Conversation Techniques for Difficult Parents, Students, Teachers & Administrators
Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
Duval Public Schools, Jacksonville, Fl (Retired)
Second Presenter's Institution
NA
Third Presenter's Institution
NA
Fourth Presenter's Institution
NA
Fifth Presenter's Institution
NA
Location
Plimsoll
Strand #1
Family & Community
Strand #2
Social & Emotional Skills
Relevance
The purpose of the Professional Development Workshop by Bea Lewis is to provide practical ways for educators to understand the behavior of parents and students in their schools. It emphasizes and uses promising practices for school leaders to deal with difficult students and parents while giving proven practices that can be transferred to real- life situations in schools.
In today’s society, schools and parents are responding to increased expectations, economic pressures, and time constraints. In these changing times, effective partnerships between teachers and parents become more essential to meet the needs of the children they “share.” One of the most unenviable components of a school leader’s job is interacting with angry parents. Learning effective strategies can help defuse tense situations and build trust. Fortunately in most schools, only a few students are a real struggle.
Brief Program Description
Conferences can be difficult when the individuals involved have challenging personalities. Attendees will be introduced to difficult student, parent, teacher/administrator personalities that can take a simple discussion into a battle of wills and non-productivity. Presentation includes indicators and strategies to use to take control of conference from beginning to conclusion with positive outcomes. This presentation is "real talk”, interactive, and entertaining and will provide ideas that can readily be applied into any school conference situation.
Summary
Conferences can be challenging especially when the parent, student, teacher or even the administrator has a very different or challenging personality. In this presentation you will be introduced to the four most difficult student, parent, teacher/administrator personality types that if not recognized can take what should a simple discussion into a battle of wills and non-productivity. Not only will these personalities be introduced and described, you will be given indicators as to how to identify them as well as time tested and simple strategies to take control of the conference from beginning to conclusion. These strategies will include "common sense" blueprint from greeting parents, students prior conference, seating arrangements during the conference as well as how to conclude the conference on a positive note. This presentation is "real talk", interactive and entertaining and will provide ideas that can readily be applied into any school conference situation.
Evidence
Unfortunately, many educators are not specifically trained in the skills they need to communicate effectively with parents (Schussler, 2013). Caspe (2003) suggests that preparation and professional development programs should actively promote the development of communication skills for educators. Research says that a thoughtful and planned approach of interactions with difficult students and parents provides opportunities for all stakeholders in the learning organization to promote positive partnerships with parents and students; while ultimately supporting student learning.
Biographical Sketch
Bea Lewis, Author and CEO of BEAHIVE Consulting, LLC, is a retired educator with 36 years of experience. She received her Bachelors’ Degree in Education from South Carolina State University and a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. She began her career as an Exceptional Education teacher, then a middle school administrator and finally the Hearing Officer for Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Fl.
Bea has presented at many conferences including The Achievement Gap Conference in Chicago, The International Association for Laboratory Schools at Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fl., Teach Better Together Conference in Jacksonville, Fl. 2015, the 44thAnnual Conference of The National Alliance of Black School Educators for 2016 in Tampa, Fl., and The University of Northern Iowa’s 2017 African American Children and Families Conference, Cedar Falls, Iowa.
These experiences have led her to be a special guest panelist at Jacksonville Youth Leadership Conference, Inside the System and she has been nominated to be a Program Reviewer with the U.S. Department of Justice
This presentation along with her book, "Really? Apples Don't Fall Far from the Tree- Understanding the Behaviors of Parents and Students" examines challenging experiences with students and adults that are familiar to many. Bea's direct "keep it real" style, infused with humor allows her to speak from the heart with conviction and authority to impart common sense advice.
Keyword Descriptors
conferences, students, teachers, parents difficult, challenging, enabling, administrators
Presentation Year
2018
Start Date
3-5-2018 10:30 AM
End Date
3-5-2018 11:45 AM
Recommended Citation
Lewis, Beatrice "Bea", "Conversation Techniques for Difficult Parents, Students, Teachers & Administrators" (2018). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 34.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2018/2018/34
Conversation Techniques for Difficult Parents, Students, Teachers & Administrators
Plimsoll
Conferences can be difficult when the individuals involved have challenging personalities. Attendees will be introduced to difficult student, parent, teacher/administrator personalities that can take a simple discussion into a battle of wills and non-productivity. Presentation includes indicators and strategies to use to take control of conference from beginning to conclusion with positive outcomes. This presentation is "real talk”, interactive, and entertaining and will provide ideas that can readily be applied into any school conference situation.
