principals dealing with difficult teachers
And chances are, you're not going to know about it. Life is good and there's nothing better than a kind and, If your relationship is going well but you've noticed that many other. endobj Principals trust teachers who use the technology and resources the district has spent money to purchase. endobj Principal resource dealing with personnel! What can you do when teachers undermine your leadership efforts and threaten your school's reform efforts? Then send your curated collection to your children, or put together your own custom lesson plan. She tailored his role with these traits in mind. 4 0 obj I am sad to say, I have to work with difficult teachers as well. Contrary to popular belief, teaching is not an 8-3 job. Being a teacher was hands down one of the most difficult things that I have ever done in my life. An underminer was at work. Your school principal serves as an immediate supervisor and has direct authority over the day-to-day management of the school. Principals trust teachers who are flexible and able to deal effectively with unique situations that present themselves. individual administrator. 3 0 obj If your child is clashing with his teacher, your approach can go a long way toward resolving the issue. A lack of preparation will diminish the overall quality of the lesson and will hinder student learning. 25 0 obj <> 0000005786 00000 n 6 0 obj Think through how to present the arrangement so no party feels negative about it. 16 0 obj But, they certainly are powerful on an elementary school campus. 1 0 obj Professionalism includes appropriate dress, how they carry themselves inside and outside the classroom, the way that they address students, teachers, and parents, etc. Demonstrate a Propensity to Handle Adversity, 13. Julie knew Stan was a likeable, persuasive person who appreciated getting attention from leading others. endobj endobj <>27 0 R]/P 6 0 R/S/Link>> stream The opinions expressed in Education Futures: Emerging Trends in K-12 are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications. Principals trust teachers who collaborate effectively with other teachers. This was a very good read. Let them know that you are in charge and that it is your job to discipline them if they make a mistake. When Ricardo found evidenceoverhearing Gloria complain about the initiative and make untrue statements to a group in the hallwayhe knew he had a serious problem. xVj@}d]AHqM #9r}iwVv%[T ]gsfp}}5?1ir qiir &%4}O~ccqLYXDX \qAIJa$, People may feel forced to take sides in relation to their actions and behaviors. The principal should be utilized as a last resort for minor classroom issues. <>/Metadata 2 0 R/Outlines 5 0 R/Pages 3 0 R/StructTreeRoot 6 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> A principal can be an invaluable ally in your pursuit to educate students or can be a nuisance and make your life a living hell. They expect their teachers to follow all reporting and departure procedures. If poor staff are breaking rules and other good teachers are affected by it deal with it. If I as principal feel uncomfortable addressing a negative or underperforming teacher, how doe others feel? 5 0 obj 2 0 obj Do not incriminate the teacherinstead ask, Can you tell me a little bit about?. Never address the inappropriate actions of one to the entire group. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! 9 0 obj If you are not satisfied with this course of action, perhaps you should report the principals actions to someone further up the chain of command, but make sure you have done your part by having a heart-to-heart with your principal. Here are some strategies that you can use to deal with a difficult principal. 0000000016 00000 n endobj <> endobj When you confront a covert complainer, he or she will often deny any negative feelings or actions. Beth Lewis has a B.A. xXj1}7F7y`h%nX'!Csk{r&9#8*NN/:=gl_ -IBRiNI@YmDS{^\Xs9 K <> 17 0 obj There is no school leader out there, if s/he really cares about the students, who will not learn something or at least feel vindicated in her/his interactions with difficult teachers. Meador, Derrick. 0000015385 00000 n Recognized as a leading presenter in the field of education, his message about the importance of teaching has resonated with hundreds of thousands of educators around the world. Please choose a different delivery location. Must always look to reduce the power of negative teacher-leaders without losing the credibility of your staff; Negative leaders will almost always instinctively disagree with a new idea. endobj 0000090493 00000 n This kind of difficult teacher can obviously lessen others' commitment to your change initiativesor to you. 114 0 obj<> endobj Ineffective leadership is, without question, the primary cause of the emergence of difficult teachers. