Principals, Here's How Teachers View You
Principals, Here’s How Teachers View You
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.
Related Reading
- Opinion: The 'Magic' Teachers Need From Their Principals
- Special Report: Principals Under Pressure
- Teachers, What Makes an Ideal Principal?
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
