Parents, how do your teachers dress for school?

[shortbun]

At my son's school you find it all. And, it depends on what's going on. The teacher all have professional clothes. They don't always wear them. The bldg isn't air conditioned so the first weeks of school and last weeks of school are pretty casual. Capris are the norm with jumpers being 2nd most common and in the winter almost everyone is in slacks unless it's some kind of event day. I've gone into DS's room and found his teacher dressed up. My question to them is usually,lol,"you interviewing for a job?" I think there should be a dress code to keep inappropriate things like sports bras, tight shorts and profane language from being worn. I also think that flip-flops are not for school but for home and the beach if one is an adult.

 

[GeorgiaPeach8]

Our teachers are very laid back. I do disagree with it though. I think they should at least have to follow the same dress code as they expect our kids to dress. Our kids are NOT allowed to wear tank tops and open toed shoes but I see so many teachers wearing them. I feel they should be able to dress casual but at least follow the same rules as the kids are forced to follow.

for

I teach at a high school and we are told we should dress professionally/look better than the kids. We do not have to follow the kids dress code...for example, the kids can't wear hooded shirts. The idea is that we are not kids. That is there dress code our dress code is different.

 

[Plantlady]

At our school, Fridays are "spirit day" where you wear the school shirt, or the local college shirt. Although, last year, one teacher wore the college that she sent her child too.. because she said that is where all her money went anyway.

The teachers dress professional except for Fridays, then jeans are allowed. Even then, they are dressed neatly, to display good image.

However.

I am a para. I don't know what age group you'll be with.. but, I wear very comfy clothes, and tennis shoes. (They are nice looking shoes.. but, I'm prepared to run.) I work with kids that are a possible flight risk, and I must be ready to run at all times. We also have been permitted to wear jeans twice a week, because of our job description. We're on the ground with the little kids, we're out on the playground, climbing on equipment, ect. So, I still dress nice.. but, I'm also comfortable. You might want to ask your special education teacher, what the requirements are for paras. We do get rules bent for us a bit, due to the nature of the job.

 

[december]

I'm a high school Algebra teacher .

Our kids wear uniforms (khaki or navy bottoms, red white or blue polo or oxford tops). We have to dress as well as they do. We aren't supposed to wear flip flops, but some do. I have Dockers in every color, and some comfortable shirts (some collared, some not) I wear comfy flats every day. And on Fridays, we (including the kids) wear spirit tshirts. I use my overhead projector to teach (I'm always covered in blue marker), and move around my room all day. A dress, panty hose, or heals would not work for me! Teachers have to be comfortable, but not sloppy! I can't imagine a teacher in sweats with or without JUICY written on the butt .

We do get special jean days sometimes, and next week is spirit week (play our biggest football rival). So next week we'll look interesting. Monday I'll be in full camo, Tuesday in a Jersey and khakis, Wed is tacky day so who knows what I'll put together, Thu I get to wear jeans and a hat, and Friday anything Red, White, or Blue.

Oh, and I don't tuck my shirt in! Too much fat showing there! The kids uniform code is for safety-Shirts tucked in give less places to hide weapons. So no, we don't have to follow the kids dress code (we aren't limited to certain colors, either-our colors don't represent gangs!).

 

[kangareaux]

At our school, Fridays are "spirit day" where you wear the school shirt, or the local college shirt. Although, last year, one teacher wore the college that she sent her child too.. because she said that is where all her money went anyway.

The teachers dress professional except for Fridays, then jeans are allowed. Even then, they are dressed neatly, to display good image.

However.

I am a para. I don't know what age group you'll be with.. but, I wear very comfy clothes, and tennis shoes. (They are nice looking shoes.. but, I'm prepared to run.) I work with kids that are a possible flight risk, and I must be ready to run at all times. We also have been permitted to wear jeans twice a week, because of our job description. We're on the ground with the little kids, we're out on the playground, climbing on equipment, ect. So, I still dress nice.. but, I'm also comfortable. You might want to ask your special education teacher, what the requirements are for paras. We do get rules bent for us a bit, due to the nature of the job.