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. <> %PDF-1.7 % 0000003427 00000 n If poor staff leave for the day early LET THEM GO! These leaders have overcome four challenges that frequently frustrate the efforts and good intentions of leaders in more typical public schools. Effective teachers arrive early and stay late several days a week. Therefore this piece provides tips for surviving the work place as you continue to invest in the lives of students. The first, and best, piece of advice on how to deal with difficult parents and principals as a PTO leader is plain and simple: be kind. Teachers pull the memo out of their mailboxes and immediately salute the piece of paper it is on and think tothemselves,"Yessir,justletme Every principal and employer will deal with difficult employees at some point. Consider sending out a Friday Focus email to your staff. <>14]/P 21 0 R/Pg 39 0 R/S/Link>> 20 0 obj Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. This book shows you how to handle staff members who: - gossip in the teacher's lounge. Show that you want to help someone like Stan stay productive. Principals trust teachers who are highly dependable. Your sense of a looming problem may eventually prove to be incorrect, but in the meantime, it can't hurt to protect yourself. But, still, it would be reckless to forget about the wider school power structure and thus ignore the importance of a good relationship with an administrator. They must adapt to the strengths and weaknesses of their students. If you do not yet have a permanent or. Teachers should invite principals, parents, and any other stakeholder to visit their classrooms at any time. Use peer pressure to engage the employee. Sold by markable and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. A teacher who is unwilling to open their classroom seems like they are hiding something that can lead to distrust. endobj For example, if you accidentally let a curse word slip in class, let your principal know immediately. 0000068923 00000 n How Teachers Can Build a Trusting Relationship With Their Principal, Guidelines for Establishing Effective School Discipline for Principals, 10 Things a Successful School Principal Does Differently, Tips to Help a New School Principal Survive the First Year, How Teachers Should Deal with Difficult Parents, The Ultimate Teacher's Guide to Discipline Referrals, Twelve Reasons I Love and Hate Being a Principal of a School, "Grandpa's Rubik's Cube"Sample Common Application Essay, Option #4, 6 Important School Tips for Parents From a Principal, 2020-21 Common Application Essay Option 4Solving a Problem, 6 Worst and 9 Best Breakup Lines When You Want to Dump Someone, Strategies to Handle a Disruptive Student, 24 Simple Rules All Teachers Should Live By, B.A., Sociology, University of California Los Angeles, If your relationship is going smoothly and you have a well-liked administrator, then enjoy your job! 2022-03-07T13:36:08-08:00 2023 Editorial Projects in Education, Inc. endobj 0000109011 00000 n A charismatic coaster can become a "cult figure" or gain prestige because he or she openly defies the organization. Matthew Lynch is an educational consultant and former teacher who now researches policy and education reform. Utilize District Technology and Resources, 22. Leadership can mean taking the initiative to fill an area of need. <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 27 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 6>> If the problem does not improve over time with mediation and patience, then you can always request a transfer to another campus. <> Put a "Concerns-Based Suggestion Box" in the teacher work room, or periodically meet with staff members individually to explore their ideas and concerns. , Dimensions Principals want teachers to be independent decision makers capable of dealing with minor issues on their own. A great read for administrator leadership teams to inspire and change school culture a definite professional read to add to your resource library, Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2014. https://www.thoughtco.com/build-a-trusting-relationship-with-their-principal-3194349 (accessed May 1, 2023). <> INDEX WORDS: Dealing with difficult teachers, Principals dealing with difficult teachers, Manage difficult teachers ! Because the