ABSTRACT
Dealing with a marginal teacher is one of the most difficult situations a supervisor faces. Confronting marginal teaching will test the mettle of any administrator. Addressing marginal teaching is neither easy nor comfortable for the supervisor or the teacher. However, the reality is that there are teachers who are marginal and, in some cases, incompetent. Campanile, Fenton, and Gonen (2011) report that the “interminable lengths to which administrators must go to document a teacher’s failings-including detailed observations, independent monitoring and reams and reams of
evidence-are enough to scare most principals away from even trying to bounce bad teachers” (n. p.). The length of time, expense, and toil required to deal with marginal and incompetent teachers is a daunting reality that school leaders face-and this is an aspect of the job that must remain at the forefront as school leaders ensure the academic vitality of their schools.
