This is the fourth blog in a five-week series for the month of March featuring “GUMBO” tips. Here we go with the letter: B
BRING YOUR BEST
This is as simple as it can be to understand, but it still must be stated. New teachers must always “Bring Your Best” to work. Give your students your best efforts to provide excellent instruction and when your best isn’t good enough, go back to the drawing board. You must not be afraid of failure in this profession and never let a bad experience get in your way. Even the most accomplished educator has those days, but you must not get into the mindset of defeat. Come back and “Bring Your Best.” You will get the best out of your students that way. On the job search, “Bring Your Best” to completing the application process and to the interview/s.
This is also a quick recruitment tip for school district administrators: BRING YOUR BEST to the job fairs. The best representatives for the district or school will be those people who will actually get out of their chairs at the job fair and talk to candidates. It is never a good idea to send Mr. or Ms. Lack of Personality to a job fair. I know it is a day of relief for the school or office, but they generally turn off candidates, so don’t send them. The candidates who come to the event are there to look for a job, but remember that you are looking for a teacher. Even if you are not in the market for one today, you may be in the market tomorrow. Negative experiences travel faster than positive ones.
Daphne Donaldson, Recruitment Manager
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Baton Rouge, Louisiana