Numbers don’t lie.

Stats show that recognizing employees for great work builds workplace loyalty. 88% of employees think rewards are important, and folks who don’t feel adequately recognized are twice as likely to look for a new job. But if your budget is super tight, what to do?

Good news: for most people, non-cash incentives are just as effective.

Enter the school newsletter 🥁

Do you write a weekly faculty/staff newsletter? If not, let’s go! A weekly memo is an excellent way to appreciate individual team members for their great work. If you can throw in a cup of coffee or some cookies, great. If not, the public recognition is really what matters in building loyalty and a celebratory school culture.

So, what would that look like?

3 ways you can cheer for folks in your weekly newsletter:

Principal’s Hall of Fame...

• Feature two or three faculty or staff members each week who you're recognizing for a common accomplishment (most helpful, most creative, fastest to complete paperwork, etc.)
• Write a sentence describing what each one has accomplished.
• Get a quote from each with a tip for how they've accomplished what you're recognizing them for.

The Staff Recognizes...

• Link to a Google form each week, and invite faculty & staff to send a “shout out” to a colleague who’s helped them in some way
• The following week, publish all the “shout-outs” for a weekly feel-good.

Special Editions

• Every month, create a “Special Edition” newsletter
• Feature the work of one or two faculty members
• Share lots of pictures of their classroom, an interview with them, and quotes from colleagues, students, and parents.
• Send the “Special Editions” to the entire school community, as a way of giving public support and praise to faculty members.

Continuity in a school has a direct impact on student success, so let’s give your faculty a reason to stick around.

No need to face an empty page. Get started with this template!

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