https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:32:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765447 Sun, 06 Aug 2017 10:45:36 +0000 808love 2765447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: That will open doors for you! Once you relate to admin, you may start wanting to be admin even more! I can totally understand your plan to teach where LO will go. Now that LO started at my school I don't want to switch even though I've eyeballed some opportunities. I just want to make my place better.<br /> One year, I was out of the class as a librarian (I wanted it, took grad credits for it and loved it....but not as much as I loved being with the kids....with full autonomy.) Our only two principals were formerly teachers and married to teachers so they are pretty empowering. It is just that several teachers want to make our assessments and lessons all the same because they don't like kids and parents comparing what is done in class. We always have at least one set of twins every year. I get frustrated but then just do my own thing. Why do I have to do everything the same as everyone else if they don't want to do what I'm doing, as long I am staying active in my professional learning? I want to innovate, stay current, keep a few of my timeless methods and teach with passion for learning. Right now I'm trying to work that angle and influence the teachers to dream outside the box for the good of the students. I only have a tiny bit of hope but that is my dream. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765417 Sat, 05 Aug 2017 20:28:26 +0000 DesertDreams88 2765417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: thank you for the idea of positives! I do need to try to do that more often, you're totally right. At least this past week I told my principal I came back because I like working for her and I appreciate her strengths. I was trying to make the point that like, hey, 66% of our staff left last year which was your first year here, but I didn't, I'm on your side, I want to work with you and make this the best school it can be........ but I am concerned about _____. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765416 Sat, 05 Aug 2017 20:25:15 +0000 DesertDreams88 2765416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: thanks for your ideas! They're very practical and affirming of some actions I have taken in the past, but put on hold because of babies. I used to be in charge of the tutoring program and school events, but I can't do the significant after school commitment anymore (childcare $$). I was next up to be chosen as team lead, but then our new admin "didn't believe" in team leaders ("we're all leaders" - but not.) I have been involved in our educational association ("union" but not) in varying degrees. I asked to be on the superintendent's council but haven't heard back.</p> <p>Over time, it's mostly district things. Though I think an underlying factor is the state tests and labels. Overall I usually don't disagree with the goals of various programs, but the details of implementation. I try to make that distinction clear in my feedback and offer solutions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765415 Sat, 05 Aug 2017 20:17:36 +0000 DesertDreams88 2765415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoyfulKiwi: @Anagram: thanks for sharing your varied experiences!!! I hear you on the pros and cons - my husband works in a different district, our neighborhood one. I definitely believe to a certain degree "Bloom where you are planted" / "grass is greener where it is watered." but also maybe some teachers just function better in different districts / styles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765414 Sat, 05 Aug 2017 20:11:10 +0000 DesertDreams88 2765414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petitenoisette: @JoyfulKiwi: @808love: @Anagram: thank you for letting me know I am not alone in noticing this trend, and thinking it is a negative one! It's so sad to see what is happening to our profession. At least in my state, I think the turnover and low pay has just gotten so chronic that districts have given up on keeping people and instead just keep hiring and giving almost-scripted curriculum to the newbies because the district doesn't trust them know what to do (in AZ you don't even need training to get a teaching cert anymore.) Districts are also trying to push teachers to all fall in line with each other, teach the same thing on the same day with the same lessons and same tests.... make it predictable and thus teachers interchangeable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765411 Sat, 05 Aug 2017 19:59:09 +0000 DesertDreams88 2765411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petitenoisette: @wrkbrk: @Coral: It will probably soon be time to look at new job possibilities, but I guess sometimes I wonder if that will really help - like some other teachers commented above, this is a common problem facing many schools today. Also, financially, I haven't been able to move for 3 years due to TTC and pregnancy, and I don't want to change districts next year because I'll hit my OOP max in Feb and leaving would mean starting a new health plan back at 0. Also, leaving my district would most likely result in a 10% pay cut, and when we've been getting 0-1% raises for 6 of the 7 last years.... that would take forever to get back. </p> <p>I do like lots of aspects of my district. The technology is good, the comraderie is decent, I know tons of people throughout, I help out with our educational association (union, but not), I've had many opportunities to serve in different ways, etc. I love my kids. I'm now teaching the younger siblings of all my older students. I am the longest-serving teacher at my school, with 8 years here (everyone else has been here 1-6 years). I've invested my heart here.