TEACHER HANDBOOK
These guidelines and rules are 44+ years of mistakes. Please read carefully and apply to your classes. I know everyone is excited for the new year, so let’s put our foot forward and everyone have engaging lesson plans. Unfortunately most every complaint I receive and problems that arise are rules that are already in place. Remember, parents are viewing our teaching methods and productivity, so please set an exemplary example! Let’s let all our parents see and hear what great, engaging teachers we can be!
REMEMBER – YOU ARE ON CAMERA!
1. While we love livestream because students can participate from home, parents can observe progress, it can back up teachers’ point of view, but also – it makes our teachers better! We believe knowing you are on camera for all to see forces you to come even more prepared and on the top of your game. But, it can also work against you. Keeping ALL students engaged AT ALL TIMES should be your top priority!
2. Remember, parents are watching and hearing your voice at all times! Monitor your voice and always think...is this how I would want my child spoken to? This includes when your class is out of control, parents can hear and see which teachers are keeping order and truly teaching. It also includes what is said in between classes! Parents can still see and hear this! Keep your most professional attitude on until you walk out the door at the end of the day.
3. Do not use your phone during class! Phones should only be used for music. Enforce this with your students as well! No posting on social media during class, etc.
4. Be energetic with your classes, your students will feed off your energy and only be as energetic as their teacher is. The expectation of dance teachers is to be up, engaged and moving. DO NOT SIT during instruction time.
5. Don’t eat anything in class such as fast food, full meals, etc. Do not have anyone bring you a whole meal while you are teaching. If you are teaching for a long day, bite size is better.
6. Don’t leave the room unless necessary. If you do step out, please ask someone to step in and watch the class if they are younger. If a child has an accident, or you need assistance from the office for whatever reason – buzz the office or call the office phone/staff’s cell phone! Remember, parents are watching to see how you handle these situations. NEVER leave a class of young ones unattended.
7. Never let an entire class go to the water fountain or bathroom at the same time. Try to encourage the students to use the bathroom BEFORE class.
8. Unless a potential student is observing, there should be NO visitors in class. Simply say they are always welcome to watch on livestream.
9. All music must be clean! No curse words or suggestive lyrics. The less repetitive your music is the better. Again, music makes it fun! Make your voice exciting also! Kids are more engaged if your voice is not monotone! When working individually, keep music going.
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND PROCEDURES
Before discipline should come set expectations. Older classes, should have the expectation to come in and immediately begin stretching. Instead, many older students who are comfortable at the studio are bouncing off the walls, yelling in a waiting room of preschool parents, running down the stairs, etc. Send them out and make them come in again the right way! Do it every week until they know how to act between classes. You can tell a difference in permissive teachers’ classrooms and those who set clear expectations of how to behave in class, while still having fun.
Your first days of class should consist of a lot of procedural instruction!
Babies need expectations set before every activity, throughout the year.
Even with slightly older kids. For example, students who have never done down the floors need to be taught what it looks like. They need to be told how to learn from the compliments/critiques given to others instead of talking in line, and this needs to be reinforced consistently.
Arrival and dismissal should have procedural expectations
When dismissing classes 6 and under, do not release them all at once. Have them sit against the mirror and wait for their name to be called as their parent approaches the studio door. (We have had little ones leave without a parent. This is the best way to prevent this and keep our students safe).
6-9 and up should discuss expectations of how to behave while waiting for a parent to arrive, how to cross the parking lot, what to do if mom isn’t there yet, etc. This shouldn’t just be the first day, but throughout the year. For example, as seasons change, they should be reminded of not crossing into the parking lot in the dark.
If the parent is not there on time, keep them in the room with you sitting by the door rather than sending them to the office please. The parent typically arrives within a few minutes. If the parent does not arrive after 5-10 minutes, then send them to the office to call mom.
Class Structure: Please let your classes resemble the following format:
Call Roll: For younger students begin the class sitting at the mirror while you do this, it helps to keep them from "zooming" around the room.
Stretch Warm Up: Studies show it is safer and more beneficial to get the blood pumping BEFORE stretching. It has been proven that "cold stretching" is not as productive as doing some type of aerobic activity first. So jazz teachers please remember this as you begin your stretching.
