2025 - 2026 Staff Expectations & Contract

1. Our staff is a TEAM! We are like a bracelet. Each of us a link in a chain. If one link breaks, it effects the whole studio!
   1. Megan’s Involvement Level (Like a principle! Try to resolve your own class issues if possible. Come up with your own motivational tactics to improve your situation. If you find you cannot improve something, go to your director or senior director. They will then bring the issue to me if needed.)
2. Our Mission Statement: At United Dance Center we are committed to creating a 
   POSITIVE, FUN, and CREATIVE learning environment in which ALL dancers learn correct and proper dance technique.
3. What parents are saying: Great technique, Kind Staff! Please help us keep this reputation. 
4. Be on time ALWAYS! In the rare occasion that you are late, call the front office. If no one answers, try contacting the front office staff! May need to reach them through cell numbers. Put these in your phone now as United Front Office Team (maybe in a group is a good idea!): - Megan Rodriguez (801-368-7714). Mallory Wilcox (801-361-6330). Megan Tonge (385-223-4570). Audrey Kay (801-669-1046). 
5. Park behind the building (on the south side). NEVER park in the front of the studio please! 
6. Teachers should only get a sub for emergencies or illness. Plan other appointments and vacations around teaching schedule. Teachers must get approval for days off through the website 2 weeks prior to missing class & must find their own substitute teacher. 
7. Prepare your classroom before students enter. Have Dancer’s wait outside classroom for class to begin, or until you are ready. Always open the door 5 minutes prior to the class start time.  
8. Dress in clothing that we expect our students to wear! Shoes included. Teachers are not allowed to show stomachs while in the studio.
9. Dancers MUST have correct attire. Please make them pull hair back. No sweatshirts, coats, or baggy clothing (exception: hip hop). If student does not have proper attire, let the front office know. 
10. Start and end on time. This is so important! Parents will be more motivated to be on time if they know their student is missing class time. Also, we don’t want to end late for classes that have a “next class”. The parking lot will also have issues if our teachers are not on track inside! 
11. End class with a FUN goodbye! (Chant, stickers, etc)
12. Preschool age students should have parents drop off and pick up at the door.
13. At the end of class, for kindergarten - 3rd grade age students - teachers must walk students safely to front doors / cement and watch them as they safely find cars. If a student does not have a ride, grab a front desk member to take over. 
14. As students enter the room, greet them and be engaged. 
15. During class have energy and enthusiasm! You are the LEADER of how the class goes! 
16. Dance with your students. They will learn best by watching you and mimicking you. If they never see you dance full out, they will not know their own potential. Also, hands on correction is great! 
17. For younger students - Sleep dance / games are not a break for the teacher (teachers who focus on the students rarely become bored).
18. Co-Teachers in Tumbling:
    1. If you aren’t the lead teacher tumbling, be hands on and help and correct them, don’t stand around! (How are they going to learn if they don’t feel the correct muscle placement)
    2. Please find a sub if you are sick. We have two teachers assigned to classes for a reason. Please keep it that way. 
    3. No conversations with co teachers during class.
19. Come to class prepared to teach. Have notes, music and outline prepared.
20. Have lesson plans for all of your classes! Activities must not be random, random leads to out of order.
21. No pulling out a chair or stool and sitting during class time. 
22. Don’t ask students to warm themselves up and then just sit there. 
23. Absolutely no phone use other than music.  
24. Prepare choreography prior to class time.
25. Don’t let students make up their own dances and you go sit down. I think this is a waist of time and something that girls do at home. Parents are paying us to TEACH. 
26. Don’t sit and talk / lecture / story time too often. Studies have shown that students learn best when doing an activity hands on rather than by lecture style teaching. 
27. Make an effort to say each girls name in class so they feel recognized. 
28. Follow a correction with something else the student is doing well. 
29. Don’t always play games at the end of class so parents can see that we are working hard.
30. Set expectations for your class, remind the students that we don’t talk in class and don’t be afraid to get after them. (In a respectful way.)
31. Be professional! Leave your outside life outside of the studio and just be engaged and focused with the students. 
32. Film yourself doing the routines, so they are the same every week. 
33. Film routines for students who are absent. We will have a google drive that we keep updated with videos.
34. Set an example for these dancers, they look up to us. 
35. Have a positive attitude! Be kind. If you are very frustrated, ask a director for help. 
36. Refer to our UDC Staff / Student Expectation Charts in each room! 
37. There should be no discussion of politics, religion, or personal beliefs in the studio. All conversations and language must be rated “G.” Employees will be let go immediately without warning if they discuss politics, religion, personal beliefs or if inappropriate language is used.
38. Music must be clean without swear words. Dance moves must be clean. 
39. Do not give out your phone number or email to parents or students. All communication should go through the front office admin only. 
40. Teachers should watch for different levels in class and accommodate when able. 
41. Teachers can help young students with the restroom. The door should remain cracked open. Never lock the door if you are with a child in the restroom. 
42. If students are truly injured and have a doctors note, they can watch class and fill out an “Observation Form.” If they do not have a doctors note, they must go home OR participate completely. 
43. If a Competition Team student is wearing the wrong attire or is late to class, parents should be contacted and student will have to clean the studio after class for 10 minutes. 
44. Having teachers follow deadlines with music and choreography is crucial to our studio’s success. If a teacher is not hitting the assigned deadlines with music cuts and teaching choreography, a pay reduction of $5.00 less per hour will go into effect until the teacher meets her/his deadlines for music and teaching choreography. Deadlines are given at the staff meeting prior to classes starting.  
45. Teachers must request time off 2 weeks prior to the date of missing class. Teachers can miss class 3 times per day or the week for the entire year. This will be tracked! Teachers should miss for "once in a lifetime" type vacations, immediate family funerals, immediate family weddings, and extreme sickness. After a 4th absence (on the same day of the week), the teacher pay is reduced down 25% per hour for the remainder of the school year. Exception: 6 weeks maternity leave. After a 6th absence (on the same day of a week), the teacher's pay is reduced down 40% per hour for the remainder of the school year. Please keep in mind that you will most likely get sick and need to save your 3 days for when you do. Time off is not paid.