Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Do uniforms/strict dress codes apply to teachers?
I just moved to Florida from Colorado, and as I was preparing for interviews for an elementary teaching job, I noticed that the schools down here (both elementary and k-8) have very strict dress codes/uniform policies. In Colorado, that is not the case at most schools, so I'm unfamiliar with it. Students must wear solid, collared polo-style shirts (short or long sleeved), tucked in, pants or shorts in khaki, black, or navy ususally, with a plain belt, and closed toe shoes. Some of the particulars vary from school to school, like some allow skirts, while others don't. Most don't allow denim at all. Some only allow stud earrings, some only allow 1 inch heels, etc.
My question is, does this dress code apply to teachers as well?
I'm happy to dress professionally, but those restrictions are a bit much for adults I think. I don't have anything that fits those requirements and I just bought some nice new work outfits!
Also, I was planning to wear a skirt suit with heels for my interview, and neither skirts, nor heels are allowed in the dress code at one of the schools I'm interviewing at. Do you think it would still be ok to wear?
Re: Do uniforms/strict dress codes apply to teachers?
I've always heard to take the cue from the principal - and well, generally, other teachers. If everyone else is dressing up, you don't want to be the slob. I would start off your first few days dressed professionally, but pick up on what others are wearing.
And if they don't allow skirts, then I would personally try to go grab a pair of pants that match your suit. I wouldn't want to risk it. I understand that might be tough financially, but I'd err on the side of caution.
Skirt suit is fine for the interview. At the end of inteview you can ask what the policy is for teachers. You can also ask that question from HR before hand.
I have never heard of a school where skirts and heels weren't allowed for teachers. That is ludicrious.
At schools I've been in that have strict dress codes for kids, the teachers tend to dress up (skirts, dresses, nice pants and shoes, coat and tie for men). I teach in a school with a loose dress code and wear jeans, sneakers, flip flops periodically but I usually dress nice anyway.