Please utilize the blocks and bands located in the benches. YouTube new ideas
Down the floor: Remember to use motivational music.
Center floor: New combinations are always fun! Please make sure you are challenging your class weekly! As mentioned elsewhere, YouTube is a great resource! Just change your search words for many combinations and teaching tips to come up. Please make sure the same kids are not always in the front. Rotate your rows consistently.
Discipline: Please follow this guideline when disciplining students.
Reprimand: Please remember that sometimes positive works better than negative. For example, “I am so proud of you for staying on your spot!” rather than, “Would you stay on your spot?”
Time out: Send student to “time out” or “sad corner” for younger ones. Never send them out to the waiting area.
Parent Meeting: If needed, talk to the parent privately about the child’s behavior. If you are having a serious situation with a student please bring it to Kelley’s attention.
Older Students: When disciplining older students, you may not approach/text the parent regarding behavior without Kelley’s permission. With older chatty classes, please know there are so many more professional ways to get their attention or get them to stop talking then yelling GIRLS. HEY. STOP TALKING. Etc.
TRY DIFFERENT TATICS WHEN DISCIPLINING. Sometimes bad behavior is actually a cry for attention. We never know what these children are going through at home. Often reinforcing the good behavior of other students is all that is needed to help one child behave or want to be good.
You may give out surprises at the end of class for younger ones. Rewards truly do work wonders for behavior! Do not withhold any surprise from any student! It's sad but these days this only gets us in trouble with parents. If there have been discipline problems, simply tell the class that next week when everyone is good we will all get suckers. Then proceed to brag on those that were well behaved. It doesn't always have to be a sucker - be creative! (Perfume, smiley faces, stickers).
Always make sure the children have their tap shoes on the correct feet. It appears as though we have not even looked at their feet if they leave class wearing their shoes on the wrong foot.
Monitor younger students’ readiness for dance. If a child cannot stay on her spot and somewhat follow instructions after 3-4 lessons, then that student is probably too young to be in class. The mother of that student should be told privately in a very nice manner "Susie is so cute but she needs to wait a year. We wouldn’t want to waste your time and money." Out of fairness to yourself and your class, please be sure to have this conversation after you have observed them 3-4 times. Then inform the office the student should withdraw. Encourage them to try again next year!
BE FRIENDLY, INFORMATIVE, AND CARING!
Always walk to the studio door and acknowledge parents as one class leaves and another arrives.
Do make it a point to speak to parents from each of your classes. Learn parents’ names. This is an IMPORTANT part of parent/teacher relations. Even if you are shy force yourself to appear outgoing and friendly!
Learn the first and last names of all students. Always call first and last names while calling roll. Also use their names as much as possible. For example instead of just saying: “Good job!” say “Good job, Suzy!” This will help you learn their names faster and make each child feel special!
Class Reminders and Updates: Make waiting room announcements to keep your parents informed! Once a year we have parent newsletters, please remember to distribute these! Write all absentee names on top and then clip with roll sheets to clip board so that you remember to hand them out the following week.
We really do a great job of keeping parents informed via our monthly studio wide email newsletter in addition to social media. Please read these in addition to your teacher emails to be a well informed teacher. Parents will ask you questions. If you truly don’t know the answer to something, check the latest email along with them so you’ll know for next time and they’ll learn where to find it on their own!
*Any other mass parent communication/reminders or communication with a single parent regarding any problematic issue must be cleared through Kelley.
TEACHING AND CHOREOGRAPHY
Arrive BEFORE your scheduled class time in order to be prepared! DO NOT BE LATE AND START CLASS ON TIME regardless of how many students show up for the class. Many comment sheets read their class did not start and stop on time! I am sorry but this is not only your reputation but the studio’s as well. Again, remember, parents can now see if you start on time and come prepared to engage your students throughout the entire class.
Older classes – DO NOT stand around and engage in conversation with your students or other teachers. Begin class immediately and use the entire hour! If you are late or waste 10 minutes of class time each lesson, that is equivalent to the students missing 6 lessons throughout the year. Remember our year is 3 whole weeks shorter this year!
