An exclusive Education Week Research Center survey reveals striking gaps between how principals rate the impact of their leadership and how teachers do.
Special Report: Inside the Principal-Teacher Relationship
69% of principals completely agree that teachers at their school feel empowered to bring problems to them.
25% of teachers completely agree they feel empowered to bring problems to their principal.
“That’s been the biggest frustration in the districts I have been at, teachers have questioned the consequences that a student received, that they weren’t harsh enough.”
—Russell McDaniel, principal, Celina, Texas
45% of teachers completely agree their principal supports teachers who start innovative work or new initiatives.
86% of principals completely agree they support teachers who start innovative work or new initiatives.
"All too often, principals are in classrooms ... taking copious notes ... [T]hey rattle off all of the notes ... and it doesn’t help the teacher improve anything."
—Kimberly Grayson, principal, Denver
87% of principals say it is very important for teachers to have a positive working relationship with them.
81% of teachers say it is very important for them to have a positive working relationship with their principal.
“Using evaluation tools as punitive assessments really doesn’t do anybody any good.”
—Keith Brayman, social studies teacher, Lexington, S.C.
“There’s a fine line between being a leader and being a boss.”
—David Bosso, social studies teacher, Berlin, Conn.
A version of this article appeared in the October 16, 2019 edition of Education Week as How Teachers View Their Principals & How Principals See Themselves