Teacher issue not adequately addressed by the principal

[ahisma]

Background: My kid is in a class with a long time teacher who seems to no longer be a good fit for the classroom. For context, my DH has 20 years in the classroom (still teaching) and we're very supportive of teachers. DS1 struggled greatly earlier in the year, where he was singled out for behaving WELL and expected to keep the others in line. Lots of whole class punishments, mocking kids, making them do ridiculous manual labor (scrubbing floors for forgetting to take a hat off), etc. My kid is a rule follower and hasn't broken the rules, but it's a bad environment. We are far from the only ones upset - many parents are outraged. I'm the room mom and my kid has been singled out by the teacher (for behaving, but kind of mocked), so I think they know I'm a safe space or something.

I've personally met with the principal regarding this three times. They know that I am outraged. The principal is new-ish and ineffective IMO - my DH concurs. Some other parents have met with her too, others are hesitant because they are afraid the teacher will retaliate.

I'm on the fence about calling a board member who I serve on a somewhat unrelated committee with and have an existing relationship with. I feel like that is overstepping, but also feel like something has to happen. But, MY KID is okay at this point. He's decided that it will be a bad year and is waiting it out. That said, he lives in fear of breaking the rules accidentally.

WWYD?

[mmsmom]

If the principal is ineffective then I would go to his/her boss which in my district would be the Superintendent. If the Superintendent does nothing then go to the school board. Even if your son seems ok being in an environment where he is scared and worried all the time is not ok.

Send the Superintendent an email, tell him/her that you would like to meet with them to discuss concerns about a teacher. Tell them that you have met with the principal 3 times (give dates) and that you have not received a satisfactory resolution.

If you can get other parents to go with you, that would be great. If not, then go prepared with very specific examples of teachers behavior... things you absolutely know for sure and focus only on your child. . No “I heard from another parent”. A specific list with dates or approximate dates would be good. Also have in mind what you would like to see happen- DS moved, teacher fired, etc.

Maybe also if other parents are scared to go then they would write a letter you could bring.

[Pear]

If it is really bad you need to go over the principals head. I agree that the most effective approach would be having other parents do the same.

[123LuckyMom]

What result do you want? Do you want the principal to talk to the teacher, discipline her? Do you want the teacher removed? Are the results you’ve proposed realistic? What have you actually asked the principal to do beyond apprising her of your concerns? Before going to the superintendent, who is the appropriate person to contact— not your friend on the board. Don’t do that.— I’d make sure you write a letter to the principal restating the history of your previous interactions with her (the principal), your concerns about the teacher, and the result you’d like to see. If you have already done this, in writing, it’s time to write to the superintendent and cc the principal. The letter should lay out your concerns, when and how you’ve communicated them to the principal, what you’ve asked the principal to do, and how she responded. Then ask the superintendent for the result you’d like to see.

Honestly, there’s very little that can be done right now, halfway through the year. It’s unlikely they’d remove her from the classroom, and what she’s doing may be outmoded and awful, but it probably doesn’t rise to the level of abuse. They can bring the behavior to her attention, but that doesn’t mean she’ll change. I’m pretty sure the best you can hope for is that she’ll be monitored this year and possibly removed after the year is over. I still think you should speak up, but I don’t know what your expectations are for what can be done for the kids currently in this classroom. Those expectations may need to be adapted. It may be the principal is already doing all she can. What I definitely would not do is go to your friend on the board. If, after you’ve contacted the superintendent, you are unsatisfied with his or her response, that’s the time to write to the entire board, but trying to work around the system with a personal connection to an individual board member is not a good idea and will probably prove ineffective anyway.


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[bisous]

What result do you want? Do you want the principal to talk to the teacher, discipline her? Do you want the teacher removed? Are the results you’ve proposed realistic? What have you actually asked the principal to do beyond apprising her of your concerns? Before going to the superintendent, who is the appropriate person to contact— not your friend on the board. Don’t do that.— I’d make sure you write a letter to the principal restating the history of your previous interactions with her (the principal), your concerns about the teacher, and the result you’d like to see. If you have already done this, in writing, it’s time to write to the superintendent and cc the principal. The letter should lay out your concerns, when and how you’ve communicated them to the principal, what you’ve asked the principal to do, and how she responded. Then ask the superintendent for the result you’d like to see.


