This is a presentation on how teachers are to maintain a professional front in their interactions with all stakeholders, while prioritising the school's interests. Aligning with the school's goals in parental interactions is crucial in fostering a positive school culture. By promoting a consistent message and approach to parents, the school staff can ensure that parents understand the school's priorities and policies, reducing conflicts and misunderstandings. This, in turn, can help build trust and strengthen relationships with parents, leading to increased parental involvement and support. Moreover, transparency and accountability are fostered, as all stakeholders are on the same page. By demonstrating professionalism and commitment to the school's mission, values, and vision, the staff can create a positive, collaborative, and supportive school environment that benefits everyone involved. It also borders around effective communication strategies for building trust.

1. Professionalism
and Excellence in
Education

2. Introduction
Welcome Educators!
Who are you?
Empowering Our Professional Journey

3. Agenda
Prioritising School's Interest
Aligning with School Goals
Role-play: Maintaining School's Stance
Efficient Handling of Daily Routines
Time Management & Professionalism
Exercise: Streamlining Daily Tasks
Promoting Positive Interpersonal Relationships
Cultivating Support & Collaboration
Role-play: Conflict Resolution
Balancing Parental Relationships
Healthy Interactions
Solutions for Professional Balance
Inspiring Creativity in Professionalism
Innovative Approaches
Creative Thinking Exercise
Upholding General Professionalism
Core Tenets & Ethical Considerations

4. Part 1: Prioritising
School's Interest in
Parental
Interaction

5. Importance of Aligning with the School’s Goals
Aligning with the school's goals in parental interactions is crucial in fostering a
positive school culture. By promoting a consistent message and approach to parents,
the school staff can ensure that parents understand the school's priorities and
policies, reducing conflicts and misunderstandings. This, in turn, can help build trust
and strengthen relationships with parents, leading to increased parental
involvement and support. Moreover, transparency and accountability are fostered,
as all stakeholders are on the same page.
By demonstrating professionalism and commitment to the school's mission, values,
and vision, the staff can create a positive, collaborative, and supportive school
environment that benefits everyone involved.

6. Role Play
A parent who has a differing opinion on a school policy. Demonstrate how to align the interaction
with the school's goals.
A parent is unhappy with their child's performance in class. Demonstrate how to prioritise the
school's interests while maintaining professionalism.

7. Effective Communication Strategies for
Building Trust
• Active listening: Showing genuine interest in what parents have to say, and taking the time
to understand their perspective can go a long way in building trust.
• Empathy: Demonstrating empathy towards parents' concerns and emotions can help to
def[poj65rrduse potential conflicts and build rapport.
• Clear and concise messaging: Communicating the school's stance in a clear, concise, and
consistent manner can help to reduce confusion and build trust.
• Transparency: Being open and transparent about the school's policies and procedures can
help to build trust and credibility.
• Respect: Treating parents with respect and courtesy, even in difficult situations, can help to
maintain a positive and professional relationship.

8. Part 2: Efficient
Handling of Daily
Routines and Time
Management

9. The Symbiotic Relationship between
Time Management and Professionalism
• Time management is critical in a profession where deadlines, appointments, and meetings
are a regular part of the job. Proper time management helps teachers and staff to stay
organized, focused, and on schedule, which reflects positively on their professionalism.
• Professionalism demands punctuality and reliability, which can be achieved through
effective time management. Being on time for meetings, classes, and appointments not only
shows respect for others but also demonstrates a level of commitment and responsibility.
• Effective time management can help teachers and staff to prioritise their tasks, manage
their workload, and reduce stress, all of which can lead to better job performance and higher
productivity, which is essential for maintaining a high level of professionalism.

10. Slide 10: Time
Management Exercise
Step 1:List your daily tasks and responsibilities, including both professional and personal obligations.
Step 2: Prioritise your tasks based on urgency and importance, using a rating system (e.g., 1-5) to
indicate priority.
Step 3: Using a daily planner or calendar, schedule your tasks for the week, assigning specific time
slots for each task and factoring in travel time and any other time constraints.