COME PREPARED! In order to be the best teacher you can be and to keep students productive at all times during class, please come with choreography and formations already prepared. Don't forget there are dance and tumbling curriculums in each studio full of ideas and steps to teach! And as already mentioned, online is a wealth of information and teaching tips!
BE ENTHUSIASTIC! How can you inspire if you are not excited? Put yourself into their shoes! Not only does it make it fun, but big enthusiasm makes for better dancers! If it has been a bad day, don’t show it to the students.... be happy to make them happy! Remember great music playing throughout class can add to the enthusiasm of everyone! There are a ton of dance props under the desk with corresponding music!
Be creative with young students! Visit the Zoo, the beach, Disney World, the Halloween Castle, and Santa’s Workshop etc...Use the books at your disposal! We will discuss more at the teachers review. Remember to go on YouTube, Google and join teacher Facebook groups to get great classroom ideas!
Monitor your classes’ progression! It's obvious on stage which classes and teachers worked more! Be honest with yourself in order for your class to benefit. If you are lax with the majority of your lesson time, then your students will look lax onstage. Please find the balance of fun while working and progressing them at the same time. Don't let them get into bad habits. Be sure to be hands on and apply corrections. Don't think "that's the best she can do" instead think "she can do better!"
DO NOT repeat choreography! If you use a certain step, move, specific arms, etc, in one dance, you may not use it in another! This goes for solos too. It is obvious at recital when the same moves are repeated from dance to dance, and very noticeable on the DVD! This includes steps from previous years as well. (Of course this does not apply to same songs in different recitals, but rather repeating steps across multiple dances).
Do not repeat choreography/combos in classes that have the same students! For example, a student should learn a different combo in jazz versus lyrical.
All recital choreography should be completed by the date on the calendar and there should be no major changes after this date. This allows plenty of time for cleaning or any necessary changes/improvements. For example, if you have a 1.5 minute dance and start choreography in January, you should be completing 20-30 seconds of choreography each month. Again, make your choreography interesting. Are you using formations, levels, practicing entrances and exits, etc, etc…?
Keep a personal teachers notebook and/or video library for your classes. Write/video what the students are working on and all routines. This is a must! It helps for when a sub has to teach and it will help you to remember as well! With the TVs, we can video our dances and send them to the sub. Video the class doing choreography in order to help remember what you taught the last week. You must video the class once dances are finished. We will be putting these online just after the choreography deadline. Video them from the backside and elevate yourself so you can still see the front side in the mirror. At the beginning of each video, please edit in or neatly write, teacher, day and time in a sharpie and video that information BEFORE you video the choreography.
STUDIO POLICIES
Information: You must read and know the class rules, guidelines and also our policies shown online. Please like us on Facebook, become familiar with all of our material at misskelleys.com, and read the emails sent out. Parents expect you to know these things.
Remember if something is a rule DO NOT tell a parent "Let me speak with Kelley" or “Just ask Alyssa.” This makes it sound like a possibility and we cannot make exceptions. It only gets us into trouble. Be prepared to say, “I am sorry, that is a rule and we cannot make an exception.”
Ex – if you say, “let me ask Alyssa/Kelley if your kid that is too young for a class can go into the class” you make me the bad guy! Just tell them no! Blame it on the computer system! It’s the truth!
Injuries: Follow up on any serious injury with a phone call to the parent and always notify Kelley immediately. There are Band-Aids and a first aid kit in the office for minor occurrences.
Bad Weather Policy: We will USUALLY close if Blount or Trussville City Schools close or cancel after school activities. It will be posted on Facebook by 2 PM of that dance day. In some cases we may not follow the schools recommendation. It may also happen that we start the day and then close. Parents have stated that their child's teacher caused worry about the weather in front of them and the students. Please refrain from worry and rest assured knowing that we will always make a safe decision. However, due to the ever changing factors of weather, it just may not be as quick as you would like. Please keep the lesson going in your dance studio unless otherwise notified.
Lost and Found: If you find an item left behind in your classroom, and you know who it belongs to – save it for them! Take a moment, hide it in a drawer and make a note on your roll to help you remember next week. If you do not know who the item belongs to, please place the items in the lost and found area. Please DO NOT take it to the office or leave it out on the counter, etc. We have a designated spot upstairs and downstairs for this! Let’s keep the studio looking neat and tidy!
