I believe that any interaction you have with a colleague should be one that leaves both parties more eduacated and informed upon their departure from each other. I have already had many interactions with my counseling deparment-some of which were not so pleasant, but they all left me better informed about the counseling process and them about my program and it's structure. I have had to educate the counselors on issues from the meaning of my class titles to the importance of not having the students skip prerequisite classes. I am looking forward to expanding our knowledge base of one another through this interview.
I think the interview will not only help foster a better working relationship between myself and the counselors but it will allow me to share this information with my other colleagues as well. So many times teachers find themselves at war with the counseling department and in particular CTAE teachers. Specific programs have found themselves to be dumping grounds for the more challenging students with the conselors not having knowledge of the curriculun and the success of the student within it. The counselor's find themseles in difficult situations with having not only to please parents, students and administrators but have to follow specific federal mandates as well which some teachers are unaware of. I would like to make my interview public in some way either by email or as a presentation at a faculty meeting to help close the gap between teachers and counselors.
Hi, Nicole - you have touched on several poignant issues in your post! Your past experience has helped identify some areas that need to be addressed and I love your idea of making your interview and/or the information public! I would think it would be very helpful, especially within the CTAE Dept, to share your interview experience, and to help bridge gaps and develop an understanding between CTAE and the counselors. A mutually beneficial working relationship should be the result - you go, girl!
ReplyDelete