How can a new director step the foot into their new workplace environment smoothly?

Scenario 1: New director dilemma

What issues are raised from each side of the triangle by this situation?

          Managing and Overseeing: Mary Beth and Katrina seem to be testing the new director by ignoring her suggestions and encourage other teachers to do the same. The worst part is talking behind the director’s back and not being cooperative and reactive to the director, which is not right. There is no respect for the director at all. They are also trying to make other teacher do the same thing just like them. Personally, I think this is a really big issue and can affect others. As we can see how disrespectful these 2 teachers are to you as director, and it begs the question. Do they do the same to parents, too?

          Coaching and Mentoring: The teachers are not using different strategies and activities in the classroom that the director is mentioning. When the director suggested new ideas, she was let down by these 2 teachers. This makes the teachers look very bad in my opinion, because they are not respectful of their director. Even though they have been at the program for eight years and have always worked together and feel comfortable where they are they forget one critical reality in early childhood education. And that is how things are always changing and evolving in childhood education. As a teacher, we still go to workshops as well as training classes to get more knowledge of new ways of working in classrooms in certain areas.

          Building and Supporting Community: The fact that the teachers have worked in the program for many years, they should know that different group of children requires different strategies, activities, and environment to match their interests. New suggestions by the director might ultimately help the children improve in many different areas. By focusing on just one curriculum, in this case, art related curriculum children maybe missing out on science, music, math, or other engaging activities that may improve children in other areas. Another downside to this scenario is it creates enmity between teachers and the director. In the end, the children will be most affected.

What strategies from each side might you use to address the issues?

          After reading the three ways to respond to this scenario, I think this would be a difficult situation for me to deal with because I don’t like telling people what to do, but its also really hard for me to ignore something that I think should be changed or improved.

          Managing and Overseeing: I think it may be hard to come into a program as a new director, especially if it's your first time in the position. If I were the director I would keep doing my part as what the director should do. I would hold meetings regularly to talk about the new curriculum and changes in the program. At the same time, I would also want to gain advice from the experienced staff as well and I think the staff will feel appreciated and important.

         Coaching and Mentoring: As the director, I would allow staff to voice their opinions and take in consideration what they say and how they feel about things, but I would also want them to do the same. Personally, I would let the staff know that I am there for them, if they need advice or want to talk about certain things. Showing respect for one another is something I would do as well.

         Building and Supporting Community: As the director, I would provide or ask staff to attend the workshops that will help them to gain new idea and knowledge of early childhood education. I would provide some community events for families to come in and learn more and get to know more about the program. At the same time the staff will have more opportunities to come out and get to know more about each other and learn about the community they work in.

Scenario 2: Messing with Michael

What issues are raised from each side of the triangle by this situation?

          Managing and Overseeing: Environments that neat and organized is a requirement when working with young children. As we all know that unorganized and messy classroom can become a safety hazard issue especially when you start to smell rotten food that is a sign that show your classroom really needs cleaning because rotting food can attract bugs or ants and will cause really bad smell when it has mold. This is a big issue because this is the first thing the parents see and smell when entering the center. Personally, messy and dirty classroom or environment can lead to negative aspect to the parents of the children and can interfere with clarifying professional standards as well.

          Coaching and Mentoring: Michael has very strong ideas about how he wants to run his classroom because he explains his reason about his cubbies strategy and his philosophy. However, This issue may cause some conflict for the director and the teacher because the cleanliness and organization may also interfere his personal philosophy. Personally, I think he seems like a very good teacher, but he just disorganized. But he also has to understand the impact this decision has made on the center especially in terms of cleanliness because these impacts has affect on children, parents and other staff who he is working with.

          Building and Supporting Community: A messy classroom is some the issue that affect everyone because it will be safety issue for children, unattractive for families and irritation to staff member. Personally, this messy entrance is not exactly welcoming to family members to come in at all. It could also make family transfer their child to different school.

What strategies from each side might you use to address the issues?

          Managing and Overseeing: As a director I would tell Michael that I understand his wonderful philosophy about giving children responsibility to make decisions on their own and that is the good learning for children. But at the same time you need to understand that as a teacher we need to keep the classroom and environment to be clean and safe for children. So you might need to adjust your way of teaching and organizing your classroom. By helping children learn how to be responsible with the stuff in their cubbies and how to keep them clean will help encouraged children about personal responsibility as well and that might appear to be a better look for your classroom.

          Coaching and Mentoring: I want everyone to feel important and tread them with the respect. So I will discuss with teacher about why keeping his classroom clean in private. I will also explain about the impacts of having disorganized classroom and environment that will affect the children, children’s families, staff member and himself.

          Building and Supporting Community: At the meetings, I would let all the teachers know why it is important to keep their classrooms clean by cleaning, sanitizing, and organizing the classroom. Especially, when families or accreditation come in a messy and disorganized classroom will turn them off.