If you are expected to write an apology letter, then ask her
to detail in advance what she feels is the problem.
Legally, you may then have some recourse? If she feels
legally comfortable enough to substantiate her feelings in
writing, then you can address those points accordingly. But
to just write an apology letter because someone told you to
could put you legally at risk.
Consult the district legal team or your union for additional
guidance. This smells fishy to me.
Then, if you MUST write a statement, write only facts--and
I would ONLY write to the points she addressed in her
letter. If she doesn't feel comfortable putting her
disgruntlement in writing--then you shouldn't put your
apologies in writing. It just makes you look as if you
admitted to a problem that was not documented on the other
side!
It may be uncomfortable to ask for her complaints in writing-
-but if the principal is that rigid that she requires an
apology letter--she shouldn't have a problem putting her
qualms on paper. Then you can address them accordingly--as
correct or incorrect as they may be!
Perhaps something as simple as initially writing her by
saying, "It has indirectly come to my attention, via
Mr._____, that you have questions or concerns regaring my in-
service for new teachers. If you could please submit to me,
in writing, your concerns I will be happy to address them
accordingly. "
And leave it at that.
Good luck!
n 8/27/05, scared wrote:
> I was recently called into the office by my principal.
> She made clear to me that another principal from another
> campus was upset at me. I worked a seminar that is for
> new teachers. One of the teachers from this school asked
> what my opinion was about the school. I simply stated
> that ___________ middle school is a rough school, but if
> you set high expectations and have good classroom
> management then you will do fine. I even told him and the
> girl that was listening that my school was rough. I went
> on to say that I like at-risk students because they
> are "real" and they know what life is about. Well the girl
> that was listening quit on the first day when the students
> came. The new teacher seminar was about a month ago, but
> she blames me that I was the one that bad mouthed the
> school she was at and she said i was the reason why she
> quit. I do not know this girl from adam. Well my
> principal wants me to apologize in a written letter to the
> principal of the other school. But my thinking is if I
> had that much influence on this girl then she would have
> quit after the seminar. She waited until after the first
> week teachers came back and everything. I think she is
> using me as a scapegoat. I do not want my name smeared
> across the district with that letter. I do not want that
> letter misconstrued. I did not do anything wrong. She
> took my comment out of context. How do I tell my
> principal that I do not want to write the letter? What if
> she makes me? What if she thinks I am ashamed to write
> it? If I had done something wrong I would be the first to
> admit it, but I did not. The letter, if I write it, looks
> like I am admitting to something that I did not do.
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