I'm a para too. We follow the same dress code as the teachers and administration. HOWEVER....the pre-k teacher and paras wear scrubs. WHOLE other job description.

 

[almburr]

we just got a new principle/superintendent 4days before school he made a rule that teachers and spec. ed paras need to look like teachers NO Jeans! Im glad im not there any more but some of my friends are. They are not even allowed to wear jean jackets, jean skirts or even carry a jean bag. This also goes for the FFA/Vo-Ag teacher,wood shop teacher, and the PE teacher. Everyone was running around to find something befoe school started.

 

[Aurora63]

This has been a big issue at my school!

I teach elem., and I have to say, when you are dressed nicely and take pride in your appearance, the kids respond differently to you. They respect you more. Don't dress yourself based on what your colleagues are doing....dress yourself thinking about how you want to be perceived and treated. Appearance does count.

It's dissapointing to me how many teachers don't seem to care how they dress.

We have a few who do the 'business casual' thing. There are also many who routinely wear t-shirts, tank tops, extremely casual pants (often jeans) with sneakers or flip flops. They say they want to be comfortable, but you can be comfortable and still look professional. And it's not restricted to younger teachers, I see a lot of vets looking pretty sloppy too.

I routinely wear dresses, because they are easy...one piece, throw it on and a good pair of shoes your feet can live with, and I'm done. Or a pair of pants or skirt with a button down top or some other professional looking top.

i will say I'm a little nuts though...I actually wear HEELS to school. But I do keep a pair of Croc Primas in my room for when my feet need a rest.

We do have jeans allowed on Fridays, like the kids.

You know, though...our principal can't say a thing to a teacher she thinks is not dressed appropriately. She set up a committee to set up teacher dress guidelines, but they are very vague, and if someone doesn't comply, there is nothing that she can do about it!

 

[Plantlady]

I'm a para too. We follow the same dress code as the teachers and administration. HOWEVER....the pre-k teacher and paras wear scrubs. WHOLE other job description.

Our head start teachers dress similar to that.. (scrubs).

I must say, me as a para, I don't wear jeans. I don't even own jeans. I wear slacks, that are quite comfy, but I always shop on the sale rack.. because they will get messed up very quickly, thanks to the kids I work with.

 

[jimmiej]

Teacher here. My school requires "professional dress", no jeans, t-shirts except on Fridays, but you must wear the official school shirt to wear jeans. P.E. teachers are exempt.

I'm an elementary music teacher (male), so I move around more than a classroom teacher. I usually wear a polo shirt, slacks, & casual dress shoes (rubber sole).

Our principal & superintendent make a big deal out of appropriate dress.

 

[creativeamanda]

At our high school where I teach in the mornings, we are to dress "business casual" with no shorts, blue jeans, open-toed shoes unless there is a back to it, or shirts that are sleeveless. I typically wear a pair of slacks or a skirt and a nice shirt with ballet-type flats. If I have a meeting, I dress up more. Teachers are allowed to wear jeans on Fridays only if they wear a school polo shirt, which is provided by the school to every teacher at the beginning of the year. I do not wear jeans to work, though. I work out of the district office in the afternoons and feel that I should dress more business-like.

I will admit to my biggest pet peaves of teachers with regard to their dress:
1. Crocs are completely inappropriate in the classroom. If you need more casual shoes (ie--early childhood classes), wear sneakers.
2. Flip flops are a health concern.
3. Tank tops show you don't care.
4. Sloppy clothes or clothes that don't fit are completely inappropriate.

Bottom line, you dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

 

[taylor1293]

We have no "official" dress code, therefore, teachers dress in all different styles of dress. I personally wear capri's, skirts and pants, however, I always wear open toe shoes...casual sandals to be exact. I don't wear flip flops, but I don't understand how they are a health concern?

At our high school where I teach in the mornings, we are to dress "business casual" with no shorts, blue jeans, open-toed shoes unless there is a back to it, or shirts that are sleeveless. I typically wear a pair of slacks or a skirt and a nice shirt with ballet-type flats. If I have a meeting, I dress up more. Teachers are allowed to wear jeans on Fridays only if they wear a school polo shirt, which is provided by the school to every teacher at the beginning of the year. I do not wear jeans to work, though. I work out of the district office in the afternoons and feel that I should dress more business-like.

