1. How is the challenge of making stakeholders feel welcome to your school (or place of work) connected to your school mission?
My school's mission statement is directly connected to making stakeholders feel welcome by using language that shows we appreciate everyone. The language states that we are going to "cultivate an awareness and respect for other cultures, and empower future leaders of a global society." A group of upper grade students gives tours to visitors, thus putting into practice our school's policy of "visitors are always welcomed." They take them around the campus and proudly share with them all the wonderful things that are going on.
2. What did you do to assess which stakeholder group (or subgroup) could be more effectively welcomed? And what did you find?
I informally interviewed various stakeholders (parents, students, some colleagues, and school staff) and I took one of the tours given by our upper grade students. I went on the tour because I wanted to make sure I saw our campus from a lense I was not used to seeing it from. From this information I was able to gather that our lunch and recess supervisors were a group that didn't seem to be getting the welcome that mostly everyone else in our school was lucky to receive.
3. Future Sphere of Influence: What would you do to improve welcoming this group if you were the school leader?
I would have a short assembly at the beginning of the year explaining their jobs to our school. I would also ask teachers to have each of their students come to the assembly with two questions: one personal and one about what their role on campus is. Then I would have a short Q & A session in which the playground supervision staff calls on students to ask their questions. Lastly I would ask the students to greet their supervision staff at least once, every day, while they are at lunch or recess.
4. Current Sphere of Influence: What can you do in your present position to enhance welcoming these stakeholders?
I will invite all recess/lunch duties, if they can attend, to our classroom for a short meet and greet session. I will tell my students that we are going to have some mystery guests that are going to talk about their job. I will then show the students a short video, in which I interview them.
5. Current Sphere of Influence: Commit to 5 things you are willing to do this semester that will make your school a more welcoming place:
My school's mission statement is directly connected to making stakeholders feel welcome by using language that shows we appreciate everyone. The language states that we are going to "cultivate an awareness and respect for other cultures, and empower future leaders of a global society." A group of upper grade students gives tours to visitors, thus putting into practice our school's policy of "visitors are always welcomed." They take them around the campus and proudly share with them all the wonderful things that are going on.
2. What did you do to assess which stakeholder group (or subgroup) could be more effectively welcomed? And what did you find?
I informally interviewed various stakeholders (parents, students, some colleagues, and school staff) and I took one of the tours given by our upper grade students. I went on the tour because I wanted to make sure I saw our campus from a lense I was not used to seeing it from. From this information I was able to gather that our lunch and recess supervisors were a group that didn't seem to be getting the welcome that mostly everyone else in our school was lucky to receive.
3. Future Sphere of Influence: What would you do to improve welcoming this group if you were the school leader?
I would have a short assembly at the beginning of the year explaining their jobs to our school. I would also ask teachers to have each of their students come to the assembly with two questions: one personal and one about what their role on campus is. Then I would have a short Q & A session in which the playground supervision staff calls on students to ask their questions. Lastly I would ask the students to greet their supervision staff at least once, every day, while they are at lunch or recess.
4. Current Sphere of Influence: What can you do in your present position to enhance welcoming these stakeholders?
I will invite all recess/lunch duties, if they can attend, to our classroom for a short meet and greet session. I will tell my students that we are going to have some mystery guests that are going to talk about their job. I will then show the students a short video, in which I interview them.
5. Current Sphere of Influence: Commit to 5 things you are willing to do this semester that will make your school a more welcoming place:
- Teacher-led Bi Monthly tours of our campus
- Smile and greet everyone by name
- Sit with students once a week during lunch
- Write a thank you email to my students every month
- Bring a snack to the teachers lounge and write a thank you note