First, it is important to point out that there are many positive aspects to happily participating in activities across the school. These effects are often intangible but can bring huge rewards over the long run. Before you start complaining about all the extra effort you have to put in when you should be focusing on your classroom teaching skills, take some time to consider the benefits of saying “yes.”

Meeting Other Educators

By participating in committees and extracurricular activities, you will be able to meet other teachers with whom you might not otherwise have contact. Because of the solitary nature of teaching, it is often easy to stay isolated in your small space. However, meeting other teachers can have huge benefits for you.

You might also get to know administrators and staff members better. Being involved with them in less formal ways can help you build enjoyable and fruitful relationships with them. Further, meeting colleagues with different responsibilities and teaching personalities can help you grow as an educator.

Getting to Know the Students

When you get involved with clubs, sports, and other extracurricular activities, you can really get to know students. Building relationships can help you in your own classroom and also in the school at large. For example, if you are on duty in the lunchroom and a student from another class begins misbehaving, you will have a better chance of handling the situation if you actually know the student or her friends.

You will also find that many students are fun and interesting to be around. These students can make the extra hours of participation worth it. Getting to know them can help enhance your day-to-day teaching because they can provide you with feedback and insights that teachers don't normally get. Connecting with students can truly make the difference between being a success or a failure as a teacher.

Being a Team Player

If you are seen as a team player, you will find that even though you are given extra duties and work, you will also be given greater consideration in the future. For example, teachers who never get involved may find that their requests might be denied. However, administrators will often work out ways to grant requests for teachers who are part of the team.

Being a team player means that you will feel a greater sense of belonging to your school. If you feel that you are truly a part of the school, then being involved will have more appeal because you want your school to succeed in all endeavors. Remember, your attitude truly determines whether you see participation as a positive or negative experience.

Proving You Can Be Trusted

Keeping promises and showing that you are trustworthy is an important skill that you must nurture. Nothing can replace someone else's trust in your abilities and your word. Similarly, if you are not considered worthy of trust, you will find that many doors will be closed to you. Therefore, if you do become involved in something, give it your full attention. If you cannot give it your best effort, or you are not able to live up to your obligations because you are just working too much, go to your administrator and explain the situation. They will trust you more if you are honest with them than if you try to do something halfway and fail.