ABSTRACT
My father gave me only one piece of professional advice when I started my teaching career: “Pat, secretaries and custodians run the school, nothing gets done without their efforts. Whatever you do, you must get along with them.” He was so right! These people represent the backbone of the school district’s management system. Without the management system supporting you and the priorities that are established for the district, everything breaks down, from logistics to tone and climate, in quick order. Understanding the complexities of the relationships and the inevitable entanglements of conflicting agendas and goals will assist you in keeping these key persons in the structure of the school district working together.
