How to Follow a Well-Loved Predecessor, continued…
In your first teaching job, you’ll most likely face resistance from students who were in the program in previous years and who like it “the old way.”
What to Change, and What Not to Change
MENC member and mentor Steve Raybould recommends being cautious when changing uniforms or other deep-seated traditions. And, says Raybould, “Be willing to change some things on your side. For example, if you are a pep band director, is their fight song really so bad? Warm up to some of their traditions, and they will warm up to you.”
Boosting Class Morale
The best way to get students excited about the program is to simply be successful. In Raybould’s experience, students will walk all over you if you try too hard to please them. Seek their respect first. “Challenge them, and have them rise to it,” he says. See the article “The First Year” in the October Collegiate NewsLink for first year success strategies.
Boosting Your Morale
Don’t forget to take care of yourself! Talk to other teachers about your challenges, and take time outside of work to relax and do things you enjoy.
Steve Raybould is the executive director of BNC Education and the director of bands at Pocahontas Middle School in Richmond, VA.
--Anne Wagener, June 2, 2008, © MENC: The National Association for Music Education