12 TIPS FOR MOTIVATING SCHOOL TEACHERS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT.

Imagine that a school is a car, and that the teachers are the engine, what would happen if each and every day, we drive and drive and drive giving little to no thought about its upkeep or maintenance? Obviously, it will eventually breakdown requiring major repairs to get it running efficiently again, but unlike a car, finding suitable resolutions for the problems could be a long, drawn-out and expensive process that could ultimately culminate in a situation that could damage a schools professional reputation. In today’s world, being a teacher is a never-ending challenge. Besides the daily responsibility of the planning, preparing, teaching and marking, teachers have to deal with students who have behavioral problems, family issues, learning disabilities, and more. As a school Headmaster/administrator, keeping your teachers motivated is one of your most important roles if your school is to be successful.

 

1. Be an active presence in the school.

An administrator who spends their days locked in their office attending solely to administrative matters is guaranteed to head a school that will ultimately fail to reach its full potential. To understand what is happening in a school merely through the updates of others such as coordinators will ultimately culminate in a mental illusion of the true reality. Apart from administrative duties, your role is to also keep your teachers happy, to make their lives easier so that they can teach effectively and your students can reap the rewards through a higher level of education. Visit classes, talk to students, visit their presentation days, join them in art classes, or play a game of football with them. Show your teachers, and students that you are human, that you are interested in them and their education, and that you care about their success. Help your teachers where possible when they have a lot of work to do and ask them if they need help with anything so that they do not feel like you are out of touch with their reality. In addition, where possible, help your teachers through the use of additional materials and technology.

2. Give them freedom. Teachers are natural-born leaders.

Great teachers are natural-born leaders. Each and every day, they take the reins in their classroom and lead their students forwards in an effort to achieve great success. A good administrator accepts this reality, and within the structure of their school, allows their teachers to create, to experiment and to succeed. A good administrator gives their teachers freedom, accepts their mistakes without penalty and rewards their positive achievements. Only through supported freedom, and the positive and negatives that it presents, can teachers reach their ultimate level of success as an educator.

3. Respect.

Teachers are professionals, and whilst none of them are perfect, they do deserve to be treated with a sufficient level of respect that is deserving of their position. Respect is like gasoline in a car engine, it provides the energy that is needed to move forward in an efficient manner. In my experience, administrators who give respect always receive the highest level of commitment from their teachers.

4. Challenge them.

Teachers are some of the most creative professionals in the world, but many work under restrictive rules and guidelines that stifle their creativity and enthusiasm. Administrators need to challenge their teachers, they need to push them, to set high expectations and to demand only the very best results. To achieve this, we need to reward them with the freedom that they need to fly free, to think outside of the box and to feel that they can achieve greatness without restrictions. Administrators need to take some risks, allow some freedom and then challenge their teachers, because only then will their teachers feel that they are able to meet the stringent standards that are set for them.

5. Positive reinforcement

When a teacher feels that they are a respected, valued member of the team, then, generally speaking, they will feel positive and motivated. Positive reinforcement is one of the most powerful tools that an administrator can use when creating a motivated team. A simple handshake  or words of encouragement such as “Well done”, “Good work” or “I’m proud of you” is often all that it takes to make a teacher know how truly important that they are in the school. Making each teacher feel valued can be as simple as an announcement during assembly thanking the teacher for something that they have recently done. You can also organize a special lunch or dinner where you can personally thank teachers for their outstanding contributions to the school.

6. Start each day on a positive note.

Each morning, whether it is at the gate, or in the classrooms, take the time to greet each teacher individually with a smile, a handshake or a hug (Depending upon the culture of where your school is located). This simple, but important gesture can break down traditional barriers that are often found between administrators and teachers. Show them that you were once a teacher too and that you know, and respect them for who they are, and what they do.

 

7. Small rewards

Consider purchasing something small, like department store gift cards or tickets to the cinema that you can give to teachers who go above and beyond general expectations. This way, you will show them that you not only noticed their additional efforts, but that you appreciate and reward them for being conciencious, hard working professionals.

8. Encourage professional development.

Good teachers love to learn, they constantly challenge themselves to be the best that they can be. As part of general school policy, administrators should offer regular professional development for their teachers both within and outside the school. This could include conferences and workshops from a variety of professional sources such as book publishers, distributors, governmental departments or through educational associations. 

9. Teachers have voices too.

Being left out of an important decision that affects their job is the easiest way for a teacher to lose their motivation. Many teachers would love the opportunity to be involved in these decisions if you gave them the opportunity. Invite a teacher from each grade to be a representative during academic meetings in order to get their opinion and to hear their proposed strategies. These teachers could also form an effective médium between the administration and the other teachers who make up their grades. Also hold regular meetings where every teacher is able to attend and have an opportunity to express themselves freely, and without fear of consequences.

10. Empower teachers’ with the freedom to experiment.

Everybody has strengths and weaknesses. When teachers are able to use their strengths in the classroom, students become more engaged and inspired. It may be difficult for some teachers to understand their strengths and how they fit into the curriculum, but when the administrator encourages them to try, to experiment, and then supports their efforts, then the outcome for the students will always be more positive.  Take the time and make the effort to help teachers to figure out what works well in their classroom, and then have each teacher reflect on what they tried, and the results that they achieved. Through experimenting and reflexión, teachers will always be happier, more positive, and more successful.

11. Don’t overload

When making changes, or conducting professional development workshops, schedule them for times when the teachers' workloads are at their lightest. If it is the end of the semester, and students grades/report cards are due, don’t schedule workshops or other time-consuming activities that could increase their stress level. 

 

12. Team work

Having your teachers work together in teams can have a significant impact on their level of motivation. The most experienced teachers will always be recognized for their best teaching strategies whilst younger, less experienced teachers will receive validation from the fact that the things that they have been trying are actually working. Consider creating professional learning/ development/ academic teams within your school to create a more formal structure for team collaboration.

Keeping teachers motivated can be a constant challenge, but it is essential if your students’ are to achieve the máximum level of educational success. Great teachers are those that are able to think and teach freely, who are motivated to excel and who take pride in their students’ success. 
 

To all of the Headmasters, Principles, and administrators, I hope that this article gives you a few useful ideas on how to manage, and motivate your teachers so that your students and your school achieve the highest academic level possible.

This article was first written in 2007 and then updated in 2019