Hey, it isn't just California, either. Now we have states like Florida where laws say that if a teacher is labeled "ineffective" for I think two years in a row (and remember, a principal doesn't need any proof a teacher is ineffective--they can just make up charges and forge documents to get rid of an undesirable teacher), he or she can have his or her license yanked and be lumped in with the child molesters and drug abusers. It would be impossible at that point for any teacher thus disciplined over nothing to EVER teach again anywhere in the United States since all state applications for licensing and virtually all school district applications ask if an applicant's license has ever been suspended or revoked.
When a supervisor has as much power and no accountability as school principals do, it is extremely dangerous for anybody to go into the field of education. Principals can ruin you and leave you permanently impoverished like yours truly.
From the link:
Unbeknownst to you, the principal of a school is trained in how to harass and eventually fire you. In my experience, anytime you oppose the principal you end up on the "black list." This list will comprise those people who speak out for reform, leaders who are supported by the local community or politicians, or representatives of your union. Essentially, all the people who make the principal's job harder. The Local School Leadership Council is an arena where administrators, teachers, and parents work together to improve their school. However, many times the principal uses this as the forum to launch ideas promoted by the district. Many times these ideas impede the educational program: more tests, more collection of data, more waste of precious educational minutes.
Isenberg gives a few true examples of principal/assistant principal misconduct where nothing happens to them. I can tell you the principal who first damaged my career, the one who formerly was principal at a Washoe County School District middle school, was never made to truly pay for his misconduct. Not only did he misuse his power with me and with other teachers because he didn't like us or wouldn't carry out illegal directives, he was finally demoted for engaging in sexual misconduct with a subordinate, behavior that could have exposed the school district to a sexual harassment lawsuit. The subordinate, a teacher there who is now reassigned (and was not somebody I knew), was not the first. This principal was said to have carried on a long-term affair with a counselor at the school where he was previously AP and was caught in at least one incident by a colleague. The colleague was retaliated against when she notified the principal of this school. She ended up taking an "early out" from the district rather than move to yet another school. This misconduct was known to higher-ups, as I have been told, yet this bastard was put in a principal job to create hell for many people. The counselor he was said to have had an affair with was moved to that school the year I left there. ONLY when an irate husband of the teacher exposed the affair was ANYTHING done. He was merely demoted to teacher in a brain-dead job though a few believe he will be promoted to administration again once the dust settles (that won't happen if I have any say about it). Yet principals at other school districts have been fired and had action taken on their licenses although rare. But not WCSD. Principals there can do anything they want with impunity. Expose them, and your career is ruined.
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