on-the-job retiree may feel that you, as a supervisor, cannot do anything to apply consequences, move cautiously as you develop this growth plan. endobj endstream In the end, the labor it takes to successfully deal with resisters will pay offin accomplishing your goals and attaining a positive working culture. Principals trust teachers who understand that their time is valuable. part 8: general tips and guidelines "Even the most irate parents often want someone to listen to them more than they want someone to solve their problems," Whitaker said. Warning - you are about to disable cookies. Take steps to open the lines of communication, and build a healthy reciprocal relationship with your principal. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Founder and Writer. Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. https://www.thoughtco.com/dealing-with-a-problem-principal-2081939 (accessed May 1, 2023). endobj Learning how to deal well with conflict and difficult people is a vital life skill that can support you to be a powerful, conscious and compassionate human being. 21 0 obj By mid-year, the principal becomes frustrated that more teachers are not helping to monitor hallway traffic. uuid:0a9c1732-b396-11b2-0a00-20ed7196fd7f endobj Remember, its not your fault, and everyone, even principals, must face the consequences of their actions. 28 0 obj <>10]/P 20 0 R/Pg 39 0 R/S/Link>> part 6: the role of new faculty. 0000026008 00000 n The teacher may brag about the fact that nobody can make him or her do anything. They can be supportive, demanding, encouraging, reprimanding, elusive, omnipresent, and a wide array of other things dependent on what a teacher needs to maximize their potential. : As an aspiring administrator it gave me a lot of food for thought. Aaron Arroyo, who is in his second year as a theater teacher, also turned down an offer from a private school that would have bumped his salary by $15,000 a year. Principals trust teachers who can handle classroom management. Affective conflict is destructive to a sound school culture. Covert agitating can poison school climate and make reform impossible. This is just a normal part of life. <>stream But the fault lies with administrators who look the other way or avoid taking on those whose ineptitude, negativity and destructive behavior are the cause of education-bashing. endobj He was also a middle school coordinator in charge of staffing, curriculum, and technology for the opening of new middle schools. Reviewed by William Evans. Meador, Derrick. Teachers must accept suggestions from their principal and not let them fall on deaf ears. School leaders face many challenges in implementing change. endobj Principals are people too, and they aren't perfect. But if the underminer senses a critical mass of support, he or she may be very open about opposing you. If a teacher realizes that you are aware of an inappropriate behavior, you must have dialogue regarding the behavior. "When the difficult parent approaches you with the issues, always let them speak first," Wong advises. 0000006969 00000 n endobj - consistently say "it won't work" when any new idea is suggested. Principal Craig Spiers 01-McEwan (Deal)-4632.qxd 4/22/2005 5:57 PM Page 4 bcN a^ r-Bn[>7!6T^7L!-[16B62);1h0a F2){U`} /4x#PM%gWnw(AW*a::>Uj]OM5[Nf6O~a:~ ]7fF\Al&K$:Z;lhL6%!]duuYMY&5@v.^G;P"H-0 !J,,!x9Z|)YGK5}x O0y?9F? Julie was ready to build on this answer. Purchasing decisions are not taken lightly and are made to enhance the classroom. <> Principals trust teachers who demonstrate a willingness to spend extra time working in their classroom. Dr. Todd Whitaker has been fortunate to be able to blend his passion with his career. If it becomes clear that your principal is overstepping his bounds or preventing you from properly performing your teaching duties, consider talking to your union representative. Educators should be encouraged to learn from each other. I think principals will find it liberating to learn that they can make headway in turning around resistant staff. COVID-19 Self-Care Resources Resources for teachers, parents, and students to help deal with stress and changes during the pandemic; Social-Emotional Development Discover the importance of social-emotional learning and activities to promote empathy in the classroom; Teacher Well-being Best practices for resiliency and self-care for teachers; Trauma-Informed Practices in Schools Strategies and . <> 29 0 obj If you decide to create an account with us in the future, you will need to enable cookies before doing so. Pair the on-the-job