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Building Positive Relationships with your Custodial Staff |
The custodial and maintenance staff isn’t just around to sweep the
floors, empty the wastebaskets, and clean up messes. They play an
important role in the school environment.
These people are not only essential to keeping the building and grounds
in top shape and presentable to the public, but also keep the various
physical systems in the school in working order. These may include
heating & cooling, water, plumbing, and electrical systems, and
sometimes even technology. They may also put up walls, plow the snow,
line the football field, repair the drinking fountains, and put
together classroom furniture.
Your custodial and maintenance
workers can help you in a number of ways. They certainly can keep your
room and hallway in tip-top shape. Many times, custodians will pick up
and collect pencils and pens from the halls, and will drop them off in
your room if they know you need them.
And
they will often help you out if you have requests. In many schools,
their contracts and union will dictate what physical jobs can be done
by school personnel other than maintenance/custodial workers. So if
you’re having trouble with your room heating unit, your clock is not
synchronized with those around the school, or your door is squeaky, you
can usually get prompt service if they know you and know you appreciate
their time and efforts. If you are well liked by the maintenance staff,
your requests may often move up the priority list. And if you want
those extra ‘little touches’, such as a shelf put up in your room, or
document frames mounted on your walls, such favors are often the reward
of your time spent building positive relationships.
Appreciation
for their work can be as simple as an honest and genuine ‘thank you’.
Often times, including the custodial and maintenance staff in
get-togethers and school celebrations goes a long way. Some groups will
purchase donuts or treats for the custodians during the year. Other
groups put on dinners or cook-outs. If your students bring in any extra
treats, be sure to send some down to the maintenance staff.
If
you take the time to get to know these hard-working people, and build
positive relationships with them, you will definitely reap the rewards.
Not only will you have handy people willing to help you out when you
need it, but you may even find pleasant, friendly faces in and around
your school.
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For this article, and more on teaching and education, be sure to check out our website:
http://www.starteaching.com
Frank
Holes, Jr. is the editor of the StarTeaching website and the bi-monthly
newsletter, Features for Teachers. Check out our latest issue at:
http://www.starteaching.com/Features_for_Teachers_jan1.htm
You can contact Frank at:
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Article Source: http://www.EzinePlug.com
Frank Holes
Hi I'm Frank Holes, a middle school teacher in Michigan, and I publish
a FREE e-zine called StarTeaching, with articles and products on
teaching, techniques, stories, e-books, lesson plans, and other
resources aimed at new teachers, student teachers, teacher-interns, and
of course veteran teachers.
View all articles by Frank Holes
Tags: school relationships professional development teacher preparation |
