The Importance of Putting Outstanding Instructors In Front of Students

PIE Blog Post – October 3, 2013
“The most important thing a school director or campus president can do is put outstanding instructors in front of the students.”
This wise advice was shared by a speaker during a conference break-out session quite a few years ago. Having attended many conferences and heard many speakers over the years, I don’t recall the specifics to appropriately assign the credit. Nevertheless, the advice resonates within my convictions and has become a vital component in my work with education leaders in various venues.
Undoubtedly, every school leader knows how true this statement is. Believing it is not enough! Translating these words into actions can become the mark of the outstanding school director. 
One can hope that s/he hires outstanding instructors; however, that doesn’t always happen. Many instructors come to teaching positions in career colleges and schools as experts in their fields, but they have little preparation for instructing students. Most of them are eager to share their knowledge and expertise with students, and they have the desire to help students succeed, but they don’t have a strong understanding of how to deliver instruction effectively, how to create a learning environment, how to spark adults’ motivation to learn, how to teach interactively and within learning communities, how to use various assessments, or overall, how to be outstanding.
Most of them will resort to teaching the way they were taught. By chance, some of them will be effective. The outstanding school director does not leave it to chance, to isolated online courses or to occasional in-service programs. S/he wants all of the instructors to be outstanding and will incorporate faculty development programs to ensure it. The benefits of a well-planned, consistently incorporated faculty development program not only positions outstanding instructors in front of the students. It also penetrates every fiber of the school! Outstanding instructors boost the confidence and morale of everyone on campus. Outstanding instructors are the core of high student satisfaction, increased referrals, increased retention, graduate career readiness and they significantly contribute to the campus culture of greatness!
The most important thing…………………outstanding instructors …………….guided through an outstanding faculty development program…………………by a leader who is committed to being outstanding, too!