Balancing Listening & New Ideas

For the first time in several years we are hiring new staff this fall.  This is based on new full day kindergarten sections, retirements, resignations and enrollment needs.  We will be conducting new staff orientation day to familiarize these individuals with Saline Area School and the local community.  It will also provide an opportunity for getting to know the hires.  Bringing new people to the team is always exciting.

As I prepare to share my thoughts with them, I have been trying to find the right words to describe how to interact as new staff.  In one sense, I want to them to be a sponge…. to soak up the knowledge and expertise of our present staff.  We have extremely talented individuals here who will be mentors and provide the new hires with important guidance.  At the same time, this new staff will bring fresh thoughts and ideas – we need this to be heard as well.  New concepts and approaches can help us all improve as a district.  For new staff, finding the balance of listening, learning and sharing is key.

The situation reminds me of the Marge Piercy quote:

“If you want to be listened to, you should put in time listening.”

This saying goes for all of us.