Articles for Teachers
Teachers try every day to motivate their students to learn. But sometimes teachers need motivation, too. Principals and other administrators can motivate teachers to do their best every day by setting a positive example and creating opportunities to get involved. Motivated teachers will have more school spirit than unmotivated teachers have, and that spirit will carry through the halls of the school to the students as well.
Designated Duties
Give every teacher a job to do, besides their regular teaching duties. If a teacher only just comes to work, stays in her classroom and leaves at the end of the day, she will feel very little enthusiasm for the school where she works. If she has an important job to do in maintaining the atmosphere of that school, however, her spirit and motivation will increase. Assign teachers roles on school-wide committees and make it a standard requirement for every educator; this way no one gets left out and everyone gets to be part of something bigger than their own classrooms.
Set an Example
Administrators should set a positive example of school spirit and motivation for their teachers. By putting enthusiasm into their jobs and helping out in other areas of the school, administrators can show teachers how they should act toward their jobs. In addition, administrators should encourage teachers to talk to them about any topic so teachers have a resource and an outlet to find help when motivation starts to wane.
Plan Events
Give your teachers an opportunity to play outside of work. Plan parties or events for all staff members and make a special effort to invite the teachers who rarely participate in these types of activities. Make some activities family-friendly and others adults-only to entice teachers of all lifestyles to attend. Form a social committee composed of teachers to plan these events to ensure that they are teacher-friendly.
Invest in Spirit
Spirit gear can go a long way in building school spirit. Some teachers may not have the finances to purchase spirit gear for themselves, so if you do it for them it helps them show their school spirit. Buy your staff members a school t-shirt or coffee mug. If you get shirts for all the staff members, it will help them to feel like they're a part of a collective organization and they'll wear their school spirit with pride.
Encourage Extracurricular Attendance
Provide free admission for teachers to your school's extracurricular activities. This will encourage them to attend events more often. Let teachers in for free at sporting games, academic competitions and school plays. Encourage students to invite their teachers to attend the events they participate in, as well. A creative invitation from a student can provide the push a teacher needs to be more of a physical presence at school events.