yay, I am going to be an English coordinator

joshua2004 · Post by **joshua2004** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 7:19 pm

I have been asked to train to be the English Coordinator at the middle school I am working at. I am going to train this year and next year take over the position. I have stars in my eyes about the job, but somewhere in the back of my brain, I know this job is going to be a challenge in my ability to mediate people, politics, and my time to work and play.
Anybody else been in my shoes? I am happy and yet that is tempered by my realization that it is going to be tough.

Lorikeet · Post by **Lorikeet** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 8:08 pm

First of all, I think congratulations (and not condolences!) are in order (at least I hope so.) I don't know what your job will entail, but if it includes assignments for each semester, I think that will be one of the more difficult things to do. I know over the years I've seen different assignment systems come and go, and although I teach adults, I think some of the problems might be the same. The most important thing is to give faculty at least the *illusion* of making choices; that is, even if someone gets an assignment they didn't want, you can ask them if they'd rather do X or Y, so they have something to choose. The most important thing is to be fair. People can accept a lot if they think it's based on fairness.

tigertiger · Post by **tigertiger** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:07 am

I am in a similar position in Asia. My biggest/most difficult task is acting as a buffer between local management and teaching staff. There are often two sets of values about conduct, teaching, and how staff are treated.
You have to give all parties the belief that the other side has heard thier arguements and sypathises, but at the end of the day circumstances were different.
Welcome to the world of micro-politics.

Good luck.