I was recently presenting to a group of teachers about the delicate dance of teacher-principal collaboration. During the Q&A, one teacher dropped a truth bomb that stopped the room:
"Do principals realize that some teachers just aren’t pulling their weight? It feels like they either have a massive blind spot or they’re just pretending not to see it."
My response was blunt: It’s rarely a blind spot. More often, it’s a choice to avoid a difficult conversation.
The "Punch to the Gut" Moment
This exchange reminded me of a book study I led with my department heads years ago: Dealing with Difficult Teachers by Todd Whitaker. One specific argument in that book hit me like a physical blow:
If teachers are failing to meet expectations and the status quo remains... that is a leadership failure.
The Lies We Tell Ourselves
I’ll be the first to admit that during my years as a principal, I didn’t always have the "courage of the conversation." I shielded myself with a rotating list of excuses:
"He has tenure; he’s a lost cause."
"That’s just her personality; I can't coach character."
"I don’t want to damage our relationship."
The Bottom Line
None of those excuses hold water. When we avoid the hard talk, we aren't "preserving a relationship"—we are compromising the standard our students deserve. Leadership isn't just about setting high expectations; it’s about having the backbone to ensure the adults in the building rise to meet them.
The time to act isn't next semester or next year.
If there is a conversation you’ve been putting off, have it this week. Our staff and students are waiting for us to lead.
You’ve got this.
P.S. If you'd like some help in thinking through the most effective ways to have these conversations, I'd love to hop on a call with you.
If today's message resonates, I’d love to partner with you to bring this work to life:
First time reading this newsletter? Sign up here and join the community of educators solving passion drift!
Cheers!
Danny
