Growing Your Staff, Enriching Your Program Part 1

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Growing Your Staff, Enriching Your Program
Part 1

• 21st CCLC Summer Conference Central Texas

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What does Amarillos Program look like?

• 5 sites 4 on elementary campuses, 1 at a
  community center
• Average of 500 students
• 50 college-age staff
• Academic assistance and enrichment programs
  provided
• 300 600 p.m. each day

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Who are college students?

• Outside the traditional school day
• Young, vibrant, intelligent
• Passion for learning and children

• Energy
• Enthusiasm
• Thinking outside the box
• 730 a.m. 6 p.m. makes a LONG day!!!
• Moldable, flexible

why use them in my program?
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Whats in it for them?

• Timing is everything!
• After-school schedule fits theirs
• Connection to school district
• networking with principals,
• teachers,
• assistant superintendents
• Good pay for pre-graduation

• Fewer first year teacher jitters
• This program has changed the way I think about
  my first year in the classroom I have more
  confidence, Im more familiar with the TEKS, I
  have more control of a classroom. When I first
  started, Id go home after 3 hours with a
  headache because I didnt really know what I was
  doing. Now, Im looking forward to having my own
  classroom and being completely involved in the
  school-day
• Excellent resume builder

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Where do you find them?

• Local colleges and universities
• Student clubs, organizations and programs that
  fit your needs
• Through each other
• Birds of a feather flock together!
• Former high school volunteers
• Tutors, mentors
• Americorp-type students

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What skills do they possess?

• Creativity
• Writing
• Math
• Science
• Fresh perspective
• Relationship Building
• Ability to grow and learn
• The Want to

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The Nitty Gritty What do staff NEED?

• Training
• Basic Tenants of after-school and objectives of
  grant/program
• TEKS Alignment
• Classroom Management (Intense)
• Understanding on the Kids in specific programs
  (Ruby Payne Understanding Poverty)
• Testing Strategies used in classrooms
• District Wide Initiatives
• Support
• SEE you caring about the program (and them)
• School-day teachers to understand the program and
  guide their efforts
• Encouragement/Praise
• Listening and prompting behavior

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The Nitty Gritty What do staff NEED?

• Guidance
• Review of lesson plans, center activities (with
  comments and questions)
• Prompting Positive Behavior
• Suggestions for who to talk to or what questions
  to ask
• Appreciation
• Say thank you! (7X)
• Give sussies (gum, candy, rubber-bands,
  cookies)
• Spread the word about them! (References for
  future jobs in district, simple compliments to
  school-day staff)

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Principles of Working with Your Staff

• The best way to get people to do what you want is
  to train them
• The Right Trainer makes the difference
• The Trainer should have experience in what they
  are teaching
• Train in person, with real examples
• Create authentic involvement with kids and program

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Principles of Working with Your Staff

• Attitude is Everything
• Make is easy
• Educators grow for dreams and solutions, not
  problems
• Ask them to shoot for the stars
• Every one must be thanked sincerely and often

Adapted from 10 Principles of Fundraising in
the United Way of Amarillo Canyon training
manual
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Growing Success in Non-Educators

• Planting the Seed
• Interview Process
• Meet with Site Coordinator
• Analyze current skills
• Receive Basic Overview and Foundational
  Expectations from the Program Director

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Growing Success in Non-Educators

• Watering and Soil Nutrition
• Work with successful current staff
• Outline specific expectations and provide
  examples
• Assign one group of students to work with, if
  possible (forming relationships)

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Growing Success in Non-Educators

• Budding and Pruning
• Watch and provide feedback
• Surveys specific for them
• Provide in-depth training
• Listen to Site Coordinators
• Build their excitement

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Growing Success in Your Staff

• Enjoy the scene!
• Keep the ground clear
• Plan for additional planting
• Pick the stand-out buds

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Thank you for your time!

• Bethany McMillon, Amarillo ISD
• 806-371-5862
• bethany.mcmillon_at_amaisd.org