11. Benefits of Time Management
• Improved organisation: By prioritising tasks and setting specific timeframes, teachers can
work more efficiently and avoid becoming overwhelmed.
• Reduced stress: Time management allows teachers to plan their day and know what to
expect, reducing stress and uncertainty.
• Increased productivity: By setting specific timeframes for tasks, teachers can focus on
completing tasks and avoid distractions, leading to increased productivity.
• Better work-life balance: By setting time limits for work-related tasks, teachers can avoid
work-related stress from bleeding into personal time, resulting in a healthier work-life
balance.
• Improved self-discipline: Time management requires self-discipline and prioritisation
skills, which can improve overall self-management abilities.

12. Practical Tips for Streamlining Tasks to
Maximise Productivity
• Prioritise tasks: Identify the most important tasks and focus on completing them first,
rather than getting sidetracked by less urgent tasks.
• Set specific goals: Set clear, achievable goals for each task and allocate a reasonable
amount of time to complete each one.
• Create a schedule: Plan your day in advance and stick to it as much as possible, ensuring
that you allocate enough time for each task.
• Break down tasks: Divide larger tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks to make them
easier to accomplish.
• Use technology: Utilize technology, such as productivity apps or calendar tools, to help
organize and streamline your work.
• Take breaks: Schedule regular breaks to allow your mind to rest and recharge, increasing
your overall productivity.

13. Part 3: Promoting
Positive
Interpersonal
Relationships
Among Staff:

14. Cultivating a Culture of
Support and Collaboration
• Foster open communication
• Promote teamwork
• Provide opportunities for professional development
• Establish a mentorship program
• Encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration

15. Role-play (conflict
resolution scenario)
Imagine a situation where two teachers have been engaging in unprofessional
behaviour towards each other, creating tension and negatively affecting the
school's environment.

16. Encouraging Open
Communication Channels
to Foster Camaraderie
• Schedule regular staff meetings
• Create a staff email group
• Establish a social media group
• Host social events
• Provide opportunities for feedback

17. Part 4: Balancing
Parental
Relationships
Without Detriment to
School or Colleagues

18. Methods for
Maintaining
Healthy Parent-
Teacher
Relationships
Regular communication. Positive
language. Active listening. Respect for
diversity. Building partnerships
Communicate regularly
Be responsive
Maintain professionalism
Seek feedback
Listen actively

19. Boundary-setting and Professional
Balance
A teacher named Sarah faces a challenging parent who
often calls and emails outside of normal school hours and
requests excessive attention and accommodations for her
child. Sarah is hesitant to set boundaries for fear of
appearing unhelpful or unsupportive.

20. Setting boundaries is essential for maintaining healthy parent-teacher
relationships and avoiding any negative impacts on the school or colleagues.
• Be clear and concise: Communicate your boundaries clearly and concisely, both verbally and
in writing.
• Be consistent: Consistently enforce your boundaries to avoid confusion or mixed signals.
• Prioritise professional boundaries: Maintain professional boundaries in all interactions with
parents, and avoid crossing into personal or intimate territory.
• Establish communication guidelines: Set clear guidelines for communication, such as
response times and preferred methods.
• Seek support: If a parent is crossing your boundaries or being uncooperative, seek support
from your colleagues or school administration.

21. Potential Pitfalls and Strategic Solutions
Pitfall: Parental interference in curriculum or classroom management.
Solution: Work collaboratively with parents to address their concerns, but maintain a firm and
professional stance on classroom management and curriculum decisions.
Pitfall: Unreasonable parent demands or requests.
Solution: Communicate clearly and consistently, setting appropriate boundaries and
expectations. If the demands persist, seek support from colleagues or administration.
Pitfall: Communication breakdowns.
Solution: Regularly review and update communication guidelines, and provide parents with
multiple channels for communication.
Pitfall: Parental conflict with other parents or teachers.
Solution: Address conflicts promptly and objectively, and seek support from administration if
necessary.

