Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Leading and Managing Personnel

Chapter 5

Aloha Everyone!

You may have an awesome program vision and mission. But without staffing and I mean good staffing, your program vision and mission will be ineffective. I was surprise on the turnover rate 40% in early care and education personnel in the U.S. (Center for the Child Care Workforce, 2004). This is due to high job stress, lack of administrative support, low compensation, and inadequate training (Hale-Jinks et al., 2006).

We need administrative support, better pay, and more quality training with these there will be less stress for teachers. The director plays a big role in early childcare education. They are in charge with both primary program personnel (direct service with children) and support program personnel (provide services for primary personnel). These two groups need each other to support the children in the education system. The director in my eyes is like the glue that keeps everything together and makes sure that everything is running smoothly.

This chapter was very important, this reminded me how everyone from primary program personnel to support program personnel is important to the education system and the director is the one who keep everything together.

As a teacher, I feel that my director (Principal) plays a big role in my career life. You see my passion is to teach and this person(s) makes it happen by having administration supporting me with all my needs and having my classroom environment as safe as it could be for me and my students.

So my hat goes off to all the directors who make my job easy ;-D!

5 comments:

  1. Love how you explain your thoughts with how the director is the glue that keeps everything together. So true. But, if it's not permanent glue and rather washable glue, then what? Do we see what we are seeing? How turn over rates are high with directors because they are not able to keep it together only because "water" washed away their creation? It's really sad that there is a high turn over rate for both staffing and directors. Mainly it is due to low wages but also lack of leadership and training. But then you have many programs with strong directors trying to hire trained professionals to have success in their programs. Wouldn't life be grand if early childhood was more recognized that way we would be funded more monies and retain the staff! More consistency means more positive outcomes for the children and families!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I do agree that it's staffing that will make the program work or not. From the Director to the teachers and including the aides. One person can make or break a program or at least make it worth while to go to work or make it where you don't want to get up in the morning. I have known a few directors and it's important to be on the same page. If you're not than things can get confusing as well as frustrating. I'm lucky to work with staff who are on the same page as myself. We do go through aides because they have to be students of the college. This does get hard at times. I wish we would have a full time aide that knows what to do and is reliable. I also agree that money is an issue for the high turn over in Early Childhood.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Gary,
    You are using an interesting metaphor -- the director is the glue that holds a center together. As I read this, I wonder about how power dynamics relate to the metaphor. Should the director be central? Does the metaphor imply that director or principals have all the power? Does the use of this hierarchy support the development of a collaborative school construct? Or should all the power always be at the top?

    I wonder how the Exchange articles as well as comments on your previous posts might contribute to your discussion.

    Jeanne

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Gary...well..you are right...with out good staffing what is a mission statement and all that. I know times are hard now days for job. and esp in the early childhood what is a good program with out a good director. A director seems like the person who sets a foundation of the school. don't you ever notice how if you have a well organized good director, it seems to run more smoothly...well thats how i see it...But then who said that the director has all the power and control of everything. Who mad that rule? should the director always have the power and control of setting the foundation of the program?

    ReplyDelete
  5. I totally that the quality of staff is so important, it may even be more effective than having a lot of staff. Having a lot of unqualified staff can make the job even harder than it already is. Teachers who are inconsistent and not cut out for working with children can make for a very challenging classroom for both the teacher as well as the children.
    It is great to have other teachers and directors who you can count on and are dedicated to their job and strive to provide the best and healthiest experiences for the children. Happier teachers often will produce happier children which can make all the difference.

    ReplyDelete