Electronic communications, already an essential part of principal-teacher interactions before the pandemic, became even more vital once the outbreak began. With remote and/or hybrid learning commonplace, tools like Zoom, Facetime and Skype joined old standbys like email and text messaging as critical links among educators. At the same time, there simply is no substitute for face-to-face communication. Read more on: https://dranthonyhamlet.com/principal-teacher-communication-why-its-crucial-how-to-do-it-best/

1. PRINCIPAL-TEACHER
COMMUNICATION:
WHY IT’S CRUCIAL,
HOW TO DO IT BEST
Dr. Anthony Hamlet

2. ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATIONS
These are already an essential part of
principal-teacher interactions before the
pandemic, became even more vital once
the outbreak began. With remote and/or
hybrid learning commonplace, tools like
Zoom, Facetime and Skype joined old
standbys like email and text messaging as
critical links among educators.
Those tools are still available – not to
mention invaluable, given the time crunch
administrators face, and the various
directions they are pulled.

3. NO SUBSTITUTE FOR FACE-
TO-FACE COMMUNICATION
It’s simple, direct and personal. Essential
context – context that might be missing
from an email or text – is provided.
There is less chance that there will be a
misunderstanding, greater opportunity
for the parties involved to find common
ground.
The conclusion, then, is that it is best for
a principal to strike a balance – to seek
out personal contact as much as
possible, while at the same time using
electronic tools when necessary.

4. As an example, I know of administrators who make it a point to walk the halls of their schools
at some point every day, knowing the value of running into a teacher (not to mention students and other
staffers) at some point. Much can be accomplished during these brief interactions. Moreover, you
establish yourself as a presence as opposed to an abstraction, seated in an office where you are rarely
seen or heard.
No matter the nature of the communication – whether it is one of these brief meetings, an email, a text, a
formal sit-down, whatever – it is of the utmost importance that the principal follow through on whatever
decision might have been reached.
EXAMPLE

5. One blog post described that as matching words with
actions, and it establishes the principal’s credibility,
reliability and integrity.
If there is a disciplinary issue, for instance, an administrator
must deal with it directly. Waiting until the following day is
not going to cut it. There must be an immediate response.

6. This also matters when it comes to
informing staff of new initiatives, as was made
obvious during the pandemic. When revised
guidelines were issued regarding masking,
hybrid learning and the like, teachers always
needed to be informed before parents and
students, in the event of unforeseen
circumstances. There can be no breaks in the
chain, no public announcement before word is
circulated in-house. Otherwise you have chaos.
You have questions posed to staff that they
have not yet been equipped to answer. And
that reflects poorly on everyone involved.
TIMELINESS

7. AFFIRMATION MATTERS
In difficult times like these, praise
goes a long way. Your staff needs
to be celebrated at every
opportunity. They have a difficult
job to begin with, and it has been
made that much more difficult by
the circumstances of the last few
years. Let them know they are
doing a good job. Salute them.
Celebrate them. Find ways to
reward them.

8. Principals should never forget that they are, first and
foremost, in the relationship business. They need to
cultivate and service those relationships. They need to
ensure that everyone in their building is unified, that the
entire staff is pulling in the same direction. That is the best
way to ensure that morale is high, and that students are
having the best possible experience.

9. THANK YOU
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