From the Executive Director
Great Schools Need Great Teams
D
uring my career, I have been in thousands of schools and one thing that stands out—when you are in a great school, everyone in it is dedicated to making that school successful; and not just the principal or the teachers, but the housekeeping and lunchroom staffs, bus drivers and paraprofessionals. They all work together to create a positive learning environment for their students. I know when I am in such a school: the grounds are immaculate, the halls clean and the restrooms spotless. The lunchroom is also efficiently and effectively run, buses are on time and behavior concerns are relatively rare. Everyone is committed to the mission, and it makes all the difference. Because we understand that it takes the entire team to make a school successful, we recently wrote to legislative leaders to share our concerns regarding the governor’s budgetary proposal that would take healthcare benefits away from non-certificated school district employees working less than 30 hours per week. We stated that: “Educators comprise the primary workforce that makes schools places of teaching and learning. But their efforts would be in vain if there were not school bus drivers to bring the children to school; food service staffs to provide breakfast, lunch and after-school snacks; and housekeeping staffs to assure that students have clean, safe buildings and
March/April 2015
classrooms in which to learn. Any school leader will tell you that these non-certificated staff members are critical parts of the education team.” Our letters, and similar legislator contacts from countless other individuals and groups, have had an impact. We think that they will find a way to continue these benefits. While the salaries and retirement benefits for these staff members have never been lavish, a great many of them endure those lower pay levels because their employment includes health benefits for themselves and their families. Taking away these benefits would place a real hardship on many thousands of hardworking Georgians who contribute each day to the safety, well-being, teaching and learning of our students throughout the state. Instead of trying to cut benefits for these dedicated individuals, we’d like to see more effort on the part of our elected officials to recognize and reward them for the vital role they play in our schools every day. I know educators deeply appreciate the help they get from noncertificated staff, and they wouldn’t want to face their jobs without them. We know these men and women are integral to the success of our schools. Let’s engage and involve them in our plans to transform schools and let’s celebrate them every n chance we get.
Dr. Allene Magill
Educators comprise the primary workforce that makes schools places of teaching and learning. But their efforts would be in vain if there were not school bus drivers to bring the children to school; food service staff to provide breakfast, lunch and after-school snacks; and housekeeping staff to assure that students have clean, safe buildings and classrooms in which to learn.
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