I will admit to my biggest pet peaves of teachers with regard to their dress:
1. Crocs are completely inappropriate in the classroom. If you need more casual shoes (ie--early childhood classes), wear sneakers.
2. Flip flops are a health concern.
3. Tank tops show you don't care.
4. Sloppy clothes or clothes that don't fit are completely inappropriate.

Bottom line, you dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

 

[sPaRkLeSpAz]

I'm a special ed paraprofessional at a high school :]
I hope you enjoy it, I sure do.

But we have to look professional everyday except for Fridays. I usually wear capris, black pants, khaki's, and any kind of shirt with sleeves, except for T-shirts. :]

 

[december]

I disagree about the Crocs-I see nothing wrong with wearing them with a pair of slacks. And teachers are active at every level-not many good teachers sit behind a desk all day. We all need comfortable shoes. Someone else posted that Tennis shoes are unacceptable-again I disagree. I have some brown Sketchers tennis shoes, and some black Sketchers (love the brand) that look like Crocs, that I wear all the time. I always dress professionally, but comfortably.

 

[Kathi OD]

The only dress restriction we have in our district for teachers is no open-toed shoes. The only reason we have that is for safety reasons. Other than that we can wear pretty much whatever we want. I wear jeans, a nice top (no tanks, halters, or midriffs) & sneakers almost every day. I used to get dressed, but ruined more clothes at work than I could afford to replace, so the super casual became my preferred style. It's also the preferred style of most the teachers I work with.

Years ago the administration tried to enforce a dress code and it became a union issue because it was not uniformly enforced throughout the district.

I guess I should also state that I work in a special needs school district. Every student has some kind of disability that prevents their LEA from adequately providing services for them.

 

[aprilgail2]

Ours wear Jeans or whatever they want- doesn't matter to me what they wear, let them be comfortable.

 

[mumom95]

Our are allowed to wear jeans every Friday. The other days they are usually in business casual. I've never seen tank tops, can't say about flip flops because I don't pay that much attention to their feet. Although flip flops don't bother me, there are some very pretty backless sandals out there that I guess are technically flip flops, because they go flip flop when you walk. I don't think teachers should be held to the same restrictions as students, they aren't students, they are teachers. I can't say in my district (and I'm a substitute teacher, so I've been in most of the buildings and seen a lot of teachers) I've ever seen someone I thought was dressed inappropriately. I want them to look nice, but also wear what is comfortable because I feel they will do a better job if they feel better.

 

[tinatark]

Today I had to talk to my freshman's Alg teacher - she was wearing denim capris and flip flops. . This is our first year in the public school system, coming from private schools with dress codes for the students and the staff.

I think as much as the kids behave differently when they are dressed well, the teachers are treated and viewed differently by students/administrators/parents if they are dressed professionally - at least business casual.

Sorry, but crocs, flip flops, and tank tops aren't part of any professional, or smart casual dress code! 4 inch heels also do not make the cut.

 

[Cindy B]

When I was a para, we were allowed to wear nice jeans (no fading, torn or rips). I did have a few pairs of khakis so I alternated those with jeans. Fridays were traditionally dress down days, so I usually wore jeans on Fridays.

I will be student teaching in September. All the teachers and paras have to wear the same uniform as the students-- navy bottoms and white tops.

I would check to see what the principal requires for paras and what your job is. You may be doing a lot of floor time so dress pants aren't the most practical. I used to sub at a pre-school quite a bit and I was told that I was too dressy when I showed up.

 

[NikiM20]

I start my job as a para when we get back from our trip. We have to wear khackis and white shirts or school shirts.Jean day on Friday with a red shirt

 

[Liberty Belle]

Hi. Good luck with your new job.

I'm a para and I wear khakis, twill pants, sometimes skirts, nice tops, etc. We are only allowed to wear jeans on spirit days. We can't wear sweatshirts or tshirts, either, even with khakis (though we can wear nicer, t-shirt shaped tops).