Principal thinks he’s discriminated against for being a white male

Q: Please disguise my identity, because I know my question will tick people off. I’ve been a principal for 17 years, mostly at the high school level. I have earned stellar reviews for my work leading schools, and I’m proud of that work. In the last few years, however, I have started applying for promotions (to various positions in our district’s main office). This wasn’t about more money so much as a need for change. Being a principal involves a lot of long nights and extra duties. Carrying the emotional load for an entire community is hard, and I’m tired. I felt this way before the pandemic, but now I feel it tenfold. I don’t want to spend my time employing mandates from above, readying my building for reopening under less than ideal conditions, or spending hours supporting frustrated and exhausted teachers who don’t feel understood or heard. I’m right there with them. But I’d rather make a difference at the decision-maker level than try to convince them that their district has their back when I don’t think they do.

I have a lot to offer, and before you attack me as being privileged, I’ve worked hard for everything I’ve accomplished. I come from modest beginnings and was raised by a single mom. I paid for my own education, often working multiple jobs to make ends meet. But now, here I am, getting passed over for every promotion I seek. The district keeps hiring for diversity instead. I’m all for diversity, sure, but these people are less qualified, frankly. They’re often much younger, too, and it seems to me that the only thing they have over me is that they’re Black or Latino rather than a white guy. I feel that I’m getting discriminated against because I’m a white male. It doesn’t help that I’m in my 50s, either. What can I do to surmount this and get the job I want? I’m starting to think it’s hopeless and the deck is stacked against me.

A: It sounds like you’ve had a successful career to this point and have been getting appointed to principal positions without much difficulty for nearly 20 years. If so, this may be the first time you’ve experienced a professional setback. I’m sure that’s frustrating and confusing, but your own success is about more than your qualifications. Other groups have experienced discrimination all along.