</p> <p>Alternately though, when my son turns 5, I want to work at his school, and mine is a 4th-8th school so that's not compatible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765367 Sat, 05 Aug 2017 11:08:12 +0000 Anagram 2765367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: when I worked in a Texas, in huge school districts, and they were all low income, my job was exactly as you described. Top down decisions, an attitude of get on board or get out, huge teacher turnover, big pressure, constant admin changes.</p> <p>Now I work in a very small district (only 3 schools total!) in NJ and it's the exact opposite. I have no over site for my particular job and in fact no one really knows what I do, so I basically have total freedom to do whatever I want. But also sometimes it feels kind of insane that I'll be asked to create courses from scratch and I have no materials, no guidance, no curriculum (everyone writes their own curriculum and turns it in!), no precedent for anything.</p> <p>It's so different, and honestly I have found pros and cons to each. I actually was probably more productive back when I was micromanaged, but so felt bored and frustrated. Now I sometimes feel aimless and all over the place, haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765360 Sat, 05 Aug 2017 09:43:44 +0000 808love 2765360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can relate and it is happening everywhere in education. I feel the same. Halfway between rule follower and questioner depending on the issue. I used to just nod but it is becoming harder and harder! I used to just want to be in my classroom doing what I know is best and left alone. Now I want to shape the school with good ideas and prevent pitfalls. I just started on Twitter for professional purposes (fellowship related) and found encouragement and effort to make the ideal into real reform, at least online. It is inspiring to hear desires (autonomy vs micromanaged) reflected. It is the difference between freedom to be extraordinary and being capped/limited. Ideally, In my head, I want a hybrid leadership position because in reality, I can't leave the kids!!!<br /> I like THOU's practical ideas above!<br /> Just had a thought...we have to add positives to administrators and not just suggestions that may be taken as criticism. When we show support for things (look hard) that are going right and contributing to making their job easier, they tend to listen to you more. Kind of like the 5 positives for every one 'adjustment' feedback that spurs on listening skills. (Or whatever that number is...basically speaking up on what is working well and not only what is going wrong when addressing admin.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765353 Sat, 05 Aug 2017 08:39:19 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2765353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's great you're speaking up! Trust me I'm sure it's valued! </p> <p>Ask if there is a planning committee you could be part of. Usually these may be set up for each initiative but they may be more broad/ongoing. </p> <p>Form an informal book study with teachers that think similarly to you. Find ways to be a leader amongst them and bring collective ideas to the group. </p> <p>For some of the mandates coming down, make sure to understand where the source of the mandate is coming from. In my experience schools and especially poor leaders will often take a broad mandate (like a state law) and implement it with all kinds of additional requirements that aren't necessary but still blame that their hands are tied because of the law. Are these things coming from the state, district or school? </p> <p>See what other schools are doing. Offer suggestions! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765350 Sat, 05 Aug 2017 08:32:51 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2765350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's the nature of teaching these days to not have autonomy. When I started teaching 11 years ago I worked in a school that was excellent. Wonderful leadership, we were given support AND freedom to create our own instruction, and teachers were very heard/involved in implementation. After I moved away, I found some truly horrible schools where I just couldn't stay. I think a lot of this is school and district dependent, but that awesome school I started at? Friends who work there say it's becoming more rigid over time. I think it's inescapable. </p> <p>I'm in my 4th year of teaching private preschool, because my last public school principal also thought I was a "difficult" person (I feel like I mostly expressed my own ideas which disagreed with her). I was willing to move to a new school, but the private thing opened up so I took it. It's not exactly better. The freedom to be autonomous in the classroom has meant a lack of support from superiors. There's a lack of planning time, little help with dealing with difficult/special needs children, and nearly zero support with parents. I often think about becoming a director so I can provide teachers with more support. </p> <p>Which is why I said it seems like a given in this profession. If it's only 30% of the time, I'd just roll with it. Nod, be neutral, go into my classroom and do what I think is best and only speak out for egregious policies (like when one school took away afternoon recess from *kindergarteners*?!