Episode 40: Use These 4 Strategies To Improve Your New Teacher Orientation

Goldilocks was hungry.

She smelled the porridge that the three bears had left behind. She lifted the latch. She walked over to the table, looked at the three bowls of porridge and then carefully sat down. We all know what happened next. One bowl was too hot, one was too cold and one was just right! 

The Goldilocks Effect is the premise that people are inclined to seek 'just the right amount' of something. “The Goldilocks Effect has a place in several fields and disciplines. It applies to elements of psychology, hard sciences, economics, marketing, and engineering — and each one has its own twist on how the principle is applied.” (HubSpot)

I want you to think about the Goldilocks Effect as it applies to your current plan for New Teacher Orientation.

  • Is it too much, is it not enough, is it just right?
  • Do your new teachers feel like they are “drinking from a fire hose”?
  • Does it check all of the boxes for your teachers?
  • Do they feel overwhelmed and stressed out afterwards?
  • Do they feel prepared, informed and confident afterwards?

If we are honest, most of our schools have a New Teacher Orientation that has some room for improvement. On today’s episode of the Private School Leader Podcast, I am going to give you 4 strategies that will help you improve your new teacher orientation.

I hope that you are taking some time to relax and reconnect with your loved ones this Summer. Thank you for listening to the podcast and thanks for making a difference!

Mark Minkus

I’ve created a free resource for you called “The 6 Things That Every Private School Teacher Wants From Their Leader”. This guide is a 6 page pdf that will be a game changer for you. I guarantee you that if you do these 6 things, the teachers at your school will be happy to follow you. You can pick up your free guide by going to theprivateschoolleader.com/guide. Thanks!

Please check out all of the free resources on my website that can help you serve and lead your school community. There are "Plug & Play PD's" (45 minute webinars with guided notes) as well as Top 10 Lists of Leadership Books, Productivity Books and TED Talks over at www.theprivateschoolleader.com/resources. You can grab the show notes for today's episode at www.theprivateschoolleader.com/episode40

If you have gotten value from listening to the podcast, I would love to work with you 1-on-1. I would love to take my experience and help you to feel less overwhelmed and frustrated or help you have success if you are a brand new leader. I also work with private school leaders who are aspiring Heads of School and want to accelerate their leadership growth or experienced leaders that are moving on to a new school and they want to get off to a great start. If I’m describing you, then head over to www.theprivateschoolleader.com/coaching to learn more about working with me 1-on-1.

Please write a review of this podcast and help push this content out to more leaders. I would love to get your feedback about the podcast, ideas for future episodes and hear about how you are implementing these strategies in your life and at your school. You can email me at [email protected] Thanks!!


I’ve created a FREE RESOURCE for you called “The Top 6 Ways To Protect Your School From a Lawsuit”. This is a 10 page pdf that will help you to keep your staff and students safe and help keep your school out of court. Litigation is expensive, time consuming and extremely stressful. This common sense guide will help you to be more intentional and proactive when it comes to protecting your school. You can grab “The Top 6 Ways To Protect Your School From a Lawsuit” at www.theprivateschoolleader.com/lawsuit. Thanks!