Fís

Fo

ghla

im

For

bairt

www.pdst.ie© PDST 2014

This work is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ie/. You may use and re-use this material (not including images and logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike Licence.

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

Meetings and the Deputy Principal

April 14th 2016

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

To explore the range of meetings a Deputy Principal experiences in his/her role and consider how to make these as effective as possible

Purpose of the Session

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

What types of meetings are you involved in?

Discussion

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

• Full staff meetings• Staff group meetings (e.g., Dept)• Individual meetings (student,

teacher, other staff, parent)• Parent-Teacher meetings• Outside agencies• Other schools• Union meetings

Range of meetings

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

‘Meetings bloody meetings’

Video clip

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

1. Pre-meeting2. Meeting3. Post-meeting

Discussion about formal whole- and part-staff meetings

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

• Meeting calendar• Notice• Agenda• Meeting with Principal?• Meetings with other individuals?• Preparation reading?• Survey?• Previous meeting minutes?• Practicalities

Pre Meeting

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

• Previous minutes and matters arising• Norms and expectations• Timing• Minute-taking, and template?• Chairing strategies• Wrap-up and actions agreed• Next meeting - date, time, location

Meeting

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

• Distribution and storage of minutes and relevant documents

• Follow up on actions• Further individual meetings?

Post Meeting

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

1. Pre-meeting2. Meeting3. Post-meeting

Discussion about one to one meetings

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

Be prepared

– evidence

– information from other teachers

– previous correspondence

• Break bad news in advance of the meeting

• Plan to have some specific suggestions ready

• Decide on a time-limit

• Decide if you need to have a colleague present?

• Plan your acceptable outcome(s).

In advance of the meeting

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

• Listen

• Use statements like “I care about your child”

• Be honest and truthful

• Seek parents' suggestions

• Try to find common agreement on a way forward

• Stand firmly by school policies, but admit mistakes when appropriate

• Take notes of what was said and agreed

• Always be respectful (and expect respect)

During the meeting

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

Follow up:-

• Keep in touch

• Any referrals

• Any actions agreed. Have you done yours?

• Inform parents about any improvements

After the meeting

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

Which of the following meeting types are you most comfortable with?

•Staff Meetings•Meeting parents•Department meetings•Outside agencies•Meeting students

Rate your experience of the above

Reflection

ww

w.p

dst.i

e

•What have been your experiences of meetings to date?

•What strategies have you found to be successful?

•What pitfalls should you avoid?

Think Pair Share