It is under a bench in each waiting room in Trussville and there is a basket in the office in Oneonta. Of course we make our best effort to return items to those that left it, however it is in our policies online that Miss Kelley's cannot be responsible for forgotten items. Be sure to check younger students' bags for missing shoes. Kids sometimes don't realize they have someone else's shoes!
Class Age: Remember all students must be the age of the class by December 1. If a child does not meet the age of your class they must go to another class. No exceptions can be made out of fairness to others. This includes teacher’s children. This is also automatic within our computer system. Overrides may only be used in the case of a developmental disability, etc.
Class Day and Times: Classes may not be cancelled or changed! Your class should always be taught at the time and day shown on the schedule and in the studio shown on the schedule due to parents observing over livestream. Please do not combine classes without direct permission from Kelley.
Placement: Always evaluate your students to ensure they are in the proper level. This applies to all ages, even younger ones. Let's try not to let any dancer "slip" through the cracks. Do not move a student unless you have viewed the student at least 2 or 3 times (unless there is an obvious mistake, for example: a four year old in an eight year old class). There are times a child is simply nervous or possibly impressed you but upon further evaluation your opinion might change. Also it appears to the parents that we gave their child a "chance." Changes in class placement should be made and finalized by the last week in September! Any later will affect costume ordering.
COSTUMES
Follow picture sheet EXACTLY. Please never tell a class to just ignore an item included within their costume bag. If it is in there – they paid for it. They will feel it is money wasted. If you have a question about any costume items, please ask Katrina, Kelley, or Alyssa.
Please never tell a class a shoe color that is not on the picture sheet. Remember – dancers’ shoes should match their tights! Tan tights = tan shoes. Pink tights = pink shoes.
Follow all directions when converting costumes. This is a very important day. Small mistakes can mean costly mistakes later.
Please notify the office directly on any new or withdrawing students after costumes have been ordered. Be sure to measure any new students and pass this information along to the office by way of email! Please do not text office staff. It is very easy for texts to get lost or forgotten about over the weekend when you are out of office. Please email katrina@misskelleys.com ONLY.
Please take note of any students taking jazz or tap only and DO NOT order their costume. (This will be included in instructions at conversion week).
After viewing costumes during conversion week, please make any requests for props or additional items immediately – not the week after or in the spring. Accessory fees are announced to parents at the end of October along with costumes and cannot be changed.
KEEPING AN ACCURATE ROLL
NEW ONLINE ROLLS! YAY!
New this year – rolls will be online! There will be a sticker to tap or scan in each room. Simply hold your phone up to it, or scan the QR code also included. It will pull up the online roll for that studio!
A couple of things we’d like to make note of that will change with this new method–
HONESTY - You will also be taking your own roll, and that of any team teachers with you. This will be directly connected to payroll. In the past, we have always joked at this meeting that you guys only liked to sign the change of hours form when you wanted more money, not less. Almost no one signed it when missing classes. We realize this is just forgetfulness, and not dishonesty. However, any dishonesty on the online roll will be taken seriously. “Late” is also an option to choose from. Please be honest with any and all selections you make for yourself and your team teachers. We appreciate you all!
FORGETTING TO FINISH – We all occasionally forget to fully finish taking roll if someone is late, etc. This can cause problems for the office staff and parent communication. It can also be important when calculating charges for add/drops, etc. An accurate roll is so important for many reasons.
We fear that with online roll taking, this might be even easier to do – out of sight, out of mind. Therefore, if any names are left unmarked on your roll, the following morning you will receive a text: You forgot to take roll! Please immediately fill this out while any absences are still on your mind. If it is not done after a few hours, you will receive another text. Please make every effort to do this because all absentees will receive automatic emails the following day at 2pm.This email will tell parents that their child was absent from class while also encouraging good attendance, reminding them of our makeup policy, and giving them the opportunity to withdraw from the class, etc. This will eliminate the time our office takes to individually call absentees each and every day! Yay!
ADDITIONS – Have a student attending that is not on the roll? Include this on the note portion of the online roll! It will go to the office staff!
Write in the name of any students attending that are not on the roll. If you are repeatedly writing them in, please check with the office. If they are not on the roll – they are not being charged or having a costume ordered.
