Teachers - Deliberately Design Your Professional Presence Your Clothing and Professional Wardrobe Make no mistake, as a professional educator, your physical presence IS a package and you can decide what that package will be. In this article, we will focus on your clothing. It may seem superficial, and yet, it's one of the easiest areas of your 'package' to address. You don't want your clothing to get in the way of others' perception of your commitment, expertise, and overall ability. Here are some ideas to consider (especially if you are a new teacher or are moving into a new position): Whatever clothing you wear, it must be appropriate for your profession. Whether you are a teacher, counselor, aide, nurse, or principal, always dress as well or better than the most professional person in that particular position. You can always dress 'down' if you are WAY overdressed, but it's difficult to dress 'up' if you have come under-dressed. For starters, think about the teacher who is considered by many to be the epitome of the profession, i.e., she teaches well; has achieved her National Board Certification; has earned a legitimate master's degree (or higher); is ready to interact (with confidence) at a moment's notice with parents, the superintendent, members of the news media, or anyone else who might come into her room; serves on committees at the District level, and so on. Get that person in your mind's eye. If that person wears a jacket each and every day as part of her suit, over a dress, along with a nice pair of slacks, or any other combination, then it would be smart for you to also get a jacket (or two) that you can do the same with. Basically, a jacket is a cost-wise investment. It immediately helps you professionalize your look and if you shop (especially now with all the bargains!) then you can find several fashionable, well-made, won't-ever-go-out-of-style jackets for very little money. Choose navy, camel, black, or brown (some neutral, unpatterned color) until you can afford to have a rainbow-filled closet. The main idea is to dress ABOVE (often WAY ABOVE) the way that the average teacher dresses. And believe me, that won't be difficult in most areas of the United States; the dress of most teachers has reached a new low. Now that you are out of college and into the world of being a teacher, principal, counselor, school nurse, or other educated professional in a school or school district, it's time to look the part. Relegate raggedy, worn-out clothes to your Saturday outfits (although not if you're attending a school function on a Saturday). If you aren't sure how to shop, ask someone who is a few years ahead of you (and who exudes confidence and professionalism) to go with you to shop. You don't need to spend much money. You are better off buying a few decent pieces of clothing (including a jacket, some good slacks, and a few shirts) rather than buying a truckload of cheesy, here-today-gone-tomorrow outfits. When you are shopping, not only consider the 'cost per wearing' of what you're buying, but also how these clothes make you feel. Here's why this matters: When you walk into your school, your office, and/or your classroom, you want to feel like you look like a million bucks, as the saying goes. You want to convey the confidence that you actually feel (or wish you felt). Good or bad, the right clothing can assist you with that. It needs to be a good color for you, the right fit, and overall, give you a sense that you are a professional - and a cut above others in your professionalism, knowledge, and expertise (and you look like it!) Make the investment.in yourself, your career, and your students. The clothes you wear may not seem important, but they are. Students notice and appreciate that you took the time and cared enough to "get dressed up for them" (as some of my students in the Dallas Independent School District used to say to me). And, if this topic intrigues you enough that you'd like more free articles on how to deliberately design your professional presence, just go to. **Articles for Teachers <http://www.articlesforteachers.com> http://www.ArticlesforTeachers.com To receive an entire Special Report on deliberately designing your professional presence, just go to http://tinyurl.com/dl66jl And, if you'd like to access a huge variety of teaching resources (that you can download for free), just visit. **Owning Words for Literacy <http://www.owningwordsforliteracy.com> http://www.OwningWordsforLiteracy.com Meggin is a former teacher, college of education professor, and now business owner. Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh changes what people know, feel, dream, and do. Sound interesting? It is! (c) 2009 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., "The Ph.D. of Productivity"T
