New principal is already butting heads with staff

Q:  I’m a high school principal in Michigan. I was assigned to a new school in my district because I have a track record of turning around struggling schools. Not something I wanted, but it is what it is. I’m not the easiest person, but I get the job done. It was hard to leave my last school, and I’ve spent the summer trying to get my bearings. This has meant assessing where my new school is, and it’s bad. The furnishings are falling apart, the windows are cracked, the books are literally from the 1930s, not to mention that they’re all in English when my students speak 40 different languages at home. I’ve been meeting with my assistant superintendent to advocate for my school because it’s flat-out disgusting that we have so much less than other schools in the same district. I’ve even brought in a screwdriver and hammer and made repairs myself. I’ve also been looking at site issues, like making sure we comply with safety standards. I had to move a teacher to a different classroom so our evacuation maps are up-to-date. Well, she came flying in last week and let me have it. No “welcome to our school,” no polite dialogue, just hostility. I don’t do the whole “alpha male or female” thing, and believe me I find ways to get rid of malicious teachers. But I’m not looking to start out writing people up left and right — that can wait. I’m a hot-headed guy myself and want a smooth transition, so I’m open to ideas. How would you handle this type of situation? I’m worried there will be more of the same when teachers come back to work in a few days, and negativity isn’t going to help me, the teachers, or my students.

A: Change is difficult. It’s clearly been hard on you, and it’s hard on the teacher who verbally attacked you. You’ve had a summer to mourn the loss of your old school and adjust to the idea of a new one. You’ve done that in a positive, forward-thinking way. You’ve taken stock of the mess you’ve inherited and gone to work. You’ve channeled all your aggravation about the involuntary transfer into meeting with people who can effect change. You’ve been advocating for students, focusing on things like obtaining new books and making repairs. These have been great coping strategies, and they’ll benefit your school. I’m impressed, and I’m not surprised that they chose you for this job.

I’m also impressed that you recognize you’re hot-headed and want to focus on de-escalating tension. I’m in no way condoning your teacher’s attitude, but I’d start from a place of empathy. From her perspective, change has been foisted on her, and she’s had no time to process it. She has a new principal who’s planning to turn the place upside down and that’s unsettling. This teacher doesn’t hold much power, and she feels out of control. My guess is that her reaction isn’t just about the classroom, it’s overall panic about the unknown. She absolutely should have come in, welcomed you, initiated a get-to-know-you conversation and politely inquired about the reasons behind the space shift. That ship has sailed. So how can you handle these types of outbursts?