retiree with a younger teacher, sharing with each what you want them to gain from the relationship. This book shows you how to handle staff members who: Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Dealing With Difficult Teachers provides tips and strategies to help school leaders improve, neutralize, or eliminate resistant and negative teachers who--- gossip in the teacher's lounge;--- consistently say it won't work when any new idea is suggested;--- send an excessive number of students to your office for disciplinary reasons; Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2014. Nine times out of 10, the child will change the story to the truth and the parents calm down and apologize." Parents, teachers, and principals today are all likely to be . \0U+R+STcw.O!ey^? Your objective is to coexist with him or her and be the best teacher that . 114 38 Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Feb. 8, 2022, on youth mental health care. You cannot allow teachers to use, but, in my personal life! as an excuse. Here are six ways principals can deal with challenging parents: 1. Trust is a two-way street that is earned over time through merit and is based on actions. Never say that you want the resister to resign (although deep down you might like this to happen). `2pC4XZeYRrga1/kZEj n\_0.ESw[kB0HE@v4*>%D;m" NBSp}X'#x+59%k GRh{No XR[]7jO7~v{ZTz%eg4V~b@.(a w}1Yjs{?b24(A7 7 Every school has multiple areas of in which teachers are needed to help out. Confronting others, putting them on the defensive, and turning the workplace into a hostile environment. Teachers cannot be rigid in their approach. <>/P 25 0 R/S/Link>> 1. 116 0 obj<>stream stream Prior to moving into higher education he was a math teacher and basketball coach in Missouri. We can imagine the reaction. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. Be open and receptive when faculty members share concerns with you. : Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. conference with you, the parents, and the child's teachers and begin by asking the child to repeat what he told his par-ents. 22 0 obj For example, you might regularly conduct a pro-con conversation among teachers, guiding them to identify the specifics of any new strategy you're considering, including what the school might need to do to overcome challenges the strategy will present. Occasionally, a principal will ask a teacher for help on a project. Principals trust teachers who listen to advice and suggestions and then make changes accordingly. endobj So the principal issues a reminder via the all-powerful memo. 52 0 obj endobj If poor staff are not affecting others, dont worry about it. endobj Ricardo, for example, asked to meet with Gloria to discuss what he'd learned. 28 0 obj As an administrator, you never want a reputation for being . Making people feel pushed out sets the stage for an age-related discrimination lawsuit. The relationship between a teacher and principal can be polarizing at times. 18 0 obj <> Chances are, the union rep will already have fielded other complaints about this administrator. 0000055459 00000 n Appligent AppendPDF Pro 6.3 Underminers may develop as a result of unnecessarily controlling, autocratic leadership, which gives few opportunities to positively resolve issues. We dont allow this by our students - so why should we allow our teachers to use this excuse? <> . We have seen eight major types of difficult staff members in action. Ricardo committed to periodically checking in with Gloria to assess how things were goingfirst weekly, and eventually monthly. 32 0 obj 14 0 obj Throughout the rest of the year, she met regularly with Stan to stay updated on his progress. He didn't try to justify or defend his ideas or actions but used reflective listening to ensure that he understood her perspective. Their mother might be sick. , Item Weight endobj endobj <> endobj 51 0 obj Use open-ended or probing questions to gain more details. Turning cognitive conflict (productive debates related to substance) into affective conflict (negative debates related to personalities). Please try again. endstream endobj 115 0 obj<> endobj 117 0 obj<> endobj 118 0 obj<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/ExtGState<>>> endobj 119 0 obj<> endobj 120 0 obj<> endobj 121 0 obj<> endobj 122 0 obj<> endobj 123 0 obj<> endobj 124 0 obj[/Separation/PANTONE#20464#20U/DeviceCMYK 146 0 R] endobj 125 0 obj[/Separation/PANTONE#20282#20U/DeviceCMYK 147 0 R] endobj 126 0 obj<> endobj 127 0 obj<> endobj 128 0 obj<> endobj 129 0 obj<> endobj 130 0 obj<>stream xKq)Zn1yB @)&96\pFrr =B:'%;,S Jt=U` There is nothing wrong with appeasing your principal, and even "kissing up.". <>3]/P 6 0 R/Pg 39 0 R/S/Link>> You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. If the group seems to gain power in numbers, divide and conquer. b+..Jn Other titles include: Shifting The Monkey, Your First Year, Dealing With Difficult Teachers, 10 Minute Inservice, The Ball, What Great Principals Do Differently, Motivating & Inspiring Teachers, and Dealing With Difficult Parents. A lack of organization leads to chaos. 