I'm Seen, I Matter, I Belong

• Meet and greet students and teachers every morning possible. If she cannot make it, she ensures a primary representative is there every day to welcome each person as they come into the building.
• Be aware of the celebrations or big events in teachers’ lives and encourage sharing and commemorating the day. For example, acknowledge and celebrate a holiday in a teacher’s home country.
• Write personalized, handwritten messages. Emails are fine for the day-to-day but handwritten cards have a different impact.
• Be aware of who you sit with, have lunch with, and spend time with. Ensure you are not creating or encouraging cliques.

Overall, she says it’s important to “give everyone a sense of being appreciated and belonging to your school family.”

Professional positions cited were the ones held at the time of recording. The positions and schools of those quoted may have since changed.

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Helen Sharrock is the primary principal at Maharinda International School in India.