Principal's Suggestion Box Letter # 3

These letters are absolutely fictional (to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent.) But, with the hint of truth, maybe we can make some adjustments. Principals have the best chance to do that.

Dear Principal,

Thank you so much for the acknowledgement of our team at the last staff meeting of the year. We truly appreciated the introduction of our team at the first meeting of the year, when you were welcomed as our new administrator. And mentioning us yesterday at our end-of-the-year Bar-B-Que was awesome.

In the previous five years I've taught at CHS, under different administration, the Special Ed. team has never been introduced or recognized in any way.

I felt it would be a good idea just so the other staff would be aware of the psychologists, County personnel, teachers, and paraprofessionals on campus, if nothing else. We are rather busy bees, flitting from classroom to classroom and building to building period by period. It's good to know who is who.

But the respect given by you to introduce us the first meeting of the year, and then announce our timely completion of all our Special Ed. deadlines this year, and the improvement our students--that was an unexpected pat on the back. And also giving credit to the general ed. teachers for working with us to implement the IEPs--our gratitude is unbounded.

It is the norm for us to accomplish these goals, but very special to be acknowledged. Special Ed. staff are normally type B personalities, we just like to do the job without drawing attention--but thanks for announcement. That will make our job with Gen. Ed. easier next year.

Sincerely,
Special Ed. Teacher

Collaboration Between General and Special Education: Making it Work 

http://www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=1097 

Special Education in Collaborative Classrooms

http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/publicschoolprograms/p/collaboration.htm

Educational Leadership Philosophy

http://teaching.about.com/od/admin/ss/Educational-Leadership-Philosophy_7.htm 

My suggestion: In all schools, large or small, all staff needs introduction and recognition. Special Education remains a mystery to most gen ed teachers, and the principal can create an efficient, positive work environment for all staff by modeling camaraderie and disseminating information on what unique, rather complicated job the Special Ed. team does. Meeting all Special Education annual expectations in a timely manner probably should be awarded a trophy or Starbuck's card, but let's not get carried away.