22. Part 5: Inspiring
Creativity in
Professionalism

23. Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Problem-solving
• Design thinking: This approach encourages teachers to think like designers, using empathy,
problem-solving, and iterative experimentation to create engaging learning experiences.
• Gamification: Incorporating game elements, such as points, badges, and leaderboards, into
the classroom can increase student engagement and foster creativity.
• Personalised learning: Using data and student interests to create personalised learning
experiences can help to encourage innovation and creativity.
• Project-based learning: Giving students open-ended projects that allow them to explore
their interests and work collaboratively can help to promote creativity and innovation.
• Collaborative problem-solving: Involving students in the problem-solving process, such as
by forming small groups and brainstorming solutions, can promote creativity and critical
thinking.

24. Part 6: Upholding
General
Professionalism in
Teaching

25. The Core Tenets of Professionalism in Education
• Ethical behaviour: Teachers must act with integrity and uphold ethical standards, such as
protecting student privacy and avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Professional development: Teachers must continually strive to improve their knowledge,
skills, and practices, through ongoing professional development and learning.
• Respect for diversity: Teachers must treat all students, parents, and colleagues respectfully
and promote an inclusive learning environment that recognises and values diversity.
• Collaboration: Teachers must work collaboratively with colleagues, students, parents, and
administrators to foster a positive learning environment.
• Accountability: Teachers must be accountable for their actions and decisions, and be willing
to accept feedback and criticism to improve their performance.
• Reflective practice: Teachers must regularly reflect on their teaching practices and student
outcomes to identify areas for improvement and professional growth.

26. • Professionalism in appearance: Teachers should dress in a way that reflects a professional
and approachable image, avoiding overly casual or revealing clothing. Teachers should
maintain good posture, maintain eye contact, and use appropriate body language to convey
respect, engagement, and interest. Teachers should be engaging and enthusiastic in their
interactions with students, demonstrating a passion for their subject matter and a genuine
interest in student learning. Teachers should maintain a neat and clean appearance,
including grooming and personal hygiene, to convey a professional image and foster a
positive learning environment.

27. Ethical Considerations and Professional Conduct
• Integrity: Teachers must act with honesty, fairness, and integrity in all interactions,
avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Respect for privacy: Teachers must protect student privacy and maintain confidentiality,
avoiding the dissemination of private information without consent.
• Cultural sensitivity: Teachers must be culturally sensitive, avoiding biases and stereotyping, and
promoting an inclusive and equitable learning environment.
• Professional boundaries: Teachers must maintain appropriate boundaries in their interactions with
students and colleagues, avoiding inappropriate relationships or interactions.
• Fair assessment: Teachers must assess student performance fairly and objectively, avoiding favouritism
or biases.
• Consistency in rewards and consequences

28. • Professionalism in communication: Teachers must communicate with colleagues, parents,
and students professionally and respectfully, avoiding inappropriate language or behaviours.
• Academic honesty: Teachers must promote academic honesty and discourage cheating or
plagiarism.
• Professional use of social media: Teachers must use social media professionally and responsibly,
avoiding inappropriate content or interactions with students.
• Reporting misconduct: Teachers must report any instances of misconduct, including bullying,
harassment, or unsafe conditions, to school administrators.
• Support for student well-being: Teachers must support student well-being, promoting positive mental and
physical health, and seeking support for students who may be struggling with personal or academic
challenges.
• Respect for diversity of thought: Teachers must respect different viewpoints and opinions, encouraging
students to think critically and form their own opinions, while avoiding inappropriate discussions of
political or religious beliefs.

29. Ask me at least 6
questions.

30. Share your key
takeaways and
action points

31. In conclusion
• Be ambassadors of excellence within and beyond the classroom.
• Shape futures through professionalism.
• Commit to continuous improvement.
• Reflective Journals
• Mentorship System
• Professional Learning Communities

32. Thank you for your
time.
Have fun! 🎉