Parent as Staff Agreement

Tim Graves, M.S. Ed. and Jennifer Gauthier, B.A.

The following was developed to serve as a framework for communication and to facilitate positive relationships between staff members who have their own children in the programs in which they work and the other adults in the program. This agreement was developed based upon the premise that the children's needs must be paramount.

PARENT who is also a staff member of the program

I agree to the following:
 

I will strive to keep personal feelings separate from professional matters

I will openly and in a timely manner share my concerns regarding my child's care. I will do this at an appropriate time. For example, I will respect my child's teacher's lunch break.

When in conversations with colleagues, I will identify which "hat" I am wearing (role).

I agree that my child's needs are more important than mine. For example, my need for a hug may have to be delayed if it disrupts him/her or his/her classroom.

I will separate my working time from my parent time. For example, I will arrive early enough to drop my child off before my scheduled shift.

I will give my child a quick hug and kiss, if needed, when I run into my child during the course of the day.

Unless impossible, I agree that It is best for my child to be placed in another teacher's room. If my child is in my room he/she may be confused about my role.

If my child must be in my room, I am willing to share responsibilities for the care of my child with my co-teacher(s). I will support her/him in doing so.

If my child must be in my room, I will strive to be open to the questions and concerns of other parents and staff members.

If I am the superior of my child's teacher, I will not be punitive if the teacher has concerns or seeks help from an objective party.

TEACHER who is caring for the child of a colleague

I agree to the following:

I will respect a child's feelings and relationship with his/her parent. For example, allowing him/her to quickly get a hug and kiss as needed

I will respect my colleague's struggle to wear many "hats".

I will refrain from talking about my colleague's child, my colleague, or their relationship except with my colleague.

I will respect the importance of the parent-child relationship.

I accept the additional challenges of caring for a colleague's child.

I will openly and honestly express any concerns about the arrangement with my colleague.

I will strive to keep personal feelings separate from professional matters. For
example, I may identify my "hat" as I speak to my colleague.


OTHER special areas of agreement.


We agree to the above.

_____________________
Staff member with a child

_____
date

_____________________
Staff member with responsibility for the child

_____
date

_____________________
Administrator/director or other interested person

_____
date

©Copyright, 1997 Timothy R. Graves and Jennifer A. Gauthier
Write Training Wheels for Early Childhood Education at 1981 Decatur Avenue Wheeling, WV 26003, call 304-242-3209, or e-mail permission@trainingwheels4ece.com for permission to reproduce.