Teachers: Do you work with snobby teachers? Worst story? Need advice.?

Question

Hello, I just transferred to a new school.While I love the administration, the staff is very cold to me. It is a young staff whereas my old staff was much older than me. They do not say hello to me, even though I stop &make eye contact with them and say hello first. Some have even gone as far as to turn around when I speak to them. They also have made fun of me basically to my face regarding what I am wearing ( I am a fashionable dresser & they wear mostly jeans &tee shirts--don't know why--one did get marked on her evaluation). They have gossiped about me to students and even attempted to report me to the office for "allowing" my students to roam the halls and set the bathrooms on fire. Completely false--the bathrooms weren't even set on fire. Granted the whole staff isn't like this--just a few, but they drive me nuts. I do have quite a few friends there, I just hate feeling like I am in middle school rather than teaching there.

Answer 1

Wow!
Sounds just like the school I teach at. If the jerks do anything truly egregious (i.e., badmouthing you in front of the students, falsely accusing you of misconduct/malfeasance in front of the administration, etc.), AND it's not just from the mouths of students trying to "stir the pot"; document this stuff, sign it and date it.
Don't stoop to their level, and ALWAYS remember why you're there. Always do your best, and look your best. These yahoos are obviously intimidated by you and want to shake you up.
Just hang in there and remember that this profession is not just about establishing professional rapport, and that your clientèle (the students) are the most important part of this equation.

Answer 2

Teaching is still for the most part based on the seniority system as opposed to the accountability system used in most industries. The senior teachers get the preferential treatment over the new teachers, which is a problem in itself because most new teachers leave the profession within the first 5 years. So the old-timer teachers build an attitude because they don't think the new teachers are going to stay around long enough for them to build the bond with. That is a natural behavior for people in general. Just like a boss may treat a permanent employee better than a temp employee.

The only thing that I'd recommend is to put your focus on the students. When the other teachers see that you are focused on doing your best with the students regardless of what other teachers do or say about you, then they tend to stop talking about you. Usually if they see that you are putting the best interest of the students first like when you approach them with questions about lessons, etc., then they are more than happy to respond. But if you just go to chit-chat to emotionally bond, then they see that more as a waste of time until they get to know you better.

I've worked in industry where the system is more accountability based. Believe me, there are more emotional detachment, but yet everyone is friendly on the surface like a customer service operator is friendly to the customer. At the same time, everyone is more goal-oriented because everyone supposedly has the same goal, that is the success of the business. Emotional bonding is usually an after-thought in business.

In teaching, emotional bonding with the student is probably the 2nd most important thing a teacher can do with the student for them to learn. The 1st being that you are content qualified to teach the students. Other teachers may disagree with me on this.

But my best advice for a new teacher or a teacher to a new school is to get to know AP or the department head or whoever evaluates you. They are the ones that if you can impress, then it doesn't really matter what the other teachers say or do. In an environment where the schools need the teachers more than the teachers need the schools, the individual teacher still has some leverage, so the burden is usually on the APs and department heads to make the teacher happy, than the other way around.

Answer 3

Ok, I have read the various responses and the one thing that I noticed was that the did not really discuss why the other teachers are acting this way towards you. First of all, they are intimidated by you. You appear to be confident and know that even though you are a teacher, you can still dress the dress and teach. You are not there to make friends, and it sounds as if there are other teachers there that you are comfortable with. If the ones that are 'snobbing' you are ones that you must work directly with, then by all means, stay professional and courteous. Don't stoop to their level. You need to learn to brush their rudeness, crassness and evilness, yes evilness, away! There are some legitamate complaints that you may need to file in order to protect yourself from any possible incidents in the future. Please remember to document or journal events such as the ones you gave as examples. As another person commented earlier, this can occur in many places outside of an educational setting. You would hope that these teachers would be able to act in a more responsible and respectable manner, but alas, they are just human with all the faults included. Keep your chin up and stick with your friends that you already have. I am sure you are an awesome teacher!

Answer 4

Hm. Well, I don't teach, *but* I this scenario isn't exclusive to teaching. I work in a library, and also had to deal with a co-worker who was particularly rude to me. She would do the same things you are describing here: ignore me while speaking, 'tattling', etc. There are always going to be people like this at a job; some just exhibit these tendencies by varying degrees.

Anyway, my mother gave me very sound advice: First of all, she told me to pray --that's what I do when faced with tough situations. Secondly, she told me to do the absolute best I could do, and not to let the co-worker get to me. If you're busily focused on your performance, and doing your job to the best of your abilities, then you will no longer have time or energy to focus on nay-sayers and irritating people. Besidse, despite what you read in dollar-store books and shoddily-written employment self-help texts, top management isn't stupid. Unlike you and me, they can see what is happening from a higher vantage point. And you can trust that they will act accordingly. Dressing for success and working hard will show up those who are more focused on making you miserable as oppossed to focusing on their jobs.

The advice was tough to implement, but it worked. After some months of doing this --working hard, and not letting the co-worker steal my sunshine-- I got a promotion! ;) I'm enjoying the increase in pay and responsibility :D

I hope this little tidbit helps. Good luck!

Answer 5

Try not to let them distract you. Remember why you are there...teaching the students. I realize friends and social connections are important to all of us, even at work, but if that is how they wish to treat others, they surely must be very unhappy people who are unhappy with their job. They sound like the kind of people who like to take others down with their poor attitudes. According to your note, you still have plenty of adult friends to associate with there. That is good. No telling why they are like they are really. I always heard that if someone is "snotty" toward you, most of the time it actually had very little to do with YOU and more about themselves.

I am a teacher/MS counselor and really don't think I've ever been in your particular situation, but I imagine it would bother me somewhat, too. You are being professional and grown up which is what I would hope that you are. Hang in there, sweetie! YOU are fine it sounds like. Those who count will notice your good job and probably already know how the others are.

Good luck!

Answer 6

It is your initiation. A new comer is usually viewed as a "stranger" . Show them you are willing to make friends and be a part of the "team". When they see , you mean them no harm and that all you want is for everybody to be able to work conscientiously, then you will be welcomed into their fold. In the meantime, don't be bothered by what they do. Perform your duties and responsibilities well and be polite and amiable. Nobody could pick a fight with someone who does not react.

Answer 7

do you feel confident in making compliments? let´s face, you ain't competing in a popularity contest, so i would start by talking great things to the students about the other ¨few teachers¨. you´ll earn their respect the moment you blow you horns to the school about something good you see in a teacher ( you may also do the same for unmotivated students ). maybe they´re jealous of your teaching methods or maybe they hear students saying good things about you. put aside whatever ¨things¨ they have said or done to you. in my case, i asked them for advice for specific problem, then thank them publicly about how much you improve due to their help. complaining about a person who has publicly said nice things about you isn't going to sound very credible

Answer 8

Ignore them without being rude to them. Don't try to make friends with them unless they try to you.