When summer vacation is looming ever closer, keeping teachers and students both engaged in the classroom can be more difficult than ever. But keeping teachers engaged in their classrooms is essential if you want to maintain a positive and productive learning environment for students, especially students with additional learning and education needs.

If you want to make sure your school’s teachers and therapists are as engaged and inspired as they can be – whatever time of year it is – use these tips from Spotter Staffing:

1. Celebrate Collaboration: Encourage teachers and therapists in your school to work together, share their experiences and difficulties, and learn from each other. This will help them feel supported and engaged in their work. Teaching can feel like a solo sport sometimes, don’t forget to remind your teachers they are part of a team.
2. Create and Maintain a Positive School Culture: When you foster a positive school culture that emphasizes teamwork, positivity, and respect, it is easier for teachers and therapists to be engaged in their work and with their students. A positive culture helps teachers feel like they are part of a community and are valued for their contributions, which makes them enjoy their job – and want to return in the fall.
3. Recognize and Reward Teachers: Make sure you have programs in place to recognize teachers and therapists for their hard work and dedication to their students. This can be done through awards, bonuses, or simply acknowledging their efforts in front of their peers. Recognition goes a long way for school teachers and therapists, and small rewards can go even further.
4. Provide Professional Development Opportunities: Providing teachers and therapists with professional development opportunities can help them grow in their careers and feel invested in their work. These can include workshops, conferences, online courses, or offering to help with CEUs. When teachers and therapists feel like you are invested in their career success, they are more invested in the classroom.
5. Supportive Leadership: Providing, and being part of, a supportive leadership team that listens to teacher and therapist feedback and implements changes that benefit the school and the students is something most school professionals look for. Taking these measures will help teachers feel valued and respected, and keep them engaged at work.
6. Ensure Classrooms Are Properly Staffed: In order to keep school staff engaged and performing at their very best, it is essential to make sure every classroom is properly staffed. It’s impossible for teachers and therapists to perform at the top of their game while they are also covering for someone else’s work or making up for lost lesson plans due to absences or being short staffed.

Overall, creating a supportive and engaging environment for teachers is key to keeping them engaged and invested in their work. By implementing these tips, schools can create a positive and productive learning environment for both teachers and students.

Need to Add More Teachers or Therapists to Your School Staff?

Spotter Staffing has a talent community of tested, vetted and verified SLPs, OTs, PTs, Social Workers and Special Education Teachers who are ready to get to work in your school. If you want to find out more, or you would like to request a teacher or therapist for your school, click here to contact the experts at Spotter Staffing today.