The Sound of Silence: The Educator's Perspective on Silence during Staff Meetings

School of Education at Gardner-Webb University. P.O. Box 7304, Bolling Springs, NC 28017. Tel: 704-406-4295; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/joel/

Y

44

Auditory Stimuli; Staff Meetings; Teacher Attitudes; Public Schools; Job Satisfaction; Negative Attitudes; Teacher Participation; Teacher Effectiveness; Group Behavior; Teacher Administrator Relationship; Inclusion; Teacher Empowerment; Positive Attitudes; Teacher Characteristics; Extraversion Introversion

Ohio; Pennsylvania

2380-0860

Staff meetings are a regular occurrence in schools, yet both teachers and principals typically report dissatisfaction with these meetings. The current investigation seeks to understand the viewpoints of public-school teachers on silence during staff meetings. This was the first known investigation on the topic using Q methodology. Data analysis extracted three distinct viewpoints: "Get the Party Started, I Don't Care Anymore, and Don't Stop Believin'." This study provides the results of data analysis, responds to research questions, and makes recommendations for meeting design and facilitation. The findings indicate how the principal facilitates the meeting seems to have a more pronounced influence on teacher silence behaviors, teacher attitudes towards staff meetings, and their own silence levels, while the leadership style was less impactful. Regardless of the principal's leadership style, teachers report increased satisfaction when the principal intentionally designed and facilitated relevant and impactful staff meetings where group norms were followed.

As Provided

2024

EJ1425028