What do you wish you could tell your boss?

Are you ever afraid to ask a question, because you’re not sure if you’re ready to hear the answer? WELL, we went ahead and polled teachers from around the country, asking: “What do you wish you could tell your boss?” Now, there’s a reason we use a word like “boss”. The education landscape is ever growing and evolving, with different types of schools and education centers using different terms for leadership roles, so we wanted to leave it as open as possible. Sometimes, open and honest conversations about a work environment are difficult. Although they can be awkward, it’s helpful to know that all teachers, staff and admin can say confidently that they feel supported and secure. Scroll on and read the good, the bad, and the in-between! Some of the answers might surprise you.

1.) “I would like to tell my director that I love how she’s always so open to talk out an issue, even if it is just me over-thinking. That being said, when it comes to dealing with certain situations, I feel she’s wearing her parent hat a little more than her teacher one.”

2.) “I would tell my boss that she needs to take more time and invest in her staff, training, talking, teaching. The staff is what makes this place a place to want to be, and without pride in your staff you have no-one.”

3.) “If you focus on your teachers wellbeing- they will focus on your clients/student’s well being.”

4.) “I’m an Assistant. I have been for the past 10 years. I will graduate in May with my bachelors and immediately begin working on my Masters. With that said, my principals have been excellent within two different districts. Preschool Coordinators on the other hand, 0 feedback. It’s discouraging. I would love to belong.”

5.) “We are trying our hardest. Please back us up.”

6.) “Sometimes it’s difficult to divide and conquer one more thing.”

7.) “I would tell my principal: thanks for being a good guy and for choosing me to be a teacher in his school.”

8.) “Focusing too heavily on money and budget loses really good teachers.”

9.) ” I would tell my boss to actually spend a day in a classroom with all the new ‘rules’ she’s trying to implement. Giving free paint, markers and crayons to 1.5 year olds during free play is definitely not going to happen.”

10.) Focus less on hiring, tours, and enrollment, and just be there, day to day for the kids and staff that are already here!”

11.) “Giving us praise every once in a while isn’t the worst thing in the world, telling us we’re doing well would be appreciated instead of only pointing out the things you don’t like.”

12.) “That I am so grateful for this job that I love so much. Thank you for the resources and support to continue becoming a better me, even though I have been doing this for 25 years. Thank you for respecting me and making me feel valued. You rock and this organization rocks. I am blessed. Even when it’s tough.”

13.) “Please...come into my classroom...I could really use another set of eyes!”

14.) “I need you to tell me when I'm doing good. I need your support not your criticism. I can read between your lines. I am a good teacher whether you value my strengths or not!”

15.) “Thank you for having my back when problems arise.”

16.) Please do not criticize if you cannot provide suggestions or solutions. Getting to the root of behaviors takes time and trial and error.”

17.) “Value my work. It’s hard and what looks like play or babysitting is hard, important work. I’m thinking of 100 different things when making lesson plans, and loving each one of my students.”

18.) “Come visit our classroom more often”.

19.) “Don’t just tell me, show me! Come to my classroom and give me an example so I can see more clearly.”

20.) “I tell my staff often, but I never feel it’s enough that they are AMAZING and they make my job so much easier than it has ever been!!!”

21.) “I wish they knew how hard I fight for them every moment of the day and how much weight I carry trying to help them to become their best selves.”

22.) “I wish my staff knew that I pray for them daily. I wish my committee knew what it is to have 99 people with 99 problems, and all roads that lead to my office. I wish parents knew how much we love their kids, how many hours of sleep we give up thinking about new ways to reach and teach them.”