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Toastmasters - Educational Advantage for
Educators: Before, During and After School
by Mary Zabolio McGrath
Typically educators are inundated with opportunities for inservice training in their immediate area of expertise. Attending classes is a common after school requirement and summer activity for school personnel. Why, then, would a busy teacher want to participate in Toastmasters? Beyond regular ongoing education, TI's worldwide weekly meetings offer school personal a unique professional, as well as personal growth opportunity that brings benefit before, during and after school.
Before..... My Monday 6:30 A.M. Toast Masters Club proves itself time and again to be the perfect way to begin the week. An hour packed solid with optimism, insight, enthusiasm, and even early laughter always set the stage for school. I arrived at my weekly special education team meeting with the spirit of our Toastmasters, gathering alive within me.
Now retired after thirty-one years of teaching, my car still carries me, as if on automatic pilot, to the same breakfast location. After the meeting, instead of going straight to school, I return to my home office energized and ready to work on my business. Professional activity remains on my Monday calendar.
“Before school” also applies to educators pre-career training period. Although heavy concentration on methodology and classroom practicum remain central during teacher preparation, the Toastmasters program offers an advantage to those aspiring to be teachers. During the job interview phase, candidates benefit from the ability to think on their feet. The Table Topics portion of a Toastmasters meeting invites growth in the skill of responding clearly and concisely on a range of topics. Those taking this skill into an interview demonstrate confidence and clarity of thought, qualities sure to capture the attention of any interview team.
During...Large, small group and 1-1 communication skills give an edge to fledgling educators expected to give presentations on a regular basis. Eye contact, organization of thought and clear verbal expression count as much at staff and parent meetings as they do during daily interface with students. When beginning educators bring a broad base of knowledge to the classroom, their expertise is amplified during effective daily exchange with colleagues and client families.
Both beginning and experienced teachers have interesting ideas and important information to share during staff meetings, yet feel uncomfortable in the spot light. Though they hold students captive while reading a suspenseful story or explaining earth’s climactic changes, facing adults gives them distress. While this remains their professional reality, district inservices address technical training or relate to curriculum content. Toastmasters, on the other hand, offers an opportunity to develop speaking skills before an audience of respectful and supportive adults. Personalized feedback, as teaching staff practice presentation skills, gives them a chance to fill in a vital yet missing piece in their professional development. Plus, no discipline problems present themselves to staff speaking before a group of Toastmasters!
Opportunities to exert influence over cooperative as well as challenging students present themselves to educators on a continual basis. Instances to impact school policy, curricular content and even contract negotiations commonly occur throughout any school district culture. Often the same people assume the leadership roles as decision makers and change agents. Generally staff comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas maintain the power and determine a district’s direction. Capable communicators lead the way and influence decisions in any organization. Holding an office in a Toastmasters Club provides the opportunity to organize and motivate adults. Such skills learned through club participation build the confidence transferable to any school situation.
Beyond... Taking a Toast masters office opens the gateway to further leadership opportunities whether they be at the building, district or national levels. Organizations with professional focus such as music, family and consumer science or special education, seek staff to hold offices and determine their professional positions. During my teaching career I was able to lead on both state and national level special education boards. Communication skills whether used in spontaneous situations or prepared presentations bring the Toastmaster advantage to all school settings.
Such organizations hold conferences and workshops on a regular basis. Presenting at their events is considered an honor and an opportunity. Sharing topical information for the benefit of colleagues helps move any educator wider and deeper into the professional realm. Visibility in these situations opens doors for further professional experiences, ranging from enhancement of a current position to a complete job change.
Beyond the school location each educational professional has personal interests to share. Toastmasters members are individuals open to new ideas and information. They habitually seek self improvement and in so doing become excellent models for future educators and stimulating comrades for current education personnel.
So often teachers band with other teachers. Commonality of thought, profession and location is conducive to comfort in their companionship. Separated from the world of commerce they work in educational islands. By attending Toastmasters meetings teachers have the opportunities to meet professionals in others fields of endeavor and share insights from their careers as well. Enhanced perspective is an additional benefit energizing to educators.
Administrators arranging staff development may want to consider bringing in a Speech Craft to their school or encouraging teams to try a Toastmaster meeting. In fact, given the presentation and leadership components in educational administration, principals, coordinators and superintendents might want to check it out themselves!
Club Members, next time you visit your child’s school, take along an issue of The Toastmaster... invite your child’s teacher, your neighbor who works as a paraprofessional, as well as office staff to attend one of our meetings. After all, the Toastmaster experience offers educational advantage to all who attend.
Mary Zabolio McGrath speaks professionally to educators and parents and recommends Toastmasters in her book, Teachers Today: A Guide to Surviving Creatively (Corwin Press, 1995). Contact Mary at www.maryzmcgrath.com
Reprinted with permission from District 6 Toastmasters
Reprints: This article is for site viewing only - not for reprinting.
Phone: 952-894-7707 Fax: 952-890-3229
E-Mail: info@maryzmcgrath.com
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