Surviving a Bully Adminstrator
By LaShunda Foster
When we hear the term “bully”, we typically envision a menacing adolescent towering over an unsuspecting and vulnerable target. Anti-bullying programs and campaigns across the nation educate teachers and students about the dangers of bullying, how to handle a bully, or how to recognize if a child is being bullied. But what if you’re a 28-year veteran teacher with a well-established reputation and the campus bully is your principal?
Recently, I sat in the audience of a local school board meeting in support of one of my AFT colleagues who had requested a hearing in open session in response to her contract being non-renewed for the upcoming school year. The district’s lawyer, with a brush of false allegations in his hand, painted the picture of a negligent and defiant educator who didn’t value education. In her defense, her lawyer cited her decade of superior PDAS evaluations and stellar reputation at her school rebutting each allegation. Her lawyer also pointed out that in this educator’s ten years of service on this campus, this was the first year that she had faced any challenges with an administrator. This reputable educator reported being belittled in front of parents and teachers and harassed with a series of write-ups for incidents involving unsupervised students who were not under her sole supervision. In this principal’s first year on this campus, she had established an infamous reputation in the community of bullying, not only the teachers on her campus, but the parents of students as well. She had allegedly been verbally aggressive, having made threatening comments towards parents and even banning individual parents from her campus. After hearing the testimonies and cross-examinations, the Board went into deliberation only to return upholding the administrator’s decision to not renew this veteran teacher’s contract.
Many new and veteran teachers alike have experienced bullying at the hands of an administrator who for whatever reason have found them to be the perfect victim of unwarranted attacks against their character and career. This story plays out in school districts across the nation and deserves attention. It’s important to know the damaging effects of being bullied by an administrator, how to recognize a bully administrator, and what to do if you are being bullied by an administrator.
THE EFFECTS OF BEING BULLIED BY AN ADMINSTRATOR
As a result of administrative bullying, there may be several damaging effects that could be detrimental to a teacher specifically or to the school as a whole. The following effects may result:
· Decreased morale amongst individual teachers/staff
· High anxiety/stress in individual teacher/staff
· Potential decrease in teacher/staff performance
· Teachers in constant fear of retaliation
· High turnover (teachers would rather leave than speak up)
· Decreased effectiveness of administration due to lack of trust between teachers and administrative personnel
HOW TO RECOGNIZE A BULLY ADMINISTRATOR
Bully administrators may not be easy to recognize. Much of their bullying might be hidden behind closed doors and email messages. The following persistent behaviors may indicate that your principal is a bully:
· Embarrassing you in front of your colleagues.
· Making personal attacks against your character
· Threatening remarks about growth plans and non-renewals without allowing you to correct/improve actions
· Mental abuse (spreading rumors, intimidation, manipulation)
· Violating district/state policy or your rights as an educator (http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/?link=ED)
IF YOU ARE BEING BULLIED BY AN ADMINISTATOR
There is hope for you as an educator. You have rights, and there are vital actions that you should take to help you survive a bully administrator. If you or someone you know is being victimized by your principal, just remember your ABCs.
Advocate for yourself.
Being bullied by an administrator can leave you doubting your worth as an educator. Regardless of the stress you may be enduring, remember why you starting teaching in the first place. Many of us have a passion for our content and simply want to make a difference. Your character and career are worth defending. Examine board policy and review your rights as an educator to identify whether or not they are being violated. Seek advice from a trusted mentor or colleague who may be able to help guide you in the right direction.
Bring your concerns to the attention of your administrator.
Don’t be afraid to address your concerns with your administrator. Your administrator can’t fix what they don’t know is broken. If others are experiencing the same issues, consider meeting with your principal as a team.
Call your union representative.
If your rights or board policy has been violated, your local union representative will be able to help you file a grievance or offer solutions to the challenges you may be facing. Knowing what to do and what not to do is extremely important when attempting to find a resolution.
Document, Document, Document.
Document every conversation and meeting that occurs between you and your principal. If you are asked to meet with your principal formally or informally, take plenty of notes. After each meeting, email your principal to clarify directives and document your meeting. It is important that you use your personal computer and email address to house your documentation.
Although bullying is generally thought of as an adolescent issue, it is an issue that also troubles adults in corporations and organizations across the country. It is imperative that educators are made aware of the warning signs and damaging effects of bullying, as well as what to do if they find themselves being bullied. Being an educator is a treasured profession, yet unfortunately, some administrators use their power and influence to demean rather than uplift. As we work to protect our students from bullies, it is equally important to protect ourselves as well.