By Col. Miles Brown
Chief of staff, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson
Chief of Staff Col. Miles Brown
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Here at Fort Carson we have tremendous schools, with incredibly talented staff and faculty and supported by committed Soldier-parents. Success in our schools is a direct result of respectful, positive, working relationships between staff, faculty and parents. While we overwhelmingly have great partnerships with educators, from time to time we have instances where Soldier-parents and teachers don’t see eye to eye. Disagreement is not disrespect. We can — and should — have routine, thoughtful and deliberate conversations with our students’ teachers. It is the expectation, however, that in these discussions we as Soldiers never use our rank or position as leverage. We must always maintain complete professionalism —regardless of outcomes.
The following tips are helpful when interacting with educators:
- Communication: phone or visit — verbal communication is best. Email is subjective to tone and meaning. Communicate frequently with teachers regarding grades, attendance or behavior.
- Timing: Schedule an appointment with the teacher or administrator to give time to cool down.
- Listen: Seek out all perspectives about the conflict before making judgments about situations.
- Lead the Way: Come to meetings with solutions —assume positive intentions. Check grades and assignments frequently so that small issues can be addressed before they become big ones.
- Engage: Attend parent functions such as parent-teacher conferences. This type of active involvement forges positive relationships, helps to understand the school’s mission and vision, and identifies student opportunities.
- Key Takeaway: The success of the child is a direct result of a positive, working relationship between the parent and the teacher.
Steadfast and Loyal! IVY 5