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Teachers- Dress code at your school

I'm curious- what is the dress code at your school for teachers? I'm especially interested in middle and high school teachers. Another teacher and I were talking the other day and we noticed our school is really casual and it's weird to us(we're both new to our school within the last 2 years). We both tend to wear dress pants or dark wash trouser jeans or skirts and a cute top/sweater. We have noticed that there is everything else in the spectrum, even amongst our admin team.  We both come from schools were the men were expected to wear ties everyday and we wore dress pants/skirts and heels. I believe in dressing nicely- I could never show up to work in sweatpants(as a history teacher, of course pe gets the ok on that one) but there are some at my work that do.But at the same time, if I could wear nice jeans more often to work I would really like that. It isn't written down anywhere what our dress code is, would you clarify with your principal? What's the dress code like at your school?

Re: Teachers- Dress code at your school

  • NSLNSL member
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    Teachers in my district (FWIW, I teach high school) are expected to wear business/business casual clothing on duty days.  Administrators are expected to wear business dress only.

    I honestly wouldn't bother clarifying the dress code with your principal if teachers on your campus are already wearing jeans to work.  Personally, I believe that teachers need to dress professionally as it (among other things) sets the tone for our classes.  Nice jeans on Fridays are different from ratty sweats every day of the week, though.

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  • It's business casual. Some of the men like to wear ties, others wear polos. Most of the women wear skirts, dresses, slacks and a nice top, and many (most) of the women wear flats. Sometimes even cute sneakers.

    We have a lot of stairs in our building and heels aren't really practical for safety reasons.

    No denim, no flip flops, nothing too low-cut, nothing too short. It's not really outlined anywhere, but the above is communicated. 

    ETA: You would rather be known as the teacher who always dresses "nice" as opposed to the teacher who doesn't. In both the administrator's eyes and the eyes of the students. 

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  • imagefuzzylogic:

    ETA: You would rather be known as the teacher who always dresses "nice" as opposed to the teacher who doesn't. In both the administrator's eyes and the eyes of the students. 

     

    This is kind of my POV. 

    I dress business casual: lots of solid dress pants and khaki pants and various blouses, sweaters, nice tops.  I make things more fun with colorful flats or heels and fun jewelry.  I think would rather dress nicer than everyone else so that isn't something that I can be faulted for.  That being said, we have teachers who think flip flops (think a $1 old navy pair) and t-shirts are appropriate attire.  I met my sister for lunch one day at her school on a day I had off and she was wearing shoes that were basically slippers, jeans and a t-shirt, I couldn't believe it!  We do have jeans days at our school for teachers, but I still wear nicer jeans with a nice top on those days.  Our school does not have air conditioning and I will wear sandals when it is warmer, but they are dressy sandals.

    I teach high school science.  I sometimes have to dress for what we are doing that day (am I going to be doing a demonstration that has me standing on a desk or sitting on a floor?  will the lab be messy?).  But I am still always one of the most dressed up teachers in my building.

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  • WhooWhoo member
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    At my old school it was jeans on Fridays only and no flip flops. At my current school (same district) there does not seem to be a dress code.  Most dress business casual and the administrators wear suits and dresses.  A few people wear flips sometimes like on Fridays.  I haven't seen anyone in sweats.    I dress business casual and dark jeans on Fridays.
  • We have a pretty relaxed dress code.  Jeans on Fridays.  People wear whatever shoes they please.  My principal would wear jeans everyday if she could so that plays in to it.
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  • Elementary school here. We can wear jeans any day of the week. There really isn't an enforced dress code.
  • I am in elementary and my DH is a high school teacher. We have no official dress code. I've been told most teacher contracts prohibit specific codes because we are professionals and should dress as such. People do dress all over the place, but usually on the side of business casual. We do dress down Fridays with a donation to a charitable cause.

    I tend to wear dresses or black pants and a top. DH wore khakis, a button down and tie every day when he started...that evolved to jeans a button down and tie...now most days jeans and a button down or polo.

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  • We don't have a dress code and most teachers dress pretty casually.  That said, I don't see people in sweatpants (except PE teachers) or flip flops.  It's one thing to be casual, it's another to look like you've been lounging on your couch on Saturday morning.
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  • imageliza0828:
    We don't have a dress code and most teachers dress pretty casually.  That said, I don't see people in sweatpants (except PE teachers) or flip flops.  It's one thing to be casual, it's another to look like you've been lounging on your couch on Saturday morning.

    Ok, I'm glad other people work at more professionally dressed schools. Yeah, we have a couple of teachers who wear sweats everyday- it really irks me.

  • I teach at a public middle school.  Almost all the other teachers wear jeans most days, but I've never seen anyone wear sweats.  The principal and vice principal always dress up more - I don't think they ever wear jeans.
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  • I teach high school in a rural district that is becoming a bedroom community. Our dress code is supposedly business casual, but I wear outfits to work that I never would have worn in my three years of working in an office prior to teaching. As far as I can discern, the only true rule Mon-Thurs is no jeans or shorts. We can wear jeans on Fridays.

    I've worn everything from a wrap sweater dress and boots, to cropped pants and a sleeveless blouse, to chinos and a plain tee, to dress slacks and heels with a button down, to a maxi dress, cardigan, and sandals. I would have never worn chinos and a tee shirt or a maxi dress to my offices. When I first started in this district I dressed up quite a bit more and was surprised at the informal dress code.

