Saying Thank You

As an administrator it is important to stop, reflect, and say thank you to those around you.  A simple thank you note goes a long way to show the people who support the school and make it the wonderful place it is that you appreciate their hard work and dedication.  It is a simple way to build culture and increase morale.  The question is, how do you find time to write thank you notes, who should you write them to, and how to you make them sound sincere.

One way to make time is to block off time in your schedule once a month and choose between five and ten people to say thank you to.  By the end of the school year, you should have been able to recognize all staff members, some great parent supporters, and maybe some students.

You should write thank you notes to teachers, coaches, support aides, recess and lunch duties, custodians, secretaries, parents, community supporters, crossing guards, the PTA, and even that student who is frequently sent to your office because they were naughty.

It is important when writing the thank you notes, that you are specific and sincere about why you are saying thank you and appreciate their hard work and dedication to making the school a great place. You could say thank you to amazing staff members who help you through your day.  Thank you to the custodian for keeping the school so clean.  Thank you to the students who strive to do their best every day.  Thank you to the parents who trust you to teach their children the things that will help make them successful adults. Thank you to the teachers who put in all the extra hours to provide meaningful lessons for their students and serve on extra committees and after-school activities so the school can be a wonderful place.  Thank you to the recess aides, reading and math aides, the lunch duties, the lunch servers, crossing guards, for going the extra mile.

I don't know about you, but over the years I have saved every Thank You note that I have received from students, parents, co-workers, and administrators as a reminder that what I do is making a difference. I want the people who surround me to feel appreciated, and a simple thank you note can help me achieve this goal.