This is not for teachers to answer, but for SO's to tell us what they expect from teachers on their staff. It should not be a vent, but just facts. I think it is good to have communication.

This will help new SOs, as well as long-term ones.

I will start, being a former SO, myself.

1. Respect for the art, the other staff, for me and for my school.
2. No gossip, about anyone.
3. Be on time, and make all of your classes. Do not decide to take a vacation or take off, during your season. Plan that when the studio is closed.
4. Be prepared. 15 minutes before your first class is the latest that you should arrive. On time is late, early is on time. Have your lesson plans, music ready, start class on time, end on time, not early because you have a date.
5. Come dressed looking like a teacher. That does not always mean a leotard and tights, but torn, wrinkled or dirty closes, messy hair, etc., does not look good to parents, or me. It's a slap in the face to all.
6. Be firm with your students. Enforce studio and class rules, but never nasty or mean.
7. Have anything that a deadline is set, done on time. If music is supposed to be in by a date, edited, and approved, do it.
8. If you have an issue with how the SO runs the school, talk to the SO, not the other staff, parents, kids, on facebook, etc.
9. Make sure you can be reached. There is nothing worse than trying to get in touch with a teacher who never gets back to you.
10. Know the studio rules and policies. Know all the dates. Be there for all required events.


That is all that I can think of, for now, but I am sure my esteemed DDN friends will add what I have forgotten.

11. Be interested in your students. Knowing their names is the least.
12. If there is a problem with one of them, try to solve it yourself or discuss it with your SO. Do not wait untill it explodes.
13. As a teacher you're a leader of a group. To be close friends with a student is in conflict with your job as a leader/teacher. What would you think of a math teacher in high school being close friends with a student?
14. Teaching is a job, even if you do it for only one hour a week. The SO has to pay rent, heating, your salary, take care of the administration, .... Even if it is a hobby to you, you are still an employee and a teacher. The studio relies on your qualities.
15. If you don't like the studio, the SO, the rules you have to enforce, LEAVE at the first best moment. Don't wait untill your frustration has reached the stars.

>Be willing to continue to learn.
>Be willing to take critique.
>Be willing to work as part of a team.

- just like any other job... turn off your cell phone, no texting or face booking while I'm paying you
- when the SO makes a policy, don't ask her to change it!
- when you agree on a set schedule for the school year, do not ask to move classes around to fit your schedule better
- dance teachers get paid much higher than the avg job, b/c you are suppose to PREPARE for your classes! don't try to figure out choreography with 15 kids staring at you!

Have a curriculum laid out so that the classes grow in their dancing as the year progresses.

Challenge your students!

Use clean, appropriate music.

Be confident in your ability, be willing to back it up.

Address your students by their names.

Speak with parents when there is an issue, remaining the caring professional.

Be a good example.

Use appropriate choreography.

You guys are doing great! I'm raking my brain to add to the list

^Ditto. I'd like to use this at my next staff meeting except make the teachers come up with their own 'expectations'.

The biggest thing for me is respect. Almost all rules come down to respect in my book:
> Respect the studio - pick up after yourself, treat the music system with care, put back props where you found them
> Respect me - communicate any problems to me, come on time to work
> Respect students/parents - this covers coming prepared to class, appropriately dressed
> Respect other teachers - no gossip, more communication
> Respect yourself - don't take on more than you can handle, pursue further education, ask for help when needed

- big one for me COMMIT! If you commit to teaching a certain class at a certain time, it is a commitment for the duration of the year. Don;t expect to take 4 weeks off every 3 months because of Uni holidays.

- Remember you are an example to students all the time and this includes what you eat. If you need to have a drink during class, drink water not coke!

- No food rewards to students. Giving students a chocolate bar because they nailed their double pirouette does not uphold the values of the studio. We have kids who are diabetic, have food intolerances, have nut and milk allergies and parents who prefer their children not to eat those things.

- It should go without saying but it doesn't always - never swear at your students or anyone else's students.

- Don't be afraid to ask for help with discipline issue's. Some kids are very difficult to deal with.

- appropriate music, appropriate steps, appropriate costumes

- Maintain a professional distance with students. Having certain families over for dinner, going out with the parents or invited kids to the movies is not in your best interests or in theirs.

- When you are teaching, actually teach. Don't sit around and chat to the kids, check out your nails, stare into space, get the kids to teach the class themselves or go on facebook on your phone.

Now, it's great to have this here, but what do we do with it? Is it an option to put them all together on a sheet and show them to our staff as something to discuss? Hoping some points are eyeopeners to some teachers?

And, I think we should ask teachers what they expect from SO's. I'll post it on the Teachers board.

That is what I was going to do, Lidwina, so go for it. We need to direct them to this, though.

I organised the comments so far. Made some minor changes. (Bigger changes only in my own text.)



SO's what do you expect from your teaching staff?

General
1. Respect for the art, the other staff, for me and for my school.

2. Know the studio rules and policies. Know all the dates. Be there for all required events.

3. Respect yourself - don't take on more than you can handle, pursue further education, ask for help when needed.

4. No gossip, about anyone.
- If you have an issue with how the SO runs the school, talk to the SO, not the other staff, parents, kids, on facebook, etc.
- Respect me - communicate any problems to me, come on time to work
- Respect other teachers - no gossip, more communication.