If a student is not on the roll simply because they are attending for a makeup lesson – please write their name in WITH THE WORD “MAKEUP” beside it. We would like to keep up with makeup lessons, (because no student should be repeatedly attending makeup lessons) but don’t want to charge anyone that doesn’t need to be.
WITHDRAWALS - If a parent tells you their child is quitting, please ask them to officially withdraw through the office. You may also make a note on the roll for the secretary or reach out to the office to double check for costumes. Please do the same if you have a student to add your class on after costumes have already been ordered. Measure the student, and pass the information along to the office.
JAZZ/TAP ONLY - Please pay attention to any students marked as jazz only on your roll! If they change their minds and add tap, the office must be notified! If they are marked on the roll that way – that are not being charged for their tap costume, nor was it ordered.
Please monitor your class enrollment. A lot of withdrawals usually indicates that the teacher is not engaging the students!
STUDENT TEACHERS
Student teacher rules and public sign up can be found at misskelleys.com/studentteachers.
Help monitor your student teacher. Don’t hesitate to say “hey, don’t pick her up she needs to be dancing” or “no don’t take her to the bathroom again she’s already been once.”
Please remember that if your child is at the studio, they may not enter any classes that they are not the student teacher for.
Please notify the office if your student teacher misses 3 or more classes in a row so that someone on the waiting list may be given a chance to student teach and so that we do not purchase a gift for them.
STUDIO FACILITIES
Protect our facilities! Please do not allow students to make marks and scrape the paint on the walls. Also when handing out suckers, teach students that trash should always be thrown in the garbage can. Teach your students to respect the building.
Protect our materials! Please do not allow students to play with any of the items in the drawers of the studios or the office. For example, drawing on the mirrors, drawing on the floors with chalk, wasting stickers, sticky notes, or drawing on the class rolls. Not only is this destructive and wasteful of our supplies, you are only telling on yourself as it is clear they were not engaged for the full hour of class.
Copier: The copier is only to be used for material pertaining to Miss Kelley’s. Due to the cost of ink we can no longer let teachers use this for cheerleading squads, other jobs, college work, etc.
Housekeeping: Please help us keep the studio clean! Remember that others have to use it after you.
Clean up after yourself. Drinks are often left behind, etc.
Clean up after your students. Firstly, take a moment at each dismissal to glance around and try to cut back on items left behind BEFORE they are left behind. If something is left, at the end of the day, take it all to the lost and found bench!
If you know specifically who an item belongs to, then by all means label it and leave it in the drawer. Make yourself a note on your roll for the following week – “Give Susie her water bottle she left last week. In 1st drawer.” But if you do not know who a water bottle, necklace, bag, pair of shoes, etc. belongs to – please do not let it all junk up the studio. We have 2 designated lost and found benches for all of this. We would so appreciate you taking a moment to leave anything left behind in your classroom there. Thank you!
Put props back where they belong. We organize props OFTEN, and they are always messed up again. Only teachers should be accessing these.
Please do not leave your personal things in the office or food in the fridge for extended periods. We often have things left for months at a time. Anything left will be placed in a pickup basket
ENTERING/EXITING/UTILITIES
Alarm – The last person out is responsible for setting the alarm. Each person has their own alarm code. The code activity is monitored each month so please do not share your code with others.
Do not assume the building is occupied or empty when leaving, always check! We have had teachers set the alarm with people still inside, or leave it completely unarmed because they thought someone was downstairs.
If you are unable to set the alarm for any reason, please call Kelley or Alyssa.
You may not unlock the studio for others using the studio for personal use. They must go through the website to book via our office, be charged, etc.
Doors –
Check outside doors to make sure they are all locked if you are having trouble arming the alarm. Sometimes the outside studio door is opened during class. It may appear shut but actually not be latched.
The electronic lock on the back door operates with your same code. If you are the last to leave, please do not forget to lock it back! It does not lock automatically!
Please remember that the front door UNLOCKS if you turn the knob from the inside. Double check that it is locked correctly. We have had poor parents stop by outside of hours and walk right in, setting the alarm off.