2 The eight types of problematic teacher we discuss in our recent book Working with Difficult and Resistant Staff (Solution Tree, 2011) are underminers, on-the-job retirees, contrarians, challenged, resident experts, unelected representatives, recruiters, and whiners and complainers. 0000001934 00000 n If your principal goes on the attack and you start to feel victimized, stay calm, remain focused and polite, and work with him to create a plan to solve any problems. stream Not all underminers can be disarmed by respectful confrontation. , ISBN-10 endobj Teachers must make a concerted effort to earn their principals trust. 7kgU][( We create practical, timely, affordable professional learning to help educators and instructional leaders provide students with a modern, equitable, and quality education. <> Everyday Instructional Coaching: Seven Daily Drivers to Support Teacher Effectivene Stop Leading, Start Building! There is nothing more damaging than a negative teacher/leader; those who constantly complain can have a crippling effect on the school. 7 0 obj You should never argue, use sarcasm, or raise your voice at a student or teacher. endobj Many teachers volunteer their own time to tutor struggling students, volunteer to help other teachers with projects, and help in the concession stand at athletic events. Principals trust teachers whose students consistently show growth on assessments. Derrick Meador, M.Ed., is the superintendent for Jennings Public Schools in Oklahoma. Previously, I thought difficult staff members were just plain difficult. I thought I was buying a new book. Principals trust teachers who do not mind when they visit the classroom. 0000002871 00000 n You may also choose to eventually mentally relinquish the stress over this situation and continue to focus your positive energies on the most important people in the school: your young students who need you! Add a responsibility that requires a similar time commitment but would interest the teacher more. 1 0 obj Make . 4zZ@2:]W.pY*8$1(@khhlE$Tm #7M`x m.0MAP$5$tT(B* w TB[5a93~h``RRB2.0[A*]#1 8 &`S~F;L4|d(+-Yx7K By avoiding addressing a tough staff member, you are actually reinforcing them. Also, consider always using food and/or snacks in your meetings. So the principal issues a reminder via the all-powerful memo. Their teachers are either too hard or too easy, too mean or too nice, too hands-on or too hands-off. <>2]/P 14 0 R/Pg 39 0 R/S/Link>> Take steps to open the lines of communication, and build a healthy reciprocal relationship with your principal. She said she was happy he'd reached this conclusion, and she pledged to keep him engaged in meaningful projects at Barton, including working with new staff and leading his learning community. Consistently from book to book, Whitaker delivers essential survival tips for all leaders in education with his no-nonsense approach; Dealing with Difficult Teachers is another winner from Whitaker's collection. For example, tell a younger teacher that you want him to gain from the content knowledge of the more senior teacher, and tell the older teacher you want him to gain new presentation ideas from the younger one. 24 0 obj 26 0 obj Kids can be tough critics. All teachers and principals must deal with angry parents from time to time. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/dealing-with-a-problem-principal-2081939. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. If a teacher yells at a student consider using this phrase: Are you ok? 0000003086 00000 n 0000013971 00000 n part 1: the principal and the difficult teacher. (2023, April 5). 30 0 obj endobj Principals trust teachers who value their time and understand the enormity of the job. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. %%EOF A group of covert resisters may develop. Behavior, rather than age, is the hallmark of these resisters. This newsletter could include logistics, articles/beliefs, good things from the school/class visits, as well as a means for keeping the teachers informed (revisit expectations).