Hello everyone, I´ve lurked around here for a while and I like what I read in the community. People with job-related problems and people helping them out. So, I would love some help from all of you.
I´ve been working as a HS Lit teacher for 8 years. I recently left my school because I was sought out by a former coordinator who is now a principal. I´m extremely excited because I was offered the position of “Team Lead” (basically a coordinator) for the English Dept. He´s expressed that he is confident in my abilities as a teacher, but also, he says I will make a great team lead due to my mindset.
I´ve never had this kind of position before, and while I´m confident I can handle it, I´m a little uneasy about starting this type of position in a new place. As a teach, I hated “new” coordinators coming in and thinking that they knew how things worked, so, now the shoe is on the other foot.
Basically, I need suggestions or resources on admin. styles that aren´t detrimental to team morale. I don´t want to come in too strong or dickish obviously, I don´t want to be the type that people come on here to complain about. However, it seems like the department was lacking last year, as they got rid of 3 teachers that, according to my new boss, “Didn´t make the cut, language-wise.” I live in a non-English-speaking country. Parents at private schools in my country are very demanding of English teachers, and rightly so.
So, what tips and advice would you give me? I want to be supportive and emotionally aware. I imagine the teachers that will be here from last year will be pretty on edge and fearful of losing their jobs, considering they just axed 3 last semester.
Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.
TL;DR: I´ve been promoted to a higher position and need advice on being a good team leader.