Educators have a particularly tricky relationship with meetings. Teachers, school leaders, and district officials are famously short on time, but they’re also often desperate for collaboration and connection, knowing that those partnerships are key to professional growth and wellbeing, as well as to streamlining the services that help students learn and grow.
For meeting facilitators at every level, this clash between reality and aspiration can create enormous pressure to make sure meetings are efficient and meaningful — with no droning monologues or confusing activities.
Here’s how facilitators can work through sticky moments, avoid common pitfalls, and make the most of the time you have with your group. These insights come from Meeting Wise: Making the Most of Collaborative Time for Educators, a handy book by Kathryn Parker Boudett and Elizabeth City that’s full of tips and strategies for making better meetings.