Walk-throughs are an interesting notion…they are unannounced
and yet I go out of my way to attempt to schedule them for times I feel would
be beneficial to the person I am observing.
What have I discovered? Well, 1)
I have discovered that the first formal observation (which was announced, may I
add) was great! I was able to see my team in action, demonstrating their
abilities to the hilt and it gave me a wonderful feeling of knowing that our
students are in very competent hands. And 2) Unannounced walk-throughs have
given me another glimpse into the classroom altogether. Now don’t get me wrong- I was in the
classroom for fourteen years and completely understand the notion of days gone
horribly wrong…but to see that in more than a couple of classes, on separate
occasions, has taken me off guard.
What can I say when I go into a classroom to observe an
employee and they don’t realize I am there and are braiding hair and having
discussion not at all relating to the content they are intended to support? How
do I word that in their observations? What do I do when a co-teacher arrives
ten minutes late to a class with a cup of coffee in her hand and tries to act
nonplussed when she realizes I’m in the room WAITING for her?! These are just a couple of vexing examples I
can provide, but it leaves me deflated and cynical.
I know that these educators are competent and dynamic, I
witnessed it on the first “dog and pony show”…but how have they become so lax
in their preparation and planning? Is it because they feel that as a first year
administrator I won’t call them out on this behavior? Is it because I used to be their peer that
they feel they don’t have to be as alert and prepared as they had to be with
other supervisors? Or is it that the prior supervisors have allowed this
behavior to exist and now it’s the status quo?
If anything, I know that I am more observant for these reasons and
perhaps they don’t realize that…
So, as I lurch forward with these walk-throughs, I will be sure to make my opinions of their
most recent behaviors known and reinforce my expectations for them. Here’s the part that my fellow administrators
can tell me that they “told me so”. And
just when I get so frustrated that I can’t take it anymore, we have a break
where I can regroup and plan for their return…
Until next time,
Caroline
