The Right Fit Tips on hiring and retaining the right teachers for your business by Katie Dravenstott
happen overnight. And once the staff is put together studio owners then have to find ways to maintain and nourish teachers in order to keep the studio as a whole moving forward. So how do owners go about finding, acclimating and retaining the right people to run their businesses? I asked some local studio owners to share their thoughts and this is what they had to say:
A On The Hunt
From industry job sites, newsletters and e-mail blasts to colleagues and former students, studio owners have plenty of options when it comes to finding a new teacher. Kelly Lannin, director of The Ballet Conservatory in Lewisville, TX, says she has tried many of these methods but prefers contacting colleagues for their suggestions. “I would much rather hire someone that comes with a good recom- mendation from someone I know,” Lannin says.
For Lisa Racina-Torre, owner and director of the Denton Dance Conservatory LCC, Denton, TX, hiring former students is the best way to go. “They know the technique, my expectations at each level and how I run my shows,” Racina-Torre says.
But these are ideal situations. Eventually studios owners will have to take a risk and hire someone they do not know. When this day comes they will have to rely on their studio principles to make the right decision. “I look for someone with tremendous personal charisma, energy and an amazing background,” says Jacqueline Porter, artistic director of the Dallas Conservatory for the Arts/Park Cities Dance in Dallas. “They must be able to teach and not just give a good class; and be dedicated to making sure students not just receive but achieve proper technique.”
Pictured: Roger Lee’s Hip Hop class at Park Cities Dance
Along with teaching the right technique Lindsay DiGiuseppe Bowman, director of The School of Contemporary Ballet Dallas, says she also looks for teachers who can motivate students in positive ways. “They must also be able to move forward and not get stag- nant in their teaching,” DiGiuseppe Bowman says.
Ice Breakers Faculty meetings are a quick and effective way to intergrate a new teacher into your studio’s culture, according to many studio owners. Racina-Torre says she holds faculty meetings once every six weeks: three in the fall and three in the spring. “We discuss things such as my expectations, the recital process and the studio hierarchy in terms of what questions they can answer and when they should refer parents to Ms. Lisa,” Racina-Torre says.
In addition to a faculty meeting at the beginning of the year Lannin says she also holds individual meetings with her new teachers. “I have a one-on-one meeting with them where I go over the faculty manual and handbook as well as the class syllabus which explains how we operate the school and what I expect to be taught at each level,” Lannin says.
If you aren’t able to have a faculty meeting, DiGiuseppe Bowman suggests staying in touch electronically. “I use e-mail a lot to com- municate with our teachers,” DiGiuseppe Bowman says. “We also have a user-friendly web site which includes a calendar for our stu- dents and teachers to view.”
Lake Cities Ballet Dance Faculty during 20th anniversary recital. From left to right bottom row:Denise Clarkston, Kelly Lannin (Artistic Director), Nancy Loch, Janet Waters. Top Row: Asia Waters, Shanon Tate, Kerry Dove, Allan Kinzie, Mary Neel (Business Director), Rachael Poole, Lacy de la Garza, Jamie Edgerton.
page 16 august 2011
www.thedancecouncil.org
Observing class is another effective way to acclimate new teachers. “I like new teachers to sit in on another teacher’s class to see what they do and how much effort they put into teaching correctly and positively,” Porter says. Studio owners also recommend checking in with your new teacher periodically. “I try to check in at least twice a semester,” DiGiuseppe Bowman says. “I will watch most of their class to see how they and the kids are progressing,” she adds. “I stay in close contact with them in regards to selecting costumes, helping them communicate with parents and especially with all the recital preparations,” Lannin says. “Once they have made it through their first year, the second year is much less work for me.”
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS a publication of the dance council of north texas vol. 14 • no. 3
sk dance studio owners in North Texas what their secret to success is and many will tell you it is their amazing teaching staff. But assembling and developing such a team doesn’t
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28