ABSTRACT
Deciding when to first approach difficult staff member is a challenge. Your first contacts and efforts toward improving challenging teacher are important in continuing to develop a relationship between principal and teacher. Take some time to decide on a strategy so that you may approach the teacher professionally and effectively. Validating inappropriate behavior can become particularly troubling, if it results in a great number of disciplinary referrals. When dealing with difficult teachers, remember that each is different. Teachers should be aware of possible outcomes of refusing to make any attempts to improve their teaching performance. Telling them what to do also gives them a cause to fight and focus. Using a shotgun approach involving a variety of methods will prevent them from organizing an effective defense. If you effectively work with one challenging staff member, and what you did with them is shared with other ineffective teachers, there may be no need for you to work with the other teachers.
