Recently I have heard the word “valued” bandied around during staff workshops. Unfortunately, not in a stock market way where the commodity represents good ‘value”. But in a lack of appreciation way. The need to have effort and work given their due sense of acknowledgement.
“We don’t feel valued” I hear.
“By whom?” I say.
“By the parents,” they reply
I can understand this feeling from the point of view of the educator, as it must be tough sometimes when the action required from the parents to help their offspring falls on deaf ears. This could be construed as they don’t care or undervalue the good work of all educators.
However, I would like to look at where the real value lies.
Who is the holder of the value commodity? Who is it that will turn the value tap on?
To answer this, I look to our Purpose Expectation statement.
The WHY.
The common thread in all school purpose Expectation Statement is “Students” or variations of. This is who we serve. Like a customer. When they feel valued, they return the value. Students are the value givers.
As educators, the value is the progress and enjoyment a student receives from being part of the educator’s program. The mere fact that there is some achievement towards potential, is value. We can all bath in that delightful feeling when a student’s lightbulb luminates.
Peers and leaders would be next in dishing out some well-earned appreciation to up the value commodity. This requires educators to appreciate a peer's contribution by painting the picture they don’t see because it comes naturally.
“Hey, your classroom looks amazing.”
“John’s reading has come so far. Well done you.”
Simple acts of acknowledgement so we feel valued.
Parents prepare their students for school as best they can. They try to keep in touch. Every parent wants the best for their children. However, we all do this differently.
Parent acknowledgement is nice to have, but it is the students who provide the feel-good value.
If you want sustained parent value, keep and collect all the Thank You cards and gifts that are adorned on you during the last week of term, and decorate your 2023 office space. This way you will be reminded of the value you create every day of the year.
But at the end of the day, it is your students who provide the real value.
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