Electricity – Please take the extra moment to turn off all lights when leaving. This includes studio, office, back room, waiting area and bathrooms. Bathrooms are often forgotten. We appreciate you taking an extra minute of your time to do so.
Heating and Air Conditioning – To adjust the temp in the room, only use the up and down arrows on the front of the thermostat. They are programmed to adjust the temp according to the class schedules. DO NOT press the hold or the fan buttons!
You should never open the front cover of the thermostat. You could mess up the programming.
If the correct date/time are not showing, please let the office know ASAP.
STUDIO USE
Music: Each studio has music binders with CDs. If you use these, please be sure to put the CD back in the binder at the end of class. All studios have Bluetooth capability so that you may use your own music sources. The WiFi password is the phone number with the area code. Just remember all music must be clean and not suggestive in the slightest. Directions for use of the sound equipment and TV's are taped up in each studio.
TV's: Don't forget to use our TVs but please keep up with the remote. You can show choreography for inspiration, show a warm-up for the students to follow as you walk around being hands on with corrections. Or video the class and play it back so they can critique themselves! If you know you are going to be absent, sending a video to your sub with choreography would be most appreciated!
*If showing a video to a class in which they follow along, please either participate upfront or circulate around the room encouraging students to join in or giving corrections. A teacher must look engaged the entire time. *DO NOT rely on only the TV to get you through teaching OR subbing. Have a backup plan!
DO NOT – hang things from the ceiling, tape anything to the walls or tape the floors with anything other than gaffers tape or electrical tape. Do not use masking tape!
If putting something on the wall for “spotting” – CAREFULLY remove it at the end of your class!
PAYROLL AND PRIVATE LESSONS
Payroll: Paychecks are only issued by direct deposit during the first week of the month following that pay period. You will receive an email with payroll details. If you ever have any questions please contact Alyssa. Dance teachers are salaried based on a 4 week month regardless of the number of actual dance days. Dance hours are paid for time off such as holidays and bad weather days. This paid time is in lieu of payment for unpaid events listed below.
Out of fairness to all teachers, if you miss the Christmas Parade, then you will not receive the Christmas holiday pay. (The parade is mandatory due to safety, only the teacher knows if that is Susie's dad walking off with her). Additionally, those that do not attend the mandatory spring meeting will not receive spring break pay, and those that do not attend the costume conversion day will not receive Thanksgiving pay. Secretaries are paid actual hours worked, since they do not have the extras incurred by dance teachers.
NEW! Private Lessons: Private lessons are to be booked on our Team Up calendar app. $10 per hour will be deducted from your pay for every hour reserved to cover insurance, utilities, etc.
HOW TO BOOK – Include YOUR NAME as the “title” and the first AND LAST name of the student you are working with as the “who.” Please make each booking individually. This is also for your record keeping and protection with parents.
You will not be charged for working with another staff member’s child. It is up to you how you would like to charge them.
NEW! PLEASE BOOK THIS DIFFERENTLY AND INCLUDE THE TITLE AS “STAFF KID” then please include your name AND the students name within the “who.”
Parents that receive credit for any work done, whether it be cleaning, tshirts, etc. do not receive free studio use or other discounts. This is only for teachers and office staff.
You may book personal use of the studio on the day of only (excluding family parties).
NEW! CANCELLATIONS – Instead of texting, please email jaime@misskelleys.com to have any bookings deleted! This ensures that nothing slips through the cracks via text and is all checked in office! Thank you!
Specialty Numbers – There are no longer caps on specialty number performances per teacher and you are no longer responsible for keeping up with rules for specialty numbers. Anyone performing a specialty number must submit a form to our office, ensuring any policies are met. Through this form, they will request a teacher. The office will then contact you.
Do not solicit specialty numbers! Please leave it up to the student who they want their teacher to be!
You may accept/deny as many numbers as you wish. (Keep in mind your time and ability to do your best without becoming overwhelmed!).
Specialty privates should still be scheduled like normal on the calendar. We suggest labeling them solo meeting 1, 2, 3…. for your own purposes.
If you are doing any specialty numbers, please review our public policies on the website regarding payments, music and costume policies, etc.
TEACHER CONDUCT
Deadlines: Any deadlines given whether it is for dates to finish dances, solo music turned in, lineups arranged, picture identifications made, etc…must be met! These deadlines are for a reason, please be responsible and organized!
