Interacting With Teaching Colleagues
How to Create Lasting Collegial Relationships With Other Educators
Sep 24, 2008
Here are a several ways new teachers can get to know those they work with and ways they can build collegiality:
Spend Time In Different Locations With Different People
First, never keep to yourself at your desk. Your classroom is isolating. Spend some of your preps in the library or facility room. Eat lunch in the facility room. Talk to the secretaries each morning. Make friends with the custodians. Walk around the building during your down time with a smile on your face and say good morning or good afternoon to everyone. Meet people from different departments. Their expertise will be invaluable to you in the future. People may not remember your name right away, but they will begin to recognize you as one of their own.
Attend Work-Related Events and Parties
Even when you are exhausted, attending a work-related event can be the best way to establish relationships with colleagues in a casual setting. Your attendance will show others that you are committed to the staff. However, limit yourself to one drink at a work event. Any more than that, and you may let your guard down and say things you will regret on Monday morning. Becoming the office gossip is not the impression you are hoping to make.
Be a Team Player
Being a team player does not mean you are a yes person. It means establishing your reliability as a co-worker. It means keeping deadlines and showing up at meetings. It means coming to work on time and leaving at the proper time. Unfortunately, it also means holding back minor opinions and complains to benefit the whole. But don’t worry; once you become a team player, you will become part of the family, and when you have a legitimate complaint, chances are others will be more willing to listen and help.
Beware of Office Gossip
It’s impossible to avoid school gossip, but beware of how you respond. As a new teacher, what you say makes a lasting first impression that will be difficult to undo. Also, form your own opinions of others teachers, students, and school policies rather than listening to the rumors.
Beware of Alliances
Realize that once you begin spending time with specific co-workers, other co-workers notice. Often, becoming close friends with particular colleagues will immediately alert other co-workers that you are aligned, closing off possible relationships with other colleagues. It’s inevitable but true -- once you get a close network of friends at work, you lose out on friendships with other co-workers. So choose your network carefully.
By taking the time to make lasting collegial relationships based on trust and respect, you will provide yourself a healthy working environment for years to come.
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