When I think about stakeholders on a power trip, it makes me so upset!
While considering the importance of what a stakeholders role is in your district, you would hope that there would be a fair and equal representation by all individuals, but this is not the case everywhere. I have been involved with school districts where each stakeholder has a voice to be heard and utilized, where each opinion matters as valuable input. Those ideas are transformed into action for the betterment of the school. Then on the flip side I have been involved with a district that doesn't care what anyone else says, the school board runs the show, and that's that! You can waste your time, your energy, your skills...for nothing. Your voice is not recognized as valuable and you are to stick to what you know how to do best, teach or administrate...and let the school board make all the decisions that will affect your job and your students. What is so saddening to me is, that these men and women are elected by our communities, to do a good work, to be an asset to the staff...but instead there's such a power trip struggle going on. Now, if you have substantial pull in the community and have donated major bucks to a building program, THEN you might have a say so (or get elected to the school board). But, if you're "just a teacher"... you might as well be a hermit in your classroom, because your opinion doesn't matter. HOW IN THE WORLD does this make for a positive work environment?? KNOWING that you are just another paycheck? This is craziness to me!
Teachers as stakeholders have one of the most important voices! We are the ones with the children everyday... we are the ones going to all these workshops that you require and learning all the new and improved techniques and policies around our state...that's US! So why can't we be as valuable as we need to be? As valuable as we ARE? For heaven's sake school board members...we are the MVP's, so get off of the power trip! It's not about you! We work for the students..isn't that what yo pay us for? ; )
Call me naive, but I think the GREAT thing about the fact that these people are elected officials is that if they screw up, they can be removed! We as teachers still have a voice in that matter, we can vote against them, we can talk with our friends and family in the community (NOT WITH OUR STUDENTS!) and encourage them to vote against them - I guess it is just the government teacher in me, but our voice is not lost in a democratic society!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, in our district, they cannot be "removed". They can however, not be re-elected the next term.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are in a tough situation. AND, I can't be removed?! That is crazy. :( I hope that you feel valued by your students because they are the most important ones. :)
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