Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/229155
FEATURE Unions protect bad teachers. WRONG. Managers are anti-union. WRONG again. Superintendent Judy White and MVEA President Harold Acord dispel myths about managers and unions. to improve school climate Frosty is good if you're talking about a snowman — but not when it describes the relationship between educators and administrators in your district. BY SHERRY POSNICK-GOODWIN 26 Educator 12 Dec 2013 v2.0 int.indd 26 "school climate" has a direct impact on achievement and behavior of students. It also impacts the motivation, productivity and job satisfaction of school employees. Schools with a chilly climate tend to have lower test scores, more discipline problems and higher staff turnover. Schools with a positive climate have honest and open communication, involve teachers in decision-making, and demonstrate a willingness to experiment. School employees tend to feel hopeful at these sites. Can school climate change for the better? Of course! While it may not be easy, it's possible for educators, administrators and school board members to put aside differences and work together to improve student success. It starts with improving communication between the union and the district. Think about your school climate. Does it need improving? Learn from CTA chapters that have improved the local climate. It can't always be perfect, but teachers and administrators listen to one another, work together, and even share some "Kumbaya" moments. T U D I E S S H O W T H AT DE C E M B E R 2013 | JANUARY 2014 12/14/13 3:33 PM