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    What to do about Jim?

    Professional dialogue turns difficult conversations into growth opportunities

    By Joseph Jones and T.J. Vari
    Categories: Coaching, Collaboration
    October 2017
    Vol. 38 No 5
    Here is a common scenario: The kids love Jim and so do his peers. He’s one of those teachers who lights up the room with his huge personality, and he’s always good for a laugh. In fact, you can’t help laughing along with Jim when he gets the room going. Jim’s best quality is that he possesses great soft skills and is a good communicator. He is agreeable, willing to serve on committees, and quite pleasant. There isn’t a staff member in the school who wouldn’t go to bat for Jim — not a custodian, cafeteria worker, or fellow teacher. Last year, when Jim’s father died, the funeral parlor was packed with colleagues to support his loss, not because they knew Jim’s dad but because

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    Joseph Jones (joseph.jones@nccvt.k12.de.us) is director of assessment and accountability in the New Castle County Vo-Tech School District in Delaware. T.J. Vari (thomas.vari@appo.k12.de.us) is assistant superintendent of secondary schools and district operation in the Appoquinimink School District in Delaware. Read their blog at theschoolhouse302.com.

    References

    Knight, R. (2011, November 3). Delivering an effective performance review [Web log post]. Available at https://hbr.org/2011/11/delivering-an-effective-perfor.


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