Strong relationships between instructional leaders and teachers are vital for creating a growth-minded, collaborative school environment. When instructional leaders actively engage with teachers, it not only enhances professional growth, but also positively impacts student success. Here you can explore four effective ways for administrators to foster relationships with teachers, enabling a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Capitalize on Opportunities!

As an instructional leader, it is essential to identify and capitalize on opportunities to connect with teachers. 

1) Creative Scheduling

• Maximizing Academic Enrichment Periods: Make the most of available time during the school day, such as an academic enrichment period (W.I.N. Time or FLEX periods are commonly used terms today), to create dedicated time and space for teachers to collaborate. By strategically scheduling these periods, aligning them with departmental schedules, and ensuring they are conducive to meaningful collaboration, you provide teachers with valuable opportunities to work together. Click here to see an example of what a schedule like this might look like. 
• PLC Meetings: Arrange professional learning community (PLC) meetings during the school day to eliminate barriers that prevent teachers from attending, such as scheduling conflicts, appointments, or childcare issues. By creating structured and regular opportunities for teachers to learn, collaborate, and build relationships, you foster a culture of teamwork and support.

2) Job-Embedded Professional Development

Traditional professional development often falls short of meeting teachers’ needs. To overcome these shortcomings, instructional leaders can implement job-embedded professional development that offers long-term support and personalization. Consider the following ideas:

• Cohort-Based Approach: Create cohorts of teachers focused on a specific instructional lens or strategy, such as accountable talk. Pitch the idea to teachers and accept applications to form a dedicated group. Provide monthly full-day trainings, modeled instruction, and blocks of time for co-planning with instructional leaders and cohort members. Encourage peer classroom visits  and use video recording tools like Swivl for feedback and collaboration.
• Learning Walks: Organize scheduled learning walk days where teachers voluntarily open their classrooms to their colleagues. Offer incentives for participation and provide feedback from peers. This process encourages teachers to see one another as valuable resources and promotes a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

3) Book Studies

Book studies offer an excellent opportunity for administrators to engage with teachers in a voluntary and collaborative learning environment. Consider the following ideas:

• Select Instructional Strategies: Choose a book that aligns with a current instructional need or focus, such as AVID, accountable talk, or features of a learning management system that your school uses (Schoology, Canvas, Google Classroom). Model instructional strategies that you wish to see used throughout your building during the book study session to demonstrate their effectiveness.
• Foster Fellowship and Learning: By scheduling book study sessions you are providing a space for teachers to come together, discuss the book, and exchange ideas. Create an atmosphere that promotes fellowship, teacher talk, and the modeling of best practices. Tie the book study discussions to school goals and reference them in other professional development sessions in hopes to keep good conversations going.

4) Teacher Drop-ins

Hosting drop-ins for teachers during their planning periods can be valuable for building relationships and providing support. 

• Schedule and Promote: Plan scheduled quarterly drop-ins, ideally around holidays, and create a welcoming and non-evaluative environment. Set up tables with resources to facilitate discussions, questions, and relationship-building between teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators.
• Combine Learning with Fun: Incorporate treats or small surprises to make the drop-in visits enjoyable. Be intentional with the resources provided and reference them regularly in conversations with teachers. Consistency and repetition in these interactions help build a culture of continuous instructional support.

By implementing these four strategies, instructional leaders can foster strong relationships with teachers, create a culture of collaboration, and improve instructional practices. Through capitalizing on opportunities, providing job-embedded professional development, facilitating book studies, and hosting drop-ins, leaders can support teachers in their professional growth, enhance student learning, and create a positive school environment. Remember, every interaction is an opportunity to foster growth, so capitalize on each one and be present in supporting your teachers’ needs.