More often than not, we will be working on various school sites and in areas that do not belong to us. On these school sites, you will regularly encounter school staff members. Remember that we are guests who have been granted permission to use these facilities and as such, we should always respect the staff members who work on the site. Because you are a new and unfamiliar face, it is extremely important that you develop a relationship with the staff members that you see regularly. While you should do your best to avoid impeding other staff members’ abilities to work, you must also acknowledge that you may have to sacrifice space or supplies to accommodate their needs. 

School staff may express frustration over you entering their space. Be sure to communicate with them so that you do not overstep any boundaries that they have in regards to using space or equipment. When in doubt, do your best to avoid using what does not belong to you, and always communicate with nearby staff with kind candor. 

As you navigate the tricky waters of sharing space, remember that both you and the school staff share a common goal: student safety and success. When using shared space, you will sense the importance of managing your group well. While space and materials can be negotiated, student safety cannot. Make sure you are managing your group in a way that is consistent with school expectations and students remain safe, responsible, and respectful even after regular school hours. Not only are you sharing a teacher’s space, your students are sharing space with other students who are not present. Nobody wants unpleasant surprises the next morning, so management is key for after school programs to be welcomed positively by all. Once safety is secured, you open the path for success.