I’m not going to pull any punches on this blog. Being a Principal sucks out loud sometimes – and this is one of those topics that proves that point.

Yes – there is some power in being a site principal. You get to finalize hiring and budgets and bell schedules. BUT there is a lot more power and influence for teacher-leaders. Which is where our story begins today.

I am currently working through a situation at my site where I have a department chair who purposefully twists information shared by administrators when reporting back to their department. It’s pretty simple: we have a department chair meeting, the agenda is shared with everyone on site to promote transparency, and this teacher STILL takes the time to warp messages in order to sow strife on campus.

Now, this presents a delicate situation: how and when do you decide to set the record straight? Is that even possible without coming across as defensive? I’m not so sure.

Is this the price of the Principalship? Silence and thick skin?