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I agree with this plan of action.

I don't know that I do agree that nothing can be done. Maybe at the very least you can have your DS moved?

[kristenk]

I think it depends on how well you know the board member. There are 2 members of the school board that I would feel comfortable contacting if the same situation were happening to me. I served on several committees with one member and know the second more in passing, but have several things in common with her. I could see myself contacting either one of them and asking, hey, what's my next step here? Meeting with the superintendent seems much more difficult than discussing the situation with the board members I know, for some reason.

I'm guessing that what seems like the most likely course of action in my school district is NOT the most likely course of action everywhere, though.

[HannaAddict]

I think it depends on how well you know the board member. There are 2 members of the school board that I would feel comfortable contacting if the same situation were happening to me. I served on several committees with one member and know the second more in passing, but have several things in common with her. I could see myself contacting either one of them and asking, hey, what's my next step here? Meeting with the superintendent seems much more difficult than discussing the situation with the board members I know, for some reason.

I'm guessing that what seems like the most likely course of action in my school district is NOT the most likely course of action everywhere, though.

Talking to a board member just puts them in a bad spot as if they “help” you aside from telling you to contact the next level of operations, they are violating their duties as board members. Most parents don’t know this and it is hard to manage in some parent populations. Big deal for boards. How to deflect.


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[kristenk]

Even just asking what the next step should be? DD's school district is large (like many here, I'm sure) and there are a lot of people in the main admin building who have various roles. There are more roles than I knew existed, really. I think that one of the other people would most likely end up being someone I'd need to talk to before getting to the superintendent. That's why I'd ask the board member who to contact. The superintendent is very personable but it seems difficult to get face time with him. Still wrong to ask what the next step is? I wouldn't want to put anyone in a difficult spot.

Talking to a board member just puts them in a bad spot as if they “help” you aside from telling you to contact the next level of operations, they are violating their duties as board members. Most parents don’t know this and it is hard to manage in some parent populations. Big deal for boards. How to deflect.


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[ahisma]

Even just asking what the next step should be? DD's school district is large (like many here, I'm sure) and there are a lot of people in the main admin building who have various roles. There are more roles than I knew existed, really. I think that one of the other people would most likely end up being someone I'd need to talk to before getting to the superintendent. That's why I'd ask the board member who to contact. The superintendent is very personable but it seems difficult to get face time with him. Still wrong to ask what the next step is? I wouldn't want to put anyone in a difficult spot.

I had a similar thought process. The school district isn't large, but I'd prefer not to jump to the superintendent if there is a more moderate step. Additionally, as it's a small district and my kids will be here for many more years, I'd prefer to be more measured than reactionary. For example, maybe it is most appropriate to ask the principal for the method to lodge a formal complaint - I really have no idea. But, to me, going to the superintendent would only occur after all other options are exhausted, and I don't know that they have been as I don't know what they are.

I appreciate that bringing the specific concern to a board member is problematic, but I'm not sure that asking process based questions without specifics would be. I have searched the district website extensively and have found nothing that provides any guidance even remotely applicable.

[HannaAddict]

Even just asking what the next step should be? DD's school district is large (like many here, I'm sure) and there are a lot of people in the main admin building who have various roles. There are more roles than I knew existed, really. I think that one of the other people would most likely end up being someone I'd need to talk to before getting to the superintendent. That's why I'd ask the board member who to contact. The superintendent is very personable but it seems difficult to get face time with him. Still wrong to ask what the next step is? I wouldn't want to put anyone in a difficult spot.

The problem is that most people aren’t really asking “what the next step is” or for real help navigating the administration. They are really looking for a way to get their complaint heard by someone they have a relationship with, to vent, or just to lash it in some cases. Many board members won’t even know the steps themselves - on a board we don’t focus on those operational issues or who the principal reports too (if a large district with layers between principals and super). It would be more effective to talk to a parent who might have had to go over a principal’s head in the past or to call the district office (assuming this is public) and ask (anonymously if you want) or to see if the policy manual is online with how to resolve or report issues. Sorry, just in my experience, talking to board members you have a relationship with isn’t really helpful and can be counterproductive. A letter to the full board if all else fails, may get on the radar but boards really don’t do operations.


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