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765288 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 18:39:43 +0000 Coral 2765288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Crap. 50% turn over rate yearly?!? That's insane! It sounds like it's time to look for a new district/school because what you are describing (in terms of the controlling nature of your admin/district) does not seem typical. I have hoops I have to jump through, boxes I have to check, but then I am able to make the executive decisions in my classroom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765287 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 18:37:48 +0000 wrkbrk 2765287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I'm not in your industry but I left my first law firm because of the reasons you describe - superiors not listening or wanting any iniative or creative thinking. No thanks. I found a new firm where my bosses don't feel threatened when they are challenged. Much happier! Maybe a new district for you? I know it's super hard to move in education ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765286 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 17:48:45 +0000 petitenoisette 2765286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like this has been a sad trend in education over the past decade. Now I'm lucky bc I'm a foreign language hs teacher so basically admin doesn't care what we do (my director/dept head does but she is chill about it) so I don't deal with it as terribly. However, the decision making process has become so top-down w/only lip-service to teacher input and lack of trust in teachers as professional in charge of their own classroom has really worsened in the 11 years I've been teaching. </p> <p>That being said, I do think that this is heavily school dependent, some schools just operate better and have more trust in their teachers than others. Have you looked into opportunities in other school districts that might have a better reputation in this regard? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disagreeing-with-superiors-at-work-how-do-you-handle-it#post-2765270 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 16:38:45 +0000 DesertDreams88 2765270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ETA: I tried to use generic language but basically I'm a teacher at a public middle school. </p> <p>I tend to disagree semi-often with decisions that are made by my superiors at work, that affect me - like top-down decision making / programs. I usually don't disagree with the entire program, but implementation details, like timing or scope or some methodology. This is maybe like 30% of the time? By superiors, I mean my site superiors, and my district superiors. </p> <p>Sometimes I can find a workaround, sometimes I can't. Sometimes I do my own thing, but it's hard... I'm a weird blend of a rule-follower but a rule-questioner. I always speak up either in person or via email and explain my reasoning logically, always trying to find common ground. I have a reputation and credentials for being an excellent, effective worker and I'm often given big responsibilities but also have a reputation for being "opinionated"/"difficult" (it seems that they want yes men).</p> <p> Other workers at my level always come to me privately and thank me for speaking up but they are too afraid to do so as well or it's just not their style (rock the boat vs. go with the flow). Turnover at my school has been around 50% every year. Our school has been through 3 principals, 4 APs, 5 lit coaches, and 5 math coaches in 8 years. I have gotten along with varying degrees with all of them, some of them more open-minded to me than others. </p> <p>This always happens a lot at this time of year (training time, time for new program implementation, etc) and I sometimes get so discouraged about my job / choice of profession. I always cry this week - just did today. I start to think about becoming admin so I'm the decision-maker (people tell me to be admin all the time), but I don't want to leave the classroom. Honestly I just want to be empowered and trusted to make the decisions that are best for my students, rather than be told which lessons which day which way and which tests and which behavior management system etc. I feel an increasing lack of autonomy over the past 8 years in my career.</p> <p>I don't know what kind of advice I'm really looking for here but does anyone else experience this regularly? How do you handle it? Do you want to stay in your current job, or do you think a new company or new admin-style position would be better? Has anyone made a change due to issues like this, and how did that work out? Is the private business sector like this? Is this just the nature of not being in charge? </p>