Re: Young principal

More | Report Post

On 12/13/11, TPP wrote:
> I am a veteran teacher at my school. Being one of the
> oldest I would also be considered a teacher leader.
>
> We have a young, inexperienced principal. Her goals are on
> target, and she has good, out of the box ideas. The problem
> is she lacks people skills. Many issues are left
> unaddressed to avoid conflict. Any concern is taken as
> criticism or a complaint. Bottom line, she is insecure in
> her abilities.
>
> The effect is that teachers are not supporting each other.
> Some are trying to control and correct what they see as
> needing control and correction. In other words, those who
> are not in charge, are taking charge, and other teachers
> resent that or join their ring of negativity and
> principal/teacher bashing.
>
> My question: how do I as a teacher leader turn this around?

You can't 'turn it around' - it's not realistic to think that
you can alone 'turn it around'. This young principal needs to
learn people skills and that can't happen overnight - even with
help.

> How do I support our principal,

By softly pointing out the positives when the 'principal
bashing' gets underway, by being generally positive and
spreading as beat you can good will and a good tone.

while at t he same time,
> help her to be a better principal. She is reaching out for
> help,

You'd need to elaborate more on that - exactly how is she
reaching out for help?

but I don't know how to offer that without offending
> her.

How is she reaching out for help? If she's truly reaching out,
then she shouldn't be offended when help is given.

Posts on this thread, including this one