Q: Let me first acknowledge that I know my complaint is unfair, but I feel like my principal has abandoned the staff. It’s not his doing, I know that. Administrators in our district’s central office have placed all sorts of new demands on principals during the pandemic, from contact tracing and testing to sorting out coverage for sick teachers and contacting parents about absent students. I know my principal is tired, like every other principal out there. And I know the burdens that have been placed on principals are unsustainable. And yet . . . I’m still disappointed. I miss feeling like someone is “in charge” — both in charge of instructional leadership (and willing to observe me teach and give me guidance) and in charge as a manager (ready to intervene in intradepartmental squabbles and to supervise ineffective staff members). If anything, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the roles my principal played in pre-pandemic times. I guess I took that all for granted, and I feel a little guilty for being so critical of him when I know he’s getting crushed himself. But I’m only mid-career and not looking to leave teaching. I’m looking for mentorship, guidance, a peaceful work environment and predictability. A good leader sets the tone for all of that. So, what can you do when you have a good leader, but he is unavailable to lead his staff due to things that are entirely beyond his control?
A: After teaching in a pandemic for nearly two years, it can be hard to imagine that things will get better — that this isn’t your “forever normal” — but it will end eventually. That said, we’re still in the middle of the worst global crisis in 100 years. It feels hard right now because it is hard. And I’m sure your principal shares your frustration and would rather spend his time mentoring you than swabbing nostrils, contact tracing, or scrutinizing attendance records.
Try this exercise: imagine that it’s 2017, you’ve just come back from a trip to the future, and now you’re in your principal’s office warning him that his job will be unrecognizable to him in five years. As you outline his future, pandemic-era duties, he looks at you as if you’ve lost your mind. He can’t quite make sense of what you’re telling him. And who could blame him? The time-traveling version of you sounds bananas because everything that’s happening right now in 2022 is bananas. Today’s job responsibilities are so far outside the realm of normal, they’re downright dystopic. They’re also unsustainable, as you point out. Not only for him, but also for the school, which can’t run itself. You’ve identified the reasons for the current leadership void. You’ve also clearly articulated, with empathy, why you feel abandoned.
What can you do now? Keep in mind that someone can be a mentor without holding an official leadership position. So get creative. Perhaps a colleague would be willing to observe you and share feedback, especially if you’re willing to do the same for them. And while pandemic stressors have created this leadership void, your question made me recall a conversation I had several years ago. At the time, I kept candy in my office for colleagues, but I was getting so many visitors who craved a sugar fix, it had become a distraction. I couldn’t get anything done. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone, but I wanted to relinquish my job as the candy purveyor. When I shared this dilemma with my principal, she replied, “Just stop doing it. Whenever there’s a void, someone will fill it.” Sure enough, as soon as I got rid of my stash, another colleague assumed the role. That example pales in comparison to the kind of leadership void you’re describing, but there are applications to your current situation. Look around your school. Is there anyone else who could provide you with the kind of stability and mentorship you crave? Is there a department chair, a more experienced teacher, or perhaps a counselor who could listen, offer advice, and help mediate conflict? Would you be willing to do the same for someone else? As you look for small, temporary ways to meet your needs, try to stay optimistic and remember that this is situational. Your principal won’t be contact-tracing forever.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Phyllis L. Fagell
Phyllis L. Fagell is the school counselor at Landon School in Washington, D.C., a therapist at the Chrysalis Group in Bethesda, Md., and the author of the Career Confidential blog. She is also the author of Middle School Matters and Middle School Superpowers, available at https://amzn.to/3Pw0pcu.
