Administrator

Strong leadership from administrators is critical to building a school community where all students are welcome and respected.

• Clearly communicate the importance of a safe and caring community for students and how that can improve academic achievement.
• Ensure that the educators and staff in your school or district are prepared for teachable moments and can interrupt bias-based teasing and bullying.
• Use our new film, What Do You Know? as a starting point to discuss ways to stop hurtful teasing and bullying in your school. Use the special feature on the DVD Teacher’s Respond to discuss teaching practices.
• Need some help developing and implementing plans to develop a more welcoming school, contact a regional consultant for Welcoming Schools.
• Engage the parent/guardian community in the school and their children’s learning.
• Look at the evaluation of the Welcoming Schools pilot project from multiple districts in the U.S. to help you determine if Welcoming Schools is an initiative that will make a positive difference in your school or district.
• Develop and implement school policies and practices that establish expectations of respect.
• For more ideas, check out Steps You Can Take as an Administrator to develop a welcoming school.

“Our schools can, and should be, places where students are free to learn unencumbered by fear. It’s their right and our responsibility.” — From a Letter in Support of Welcoming Schools by the Superintendent of the Minnesota pilot site