One of the best planned activities that my former principal would implement was sitting down with each teacher to ask a few simple questions; (1) what went well this year, (2) what didn't go so well, and (3) what can administration do to help?
This was an amazing thing to do, for teacher and administrator. Something I'll always value and use as an example for the leader I'd like to be. But I could see how much time and effort it took. And it put a toll on getting things done in other areas.
To make an activity like this a little easier for any administrators, that would like to try, is to use Skype. I know my former principal would wear out a pair of shoes going to each teacher's classroom (often going several times because the teacher was away from their room). Using Skype would save travel time and get staff motivated to train and use a good piece of technology.
Teachers have the opportunity to sign-up for a specific time slot and the principal would be online to meet and go through the three questions above, or make their own. If any teacher prefers to meet face-to-face, an option can be available on the sign-up sheet.
Once the principal and teachers are all accustomed to using Skype, it just might make it's way into the classroom where teachers and students may use it to connect with other teachers and students in classrooms around the county, state, and far beyond.
