5 Things You Should Do (and 3 You Shouldn’t) When Your Principal Is a Jerk

Let’s face it. Bad principals happen.

And when you work for one, it can be hard to know how to deal. Do you stick it out, particularly if you enjoy other aspects of your school? Do you confront your principal about particularly aggressive behaviors? Do you go to district admin or your union reps?

We asked our We Are Teachers HELPLINE members, many of whom have worked for bad principals in the past. Here’s the advice they had to share.

5 Things You SHOULD Do if Your Principal Is a Jerk

1. Document everything.

And when we say everything, we mean everything. Lesson plans, all communication with parents and administrators, and any kind of problematic behavior you have in the classroom. Whether your principal is a micromanager or seemingly absentee, written proof of what you do on the job will help your case.

“Communicate in writing as much as possible,” stresses Brittany N. And if your principal insists on having a face-to-face conversation, there’s “nothing saying you can’t send an email confirmation afterward,” says Susan H.

If things are really bad? Consider recording conversations or in-person encounters, but first, make sure it is legal in your state. “We had an awful principal and he would lie like crazy when we made complaints,” says Alice H. “Finally we caught him on tape. The tape directly contradicted what he and his coerced witness had given in testimony in a grievance hearing. He is now gone.”

2. Keep your head down and do your job.

If your principal is flagrantly breaking laws or ethical codes, it may be important to speak up. But many of our veteran teachers advised that for your more run-of-the-mill bad principal, the best course of action is to stay out of the way. “I know it sounds awful, but the less contact the easier it is for you,” says Phil F.

A principal can go from bad to worse if they feel aggrieved or attacked, so try to stay calm and professional in your interactions whenever possible.

“Keep opinions and gossip to yourself and focus on the kids,” says Barbara N.

3. Tap your union reps.

Better to go to your union before district admin, say veteran teachers. They can advise on next steps to take and stand by your side if any official complaints are brought against you. This is what your union is there for—take advantage of it.

4. Kill them with kindness.

It might seem counterintuitive, but sometimes just being nice to your bad principal can go a long way and even help to flip their behavior. “I had a principal who would not even acknowledge me each morning,” says Lydia L. “So … in the most pleasant, non-sarcastic voice I could muster, I would happily say, ‘Good morning, __________!’ Eventually, she figured out that she wouldn’t get away with ignoring me and started greeting me like a normal, respectful person would.”

5. Get out of there, pronto.

As with the corporate world, sometimes the only solution to dealing with a bad principal is to leave the school—quickly. This is especially true if you feel like your physical or mental health is suffering. “Eight months after leaving my toxic principal, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I know it sounds crazy, but I do wonder if the stress raging through my body had anything to do with the tumor,” says Lydia L.

“It can be a major drain on your health,” says Linda D. “Really, if you can, leave.”

3 Things You SHOULDN’T Do

1. Talk openly at school about what a jerk your principal is.

Don’t assume that everyone else thinks your principal is a jerk, too. Here’s what one of our staff had to say: “In my experience, with bad principals there are always a significant number of teachers in their pocket out of self-protection. And if they hear even a whisper of negativity among the ranks, they’ll report you ASAP.”

By all means, make sure you have an opportunity to vent. But make sure it’s someone you trust and somewhere you won’t be overheard.

2. Pick every battle.

When working for bad principals, it may seem worth it to “not let them get away with it” when it comes to small grievances. But really, all this does is put a target on your back. Yes, retaliation in the workplace is illegal. And by all means—if your principal is acting in a way that is dangerous, unethical, or threatening students’ safety or right to an education, speak up. But unless you look forward to conflict and welcome it into your life, I’d lay low.

3. Vent about your principal via email.

Even if you use a code name, don’t risk it. Public school teachers’ emails can be pulled so easily and by virtually anyone. It’s just not worth it. Same goes for students, BTW. I wouldn’t even use initials.

Basically, don’t email anything you don’t want posted on the front page of the newspaper.

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