Even under normal circumstances, teachers and other school staff are pulled in a thousand directions each day. The pandemic has exacerbated this tenfold. So it’s no wonder that in a recent poll of our superintendents, many of you said the thing keeping you up at night is wondering how to boost staff morale. Here are a few things we’ve found are moving the needle.
- Grassroots displays of appreciation. Suggest to your parent groups that they make homemade thank you signs and line the parking lot with them as staff arrive one morning. Ask them to make care packages for bus drivers, who are often overlooked but are critical to your team. Or encourage students or entire classes to write thank you letters, giving specific examples of how that teacher or aide has helped them or impacted their life.
- Overcommunicate. Communicate openly and frequently about upcoming decisions and how they are being made. Allow staff to weigh in when possible. People like feeling as if they are in control, especially now when so much feels out of their control. This also makes staff feel more included, which can unify them. You can also create advisory groups of staff. Meet regularly to share updates and find out what their pain points are. Sometimes people just want to be heard and know they are not alone.
- Feature them. Featuring staff on your website or social media channels is another simple way to say thank you. Start with your nurses, counselors and bus drivers, whose roles and importance have grown exponentially since the start of the pandemic.
- Share good news. Positivity is contagious! Invite staff to share good news stories or what they consider their little victories throughout the day. These can be shared in staff meetings, through staff communications, on your website and/or social media channels. It’s a good way to show that despite the challenges of the last two years, they are still making a difference. You’ll be amazed to see how quickly your overall culture changes.
And don’t forget, if you need an extra hand with staff communications, establishing advisory groups, or managing your social media accounts, we’re here to help!