5. If you commit to teaching a certain class at a certain time, it is a commitment for the duration of the year.
- Make all of your classes. Do not decide to take a vacation or take off, during your season. Plan that when the studio is closed.
- Teaching is a job. The SO has to pay rent, heating, your salary, take care of the administration. Even if it is a hobby to you, you are still an employee. A studio is a business providing jobs and income to the rest. Respect that.

6. As a teacher you're a leader of a group. To be close friends with a student is in conflict with your job as a leader/teacher. What would you think of a math teacher in high school being close friends with a student?
- Maintain a professional distance with students. Having certain families over for dinner, going out with the parents or invited kids to the movies is not in your best interests or in theirs.

8. If you don't like the studio, the SO, the rules you have to enforce, leave at the first best moment. Don't wait until your frustration, or the SO's, has reached the stars.



Before class
1. Dance teachers get paid much higher than the average job, because you are suppose to prepare for your classes! Don't try to figure out choreography with 15 kids staring at you!

2. Have a curriculum laid out so that the classes grow in their dancing as the year progresses.
- Challenge your students!

3. 15 Minutes before your first class is the latest that you should arrive. On time is late, early is on time. Have your lesson plans, music ready, start class on time, end on time, not early because you have a date.

4. Come dressed looking like a teacher. That does not always mean a leotard and tights, but torn, wrinkled or dirty closes, messy hair, etc., does not look good to parents, or me. It's a slap in the face to all.

5. Respect students/parents - this covers coming prepared to class, appropriately dressed.



During class
1. Be interested in your students. Knowing their names is the least.
- Address your students by their names.

2. Be firm with your students. Enforce studio and class rules, but never nasty or mean.
-When the SO makes a policy, don't ask her to change it!

3. If there is a problem with one of your students, try to solve it yourself or discuss it with your SO. Do not wait until it explodes.

4. Just like any other job... turn off your cell phone, no texting or face booking while I'm paying you.
- When you are teaching, actually teach. Don't sit around and chat to the kids, check out your nails, stare into space, get the kids to teach the class themselves or go on facebook on your phone.

5. Use clean, appropriate music. Use appropriate choreography.
- Appropriate music, appropriate steps, appropriate costumes.

6. Be confident in your ability, be willing to back it up.

7. Speak with parents when there is an issue, remaining the caring professional.

8. Be a good example.
- Remember you are an example to students all the time and this includes what you eat. If you need to have a drink during class, drink water not coke!
- It should go without saying but it doesn't always - never swear at your students or anyone else's students.

9. No food rewards to students. Giving students a chocolate bar because they nailed their double pirouette does not uphold the values of the studio. We have kids who are diabetic, have food intolerances, have nut and milk allergies and parents who prefer their children not to eat those things.

10. Don't be afraid to ask for help with discipline issue's. Some kids are very difficult to deal with.



After class
1. Make sure you can be reached. There is nothing worse than trying to get in touch with a teacher who never gets back to you.

2. Have anything that a deadline is set, done on time. If music is supposed to be in by a date, edited, and approved, do it.

3. Be willing to continue to learn.

4. Be willing to take critique.

5. Be willing to work as part of a team.

6. Respect the studio - pick up after yourself, treat the music system with care, put back props where you found them.



Let me add this one:
7. If you are not able to meet the expectations of your SO, TALK about it! Explain why, and discuss how to continue. Show initiative in solving problems. Don't wait for her to come to you.

Thanks for compiling it all into a comprehensive list!

Great thread. Ought to make it a sticky.

LIDWINA, use your magical moderator powers.

i_am_me wrote:

Great thread. Ought to make it a sticky.

LIDWINA, use your magical moderator powers.

She left being a MOD, so she, sadly, lost her magic.

Dream_chaser wrote:

i_am_me wrote:

Great thread. Ought to make it a sticky.

LIDWINA, use your magical moderator powers.

She left being a MOD, so she, sadly, lost her magic.

WHATTT??!!?!?! Where have I been?!?!

No MAGIC for Lidwina?

Hmmmm...I shall now try to conjure Sumayah. hahahaha!!!

I use my magic powers now on Hogwarts.

Did I hear my name...?

Yep, you have magic ears.

Look at all this magic! BAM...Sumayah is in the house!

Lidwina, you're still magical to me, even if you use it exclusively at Hogworts.

Thank you, thank you.

lidwina wrote:

Thank you, thank you.

If it was not all of you, I would bamblast your for major, self-back patting and horn-blowing! LOL

But, since it is all of YOU, I agree!!

We special ones must all stick together! (Did I say that?)

No, you wrote it. Black on white. That's proof in court.

lidwina wrote:

No, you wrote it. Black on white. That's proof in court.

Oh another important one I thought of.

Treat all students in your class fairly, never play favorites. Every teacher has favorites but it is the art of a good teacher to make sure the students never know who the favorites are.

RileyA wrote:

Oh another important one I thought of.

Treat all students in your class fairly, never play favorites. Every teacher has favorites but it is the art of a good teacher to make sure the students never know who the favorites are.

Absolutely!! I have seen this cause trouble, in dance, in sports, in school, even in families. Very important! Thanks.