    It wouldn't hurt to bring up the question of dress code in your annual review for clarification. 

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  • I am at an elementary school but moving up to middle school next year.  My school is mostly business casual, but there are always the exceptions.  We only wear jeans on Fridays and have been told no flip flops, although some still wear them.

    Funny that you bring this up today.  Just yesterday we had our 5th grade graduation ceremony.  Two of the 3 5th grade teachers, who were running the ceremony, were dressed so casually for this celebration, I could not believe it!  They had on cargo capris and t shirts.  I was so surprised they did not dress up a little more for the day.  Most of the kids were dressed up in dresses, dress shirts, and ties. 

    In my opinion, teachers should dress professionally and I don't care what others wear on a daily basis, I am still going to dress in nice pants, skirts, and cute tops.  I only really dress down if we are having a theme day on which it is appropriate.   

    You could clarify the dress code, but I would just dress in a way that you think is professional and appropriate for work. 

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  • I am one of the more dressy teachers at my school - I usually stick to skirts or trousers and a nice top with a cardigan. I switch between heels and flats on my feet. Some teachers wear jeans most day, but most stick with non-jean pants. Fridays are always casual. We only wear sweats on fun run and field days (so twice a year). 

    I think it's really important to dress up as a teacher. In my head, it would be a lot harder to get attention and respect if I was wearing sweats or yoga pants. I just wouldn't feel comfortable being a role model.  

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  • We don't have one (Quaker school). I usually dress nicely, but I wear jeans a lot and I have gone to school in shorts and flip flops before.
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  • I am not sure what the technical dress code is but people dress differently. There are people who wear jeans on a regular basis. On Fridays many people do (I never do except on Fridays!). LOTS of teachers wear flip flops. Our principal is a guy and most of the staff are women and he told someone he's never going to comment on our dress because of this. Overall I don't think anyone looks sloppy. At my old school there was a teacher who always wore sweats, she was NOT a PE teacher either! She was a pretty large woman, but come on... there are lots of options for plus sized ladies to look great.
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  • Elementary school here. No enforced dress code.
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  • Our school is more dressy than my last one.  Jeans only on Fridays.

    The exception is when the hot weather sets in.  It's SO HOT in my school.  There is generally no A/C (only computer labs have A/C), and it gets ridiculous on the 2nd floor.  The teachers upstairs can basically get away with wearing anything when the hot weather hits because it's unbearable.  I've seen upstairs teachers wearing sleeveless shirts, sundresses, flip flops, etc.  

    I tend to be more on the conservative dress side.  My shoes are probably the most casual thing about me.  I often wear sneakers or sandals that have adjustable straps.  Since my foot surgery, I can never predict when my foot will hurt or swell.  I even ::gasp:: have a pair of emergency Crocs in my classroom just in case disaster strikes and I'm wearing shoes that won't give.

  • imageFlamingo Stalker:

    Our school is more dressy than my last one.  Jeans only on Fridays.

    The exception is when the hot weather sets in.  It's SO HOT in my school.  There is generally no A/C (only computer labs have A/C), and it gets ridiculous on the 2nd floor.  The teachers upstairs can basically get away with wearing anything when the hot weather hits because it's unbearable.  I've seen upstairs teachers wearing sleeveless shirts, sundresses, flip flops, etc.  

    I tend to be more on the conservative dress side.  My shoes are probably the most casual thing about me.  I often wear sneakers or sandals that have adjustable straps.  Since my foot surgery, I can never predict when my foot will hurt or swell.  I even ::gasp:: have a pair of emergency Crocs in my classroom just in case disaster strikes and I'm wearing shoes that won't give.

    I feel so bad for you! No ac in schools should be a crime. Or, no functioning ACs I should say. We have these massive ac units in our rooms that are bigger then refrigerators and we have zero control over them. It'll be 40 degrees outside and it's pumping cold air into our rooms. A bunch of us have had to teach in coats and scarves. Then in the warmer months it will just pump in outside air so it's hot. We're thisclose to taking it to our union for a grievance if they aren't fixed this coming year. You wear what you need to in a stifling classroom!

  • I teach in a HS.

     As long as you look professional, pretty much anything is ok. Men- khakis, tie, button downor polo. Women- dresses, slacks, or skirts. Shirts can be sleeveless but just no cleavage. Jeans on Fridays are fine- we participate in dollars for denim and donate the money to a new charity every year.

    I wear dressy flip flops once it hits 80 in my classroom- it's way too hot for shoes, lol. We only have a/c in select classrooms, offices and computer labs so most teachers dress for the hot weather. 

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  • Our teacher dress code is no boobs showing, no really. Jeans are fine any day. I usually dress up (black slacks and button up shirt). I originally though it was odd but really if you're a good teacher who cares if you wear jeans.

    I teacher elementary school and most of us work 10 hours a day. We're doing recess duty, helping sick kids, crawling on the floor, helping kids get ticks off (no really), so why not be comfortable?

    I can see wearing a suit when you're going to fancy meetings and sitting at a desk but not as a day to day teacher thing. We're helping kids grow not giving business presentations up front.

    We do put on the fancy stuff for conferences. :)

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