Question: I’m a teacher participating in my district’s administrator training track. I’m close to being eligible for a principal internship. That’s no small feat. I’ve had to work my tail off and complete a number of prerequisites, all while working in an assistant principal role and raising my own kids. Maybe it’s just cold feet, or maybe it’s where I am in my personal life, but I’m starting to wonder if I’ve made a mistake. I loved being a teacher and have some mixed feelings about being an administrator. I can’t help but wonder if I’ll end up wishing I had stuck with teaching longer. I’ll also admit I don’t love being at the receiving end of teachers’ criticism. I typically hear mean comments secondhand, and they’re generally vague or kind of bogus. They also consistently come from the same “Negative Nellies,” but the negativity still stings. I know I’m new at this, but maybe I’m just not cut out for this work. I was a highly respected teacher before I switched roles, and I miss feeling confident. I also miss the camaraderie of hanging out with teacher colleagues in a more relaxed way. Being an AP sometimes feels lonely, though it does come with a boost in pay and I like my administrator colleagues. However, there also are more evening responsibilities, which has put a strain on my family. 

If I’m going to bail on this track, I feel like I should do it now, before I’m too used to the pay bump. Besides, why would I exert any more energy pursuing a goal I might not want to see all the way through? The other colleagues in my cohort are far more gung-ho than I am, and I’m starting to feel self-conscious about my lack of enthusiasm. It doesn’t help that my principal, whom I respect and is one of the people helping me pursue this path, often wistfully tells me that he wishes he had stayed in teaching longer. I honestly don’t know how much of this is my own doubt and how much is me “catching” someone else’s regret. Should I just finish the whole shebang since I’ve come this far? Or should I bail and cut my losses now? I suppose I could always go back to teaching if I hate being an AP or a principal, right?

A: First, try to tune out the noise. For instance, It’s irrelevant how excited you are in relation to the others in your cohort. Comparison is never helpful, and you don’t know what they’re feeling internally. They may be as plagued by self-doubt as you are, and besides, everyone’s journey is different. Speaking of self-doubt, that’s noise too. You’re new and you’re learning. While you may be correct that you’re a better teacher than administrator, that’s not a fair comparison. That confidence comes from years of on-the-job experience. I suspect you didn’t feel that way as a first-year teacher. You want to be sure that your hesitancy stems from a lack of interest rather than fear and unfamiliarity with the administrative role. I also wouldn’t let the teachers’ criticism influence your decision. It’s not only secondhand, it’s vague and coming from perpetual complainers. You’re progressing through the program, so your supervisors think you have potential. Once you set aside the “noise,” you can focus on more substantive aspects of this decision. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to gain clarity:

You want to be sure that your hesitancy stems from a lack of interest rather than fear and unfamiliarity with the administrative role.

  • What initially drew me to teaching? What do I love about it? What parts are most fulfilling and what parts are most frustrating?
  • What drew me to administration? What do I love about the role? What parts of the job are most fulfilling and what parts are most frustrating?
  • How do I think I will feel about my strengths and skills as an administrator if I stick with it for a few years? Are there things I could do, such as find a mentor, that might boost my confidence?
  • How do I want to make an impact? How can I make that difference as a teacher? How can I do that as an administrator?
  • What are the similarities and differences between the two roles?
  • When I factor in my strengths and my interests, does one path seem like a better fit?
  • How do the two roles fit in with my personal life, including time commitments and responsibilities? What are my needs and priorities, both financially and logistically?
  • What does my intuition tell me to do?
  • Is it possible that there’s a third (or fourth) option I haven’t considered that may combine aspects of teaching and administration? For example, instructional coaching, curriculum development, or a specialized teaching role?
  • What are my short-term personal and career goals? What are my long-term personal and career goals?

It may come down to timing — making the right decision for right now. While it’s a big decision, it doesn’t have to be a forever decision. You can adapt as needed along the way. If you stick with the administrator track, you can return to teaching later. Similarly, if you return to the classroom, you can always choose to pursue school leadership down the road. Good luck.

Click here for more Career Confidential

Have a question that you’d like Career Confidential to answer? Email contactphyllisfagell@gmail.com. All names and schools will remain confidential. No identifying information will be included in the published questions and answers.

 

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.