Resist the Rush to Judgment in Personnel Disputes

Great article in the January 18th Chronicle of Higher Education on a dean-professor situation that ended up being a learning opportunity for both sides. It can also be read as a thoughtful commentary on tenure, which makes it good reading for anyone interested in K-12 reform efforts like “getting rid of bad teachers.”

There’s a situation sort of like this one in my school now, where the parapro union is up in arms about a perceived favoritism that one of the paras is receiving. The para in question isn’t one of the best, honestly, but she does what she’s asked to do. She’s also an easy target for abuse, and it’s sad to watch grown-ups act that way.

This is the part of going into the principalship that I’m not looking forward to. At all.