close” to them than the ones who are not. This gives teachers a feeling of ‘favoritism’ in their work place.
Teachers need a leader who is mature enough to acknowledge when they are wrong. It is not demeaning for a leader to say sorry to a teacher when they are wrong. In fact, humility is a strong character that a leader should possess. And seeing that their leader is humble, every member of a faculty will learn humility by your example. In many occasions, leaders do not say sorry for the wrongs that they did, some are even too calloused to acknowledge their own mistakes, instead they feel they are “infallible”.
Any teacher can accept rebuking when done in the office, not in public places where other colleagues can see and hear. A leader should learn the art of correcting mistakes; when they do, the person being rebuked will feel the concern rather than the condemnation. I have witnessed before a colleague being yelled at in the hallway by my former school leader. My co-teacher is already crying out of fear and embarrassment. When I saw that, I told myself that I won’t be like that when I become a leader. My office will always be the avenue for rebuking not hallways, not facebook walls.
Teachers need a leader, not a boss. They need us to show them how things are done and allow them to do things on their own (with guidance) that helps them take responsibility of their own decisions. They need a leader who will walk with them to carry the load, not a leader who tells them to carry the load. In real life, some leaders like that they are being served by the teachers, being given the best front seat, near the fan and with the best shade. This is totally different from how Jesus taught us what a leader should be: a servant-leader.
Leading is never easy and we can’t perfect it overnight. But if you’re leading with your heart, mind, body and soul at their right places, then you’ll be effective. If you’re leading without worrying about your poise, title, privilege and time, then the teachers will have that same working ethics as you are.
Don’t be the factor why your teachers leave. Be the factor why your teachers stay.
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