Thread: Lack of Trust w/ Administration

If you belong to a teacher's union, consult them. I think it probably unwise to confront the principal- it sounds as if they wish to be provoked into something, or they wouldn't be probing. As far as the going through your desk thing, I'd say be careful as to what is in your desk. Truthfully, if your admin plans on staying for many years, it might be time to seek employment elsewhere.

Wow. I can't imagine.

I wouldn't confront - your admin sounds like a whack job and I'm worred about retaliation.

Do you have a union or professional organization? Contact them and start documenting!

This is why Unions exist. Get your ducks in a row before going to them. Make double sure of your how you are acting. Become Ms. Professional. Then go to the Union rep. Make sure they have the balls to take on the admin. If they don't go over their head to find someone who is willing to go face to face with the principal.

There are just people out there who have no business in any leadership position at all.


Now, from the psuedo administrative point of view
There are always two sides to each story. Your principal has their version. Trust me. Things could get uglier before they get better. You will need the support of the Union.

Unions aren't allowed in my state. They have a teacher assciation but it isn't strong. Mostly people join it for the liability insurance.

One hard lesson I learned a long time ago is, "It's easier to climb down a ladder than up it - start at the top."
What I'm saying here is, this person has a boss who has a boss. Get to know them and, volunteer to provide an inside look at the conditions at your place. During the process, mention that many are concerned about this person's vindictive bahavior to some (don't make it to you only). Offer names of others that have noticed it.
You can bet that she will get called on the carpet. If she threatens retaliation, smile and ask if she wants another trip to the woodshed.
I've seen it shut down such situations rather quickly.....

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Originally Posted by lizzyb

Unions aren't allowed in my state. They have a teacher assciation but it isn't strong. Mostly people join it for the liability insurance.

Oh ... you're not in Texas by any chance? That's largely how things are in Texas.

Tom (Houston) has suggested an aggressive reaction. As much as I respect this person, I must respectfully disagree. I've seen similar efforts backfire.

While teaching in south Texas, a group of northern teachers once tried to complain to the superintendent's office about our thuggish bullyng administrator who was much as you described ... except he also threw things while having a tantrum. He once threw a stapler at my head. I'm fortunate that he missed because I was too shocked to move.

Unable to make headway against the building administrator, they went to the superintendent. That was a big mistake. The principal and the superintendent turned out to be good buddies. The superintendent told the building administrator who landed on these teachers like a ton of bricks.

As bad as things were before, they soon got much worse and everyone of these teachers resigned at year's end.

I survived simply by keeping my head down and my mouth shut. I also declined to voice any complaint to the superintendent's office.

My advice to you is to not show weakness before this administrator. Bullies like to see people squirm. Don't squirm. Don't get upset. Don't react in any way and especially don't gosspi about this person with other teachers. In a situation like this, you never know who's listening and who will toady up to the administrator by reporting you as a means of currying favor.

Say "yes ma'am" or "no ma'am" and move on with your life. Keep your nose to the grindstone.

In time, she'll move on to another victim.

The best you can do is to hang on and hope that she'll leave at year's end. If she doesn't leave, you may apply for a transfer to another school.

Do you have any idea what may have precipitated this behavior? Is there something in the past that may have happened between the two fo you... a difference of opinion... a difference of opinion with someone this administartor supports? My best advice is, document everything. If you seek assistance or ask a question of this administrator or if the administrator comes to you for any reason, document it. Be specific.

Good luck! let us know how things are going.

Originally Posted by ettennan

My best advice is, document everything. If you seek assistance or ask a question of this administrator or if the administrator comes to you for any reason, document it. Be specific.

If you document everything, be careful not to leave these records on campus otherwise you'll truly be in trouble if this person is in fact searching your desk.

And again - don't discuss your misgivings or concerns about this administrator with anyone at school. You never know who's listening and/or who will report you.

I'm really sorry you're going through this. I can certainly relate to your experience having had three horrible administrators at three separate schools.

One other thing you might consider doing would be to go to Radio Shack and get a small microcassette recorder. You may want to consider secretly recording meetings with this administrator to document evidence of verbal abuse and/or professional misconduct.

I knew one teacher who did this in Texas. On the recording I could clearly hear the administrator cursing, kicking furniture and pounding his fist on his desk. I also heard the woof of the teacher as her breath was knocked out of her. The administrator had shoved a table into her stomach. The teacher was 4 months pregnant at the time.

After hearing the tape, her husband wanted to get his shotgun and kill the miserable SOB. His wife got an attorney. She took the tape recording to the superintendent and in the presence of her attorney, she played the tape.

The superintendent tried to confiscate the tape but the attorney kept him from doing this.

The attorney suggested that the district give this woman an immediate release from contract and a glowing recommendation otherwise he would go public with the media. The district's name would have been smeared in the papers. The district would also be looking at a civil law suit for gross abuse and creating a stressful working environment.

The district gave the teacher in question a release from contract. The recommendation helped her get a job in another district at mid-year.

The building administrator had his job terminated at year's end.