How to give credit when credit is due

Q: I’m the principal of a middle school and am struggling to figure out ways to honor teachers who are doing good work. In the past, I have called attention to their accomplishments at staff meetings. Recently, when I privately complimented a teacher for going above and beyond, she nervously asked me not to mention it publicly. She explained that other teachers would gripe about the recognition behind her back. I respect her feelings, but it’s important to me to give credit where credit is due. Is there a way to do this without backlash?

A: Yes, but not without laying the groundwork. This is a deceptively simple question. It’s easy to emphasize one form of approval while neglecting other types of recognition. If a public mention is your only avenue of praise, it may have taken on too much significance and created ill will.

It’s also possible that morale is low at your school. I spoke to Katy, a teacher in Maryland who says her colleagues complain whenever the principal publicly compliments anyone. The problem isn’t the acknowledgement at meetings, she explains, it’s the lack of feedback the rest of the time. No one knows where they stand, so these well-intentioned gestures make them feel anxious, competitive, and unappreciated.