It’s back-to-school time for students and staff! Everyone is busy moving into new spaces—dorms, classrooms, and schools. Amid all this hustle and bustle, our “You Can’t Make It Up” moment this week is one for the books.
After the summer break, a principal returned to school only to find a very big surprise in the staff workroom. It’s not uncommon for staff to bring personal items from home to make a space feel welcoming, and the staff workroom is no exception. However, imagine the surprise when that personal item just happened to be a giant green refrigerator!
Yes, you read that right—a second refrigerator had appeared in the staff workroom, and not just any refrigerator, but a sizable green one. Naturally, the principal was curious about its origins and asked if anyone knew where this big green machine had come from. A teacher promptly explained that she had brought it in—for her catering business.
You see, this teacher had a side gig catering meals for other employees and community members. She decided she needed more space than the existing refrigerator offered and thought it would be convenient for people to know which refrigerator to open to get their food when they came to the school to pick it up. Yes, when they came to the school to pick it up!
As you can imagine, the principal had to gently inform her that her catering business would need to be run from her home and that the green monster would have to find its way back to her garage.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key takeaways for handling those moments when you think your eyes might actually roll out of your head:
- Stay Calm and Inquire: Before reacting, gather all the information. Ask questions to understand the full story behind unexpected actions.
- Maintain Professional Boundaries: Remind staff of the importance of keeping personal ventures separate from professional spaces.
- Communicate Clearly and Kindly: Address the situation with a clear but kind message, ensuring that the person understands why their actions were inappropriate.
- Set and Reinforce Policies: Use these moments to revisit and reinforce school policies regarding personal items and the use of school property.
- Encourage Creativity within Limits: While it’s great to have staff who are resourceful and creative, ensure they understand the boundaries within which they can operate.
- Learn and Adapt: Use these “You Can’t Make It Up” moments as learning experiences to prevent similar situations in the future.
Remember, every day in education brings its own set of surprises and challenges. The key is to handle them with grace, humor, and a commitment to maintaining a professional environment…as much as possible.
Have a great week!
Jane