Program Overview
The Employee Appreciation Program designates a special day during the school year for each group of school employees. The Utrust staff will prepare a packet of materials for you and your school board and a separate packet for the school principal for each employee appreciation day. The packet for you and the school board will include a resolution for the board to adopt declaring that day as a certain employee group appreciation day. In addition to the resolution, the Utrust will provide (1) a letter that you and the board can send to each employee in that group to express appreciation for their work; (2) a news release to present to the local news media; (3) a PSA for the board chairman to use with the local radio station; (4) an announcement for the school system website; (5) a video to show to the particular employee group expressing appreciation for their service and inspiring them to make a difference in the climate of the school; (6) and other ideas about what you and the board might do to honor employees on their special day.
Utrust has designed several award programs to recognize member boards and systems, schools, students and staff for outstanding employee development and appreciation. They include:
The Tennessee School Boards Unemployment Compensation Trust (Utrust) established the Make A Difference Program to help our member school boards create a climate where employees thrive, produce high quality work, enjoy their work, feel appreciated and want to remain. Ultimately, such a climate works to reduce unemployment claims but even more importantly, improves the learning environment for children in our schools.
Utrust Make A Difference Program from utrust on Vimeo.
EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION PROGRAM
The Employee Appreciation Program designates a special day during the school year for each group of school employees. The Utrust staff will prepare a packet of materials for you and your school board and a separate packet for the school principal for each employee appreciation day. The packet for you and the school board will include a resolution for the board to adopt declaring that day as a certain employee group appreciation day. In addition to the resolution, the Utrust will provide (1) a letter that you and the board can send to each employee in that group to express appreciation for their work; (2) a news release to present to the local news media; (3) a PSA for the board chairman to use with the local radio station; (4) an announcement for the school system website; (5) a video to show to the particular employee group expressing appreciation for their service and inspiring them to make a difference in the climate of the school; (6) and other ideas about what you and the board might do to honor employees on their special day.The principal’s packet will include (1) a card or letter that the principal can give to each employee in that group to express appreciation for their work; (2) a full color poster honoring the employee group; (3) a video to show to students through the school video system; (4) an announcement for the school website; (5) sample cards for students to complete honoring the employees; (6) and other description of ideas about how to get students and others when appropriate involved in honoring employees on their special day.
CALENDAR OF APPRECIATION DAYS 2008-09
| September 17 | Bus Drivers |
| October 15 | Custodians |
| November 19 | Superintendents |
| January 14 | Food Service |
| February 10 | Principals |
| March 11 | Special Services |
| April 8 |
Admin/Support Staff |
May 4 Teachers
VIDEO LIBRARY
The Utrust is in the process of establishing a permanent
on-line video library. The library will be filled with stories of individual school employees who have made a difference in the lives of students. It will be divided by employee group and will also contain videos designed to inspire employees to make a difference in the lives of students and others with whom they come in contact in their work.
on-line video library. The library will be filled with stories of individual school employees who have made a difference in the lives of students. It will be divided by employee group and will also contain videos designed to inspire employees to make a difference in the lives of students and others with whom they come in contact in their work.Two featured videos from the library will be sent to each school or school system as part of each employee appreciation day packet if requested. Videos will be always be available online for you to view. One video will be shown to students to help them understand and appreciate the contributions of a particular employee group. A second video, designed to both honor and inspire, will be sent to show to employees in the group being honored.
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT ON UTRUST WEBSITE
A special section will be established on the Utrust website dealing with employee development. It will include ideas and resources to help employees do their jobs better and enjoy them more. It will be a source of tips, clever ideas and answers to questions regarding employee responsibilities.
Assistance with personnel issues will be available through this section of the website andmembers may request assistance about employee development issues as well as employment and unemployment. A procedure will be established to allow members to receive assistance from the Utrust attorney on personnel issues.
We anticipate developing a catalog of speakers who deliver motivational and/or technical speeches to personnel as well as consultants who are experts in issues regarding specific employee groups.
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS
The Utrust will continue to sponsor Employee Development Seminars for members every other year, which focus on excellence in employment practices including legal aspects of employment and unemployment. These seminars will be offered at no cost to our members and will be designed to keep administrators current with emerging issues and trends, especially legal issues.
AWARDS PROGRAM
Utrust has designed several award programs to recognize member boards and systems, schools, students and staff for outstanding employee development and appreciation. They include:Writing Competition
Five Star Awards Program
Best School District Appreciation Program
Best School Appreciation Program. Please go to www.tnuct.com/awardsprograms for more information.