Teacher Communication: PLEASE read ALL monthly emails and GroupMe texts! Due to the large number of us, time does not allow for me to quickly call 30+ people, therefore this will be my main way of communication. It is disheartening when a teacher says “I didn’t know,” or parents say “Our teacher did not tell us that,” simply because the teacher did not read or follow through with the information sent. Staying up to date and relaying information to parents is part of the job. Please know, we can see not only if you open the email, but if you click the attachments as well!
Down Time: If you have a break between classes please hang out in the break room in the back and NOT IN THE OFFICE! This allows the secretary to continue the work she is being paid for and prevents the office from becoming crowded and loud. It is hard to hear on the phone with loud noise around you. Some dance parents are more likely to approach the window when it is just the secretary. No one wants to discuss their bill with an audience present, even employees. Thank you for following this rule!
Social Media: Please remember our students and their parents can see your photos, language and references to activities. It's as simple as googling a teacher's name and links to their social media will usually appear. Again, unless you would want your preacher to see it or read it, then it is probably not a good idea to put it out there. This is not just your reputation but also “Miss Kelley’s” reputation. If you feel strongly that you should have these things on your social media, then we request you make your settings private so that your young, impressionable students will not be able to see it. Also never mention a work situation online. Even if it's with best intentions, it is best not to cite anything for all to read.
Language: Please remember that profanity is not allowed. This includes slang words that also can be offensive. This rule is not limited to class time. It also includes the back area and the office, competition or recital venue, etc. You never know who is listening. If you wouldn’t say it in front of your preacher, don't say it at a work function! Remember, if a situation were to arise in which we had to play back camera footage for parents, you would be very embarrassed for your choice of words to be played back for all to hear. Please always speak to students in a completely professional manner. For example, no use of shut up, even with big girls. Always be uplifting in the way you speak – whether it be critiques or discipline. Parents are listening.
Sexual Misconduct: Sexual Misconduct means any act, including but not limited to, any verbal or nonverbal, written or electronic communication or physical activity, directed towards or with a child or a student regardless of age that is designed to establish a romantic or sexual relationship with the child or student. Prohibited acts include, but are not limited to: (1) sexual or romantic invitations; (2) dating or soliciting dates; (3) engaging in sexualized or romantic dialogue; (4) making sexually suggestive comments; (5) self=disclosure or physical exposure of a sexual, romantic or erotic nature: or (6) any sexual, indecent, romantic or erotic contact with the child or student. Any sexual misconduct will be reported and result in immediate termination.
Attire: Please come dressed in professional dance attire and ready for dance. Teachers are required to wear dancewear and proper shoes for the subjects they teach. If you are going to wear tennis shoes – they must be dance sneakers. Hair that is shoulder length or longer should be pulled up. This same rule applies to student teachers. Please encourage your student teacher to always look the part.
Professional attire is also required outside of the dance studio at any other Miss Kelley’s function. Such as competitions, team parties, other performances, etc.
Jewelry, Piercings & Tattoos: No big jewelry should be worn, it can be a safety hazard. Any offensive tattoos must be covered. Most parents prefer a more conservative look from their teacher.
Gossip and Loyalty: WE ARE A TEAM! If a parent approaches you and speaks negatively of the studio, Kelley, another teacher, costume, routine, etc. - please respond professionally by not participating in the conversation. Remaining silent gives the impression that you agree. Instead encourage the person to voice any legitimate concerns to Kelley. You would expect the same of a co-worker if someone were bashing you! Do not allow a parent to speak badly of another studio or another dance parent! Tell them you are not comfortable with that discussion and change the subject!
Also as a teacher you should not initiate any gossip here at the studio OR TO STUDENTS PARENTS! Please know that confiding in parents is a mistake! They may not intentionally tell but it usually always slips to another parent who then calls Kelley and says “Do you know what Miss _______ said?” When upset over something, honesty IS the best policy and remember we are a dance family! Please treat your coworkers as such. I cannot stress this enough!
Problems: Tell me if you are ever unhappy with anything. I'll try my best to fix whatever is wrong! However, I have to know when something is bothering you in order to address it! Please never assume what I will think or say. It is best not to believe what you hear, but to come and speak to me directly. Remember nothing is accomplished by complaining to others however something CAN be accomplished by coming to me! Again, I'm always open and I want everyone happy!! :)
TEACHER ATTENDANCE
Teacher Attendance: As mentioned earlier, regular attendance will now be kept up with online along with your class rolls. The change of hours form will now only be used for those working additional hours for any reason.
We do ask that you not miss the same class more than three times throughout the year. Missing four lessons equals one month of what is actually an 8 month year. Please remember to be smart with your off days. It is better to save your absence for an emergency. Also you are more likely to find a sub if you have subbed for that person, remember, “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours!"
The lessons that you may not miss are marked in your teacher calendar. Every year there is a teacher that says "I didn't know" and yet it is on the Teacher's Calendar AND the studio wide calendars. ALL information is always given upfront. The whole year is laid out for you! Please just read to stay informed.
REMEMBER YOU CANNOT MISS IF IT IS OBSERVATION, PICTURE WEEK OR THE FIRST/LAST LESSON!
Substitute Teachers: Each teacher is responsible for arranging their own substitute. However, one of the main purposes of having an extra built in teacher each day is to make subbing easier! ALWAYS ask the team teacher on your day BEFORE asking others to sub. Of course, if you are a team teacher yourself, no sub is needed, but please notify your team teacher that you will not be there. To see the list of team teachers, visit our schedule on the website.
Co-Teachers: If you are a team teacher you MUST stay in the class for the full hour. It is not fair to disappear on your team teacher to make a personal call, run an errand, get food, etc. Nor is it fair to sit while the other teacher does all of the work. Please do not take advantage of the studio or your coworkers.
Remember this applies on picture day, observation day, etc. We realize many teachers have children taking class at the same time, however we still have to fulfill our responsibilities out of fairness to our team teacher. If you would prefer to be in your child’s class, please either get a sub if needed or ask your co-teacher to mark you as absent on the roll and let them know you will not be in attendance during class.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Teachers and secretaries that work during the regular year will receive the agreed upon discount on regular tuition only for their own children and nieces/nephews.
Discounts for children and nieces in our computer system apply to regular tuition only. (This is because this is the only automated discount. Princess Camp, tryouts, other fees, etc. are not automated and therefore will not be discounted).
Due to lack of summer instructors and to be fair to others, this policy also now applies to 6 week summer course as well. You must work at least 3 hours of the six week course, or 4 days of Princess Camp in order to receive your discount.
Teachers will be paid holidays and bad weather cancellations. We no longer always close when schools close. Again, the decision of whether or not to dance will be made by 2:00 on that day. *In the rare event that a makeup day is scheduled, in order to be fair to other teachers and the studio, you will only be paid the time worked at the new event.
Employees will receive 40% off of all merchandise, and one free recital tshirt.
Teachers may purchase program book ads at cost. The number of ads that are sold determines the cost. Payment is due at time of purchase. The ad purchased must only contain the teacher’s child in order to get it at cost.
Each employee will receive 3 images via digital download from the photographer.
RULES PERTAINING TO EMPLOYEES’ CHILDREN
Your children may not be at the studio while you are working. It is okay if they are in class during this time as long as someone else is responsible for bringing and picking them up (obviously unless you start/finish at the same time).
Your children should not walk into another class in progress if they are at the studio. Parents have commented on the disruption of the class that they are paying for. We also cannot break student teacher rules that apply to everyone.
If your child does take while you are teaching, DO NOT leave your own observation/class pictures in order to watch your child's class observation/class pictures.
As mentioned above, if your child does a private lesson with another teacher, you are responsible for paying the cost of this lesson minus the studio percentage.
Please do not allow your child (or yourself) to discuss with others about "free dance" or other discounts. This only brings resentment from other students and their parents.
Fees owed for your child must be put on automatic draft and taken out monthly as due. If you have yet to do so, please provide the office with your routing and account numbers.
Many teachers have complained that the teacher's break area no longer belongs to us but to employees’ children or student teachers. Please remember this area is for the adults. There is nowhere else to take a disgruntled customer if need be.
Please pick up after your child if there is a mess of some type left in the break area or studios.
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