Three years ago, I wrote an anonymous post and asked a friend to post it for me. The story was burning up inside of me, but at the time I was too scared to publish it because I was in the middle of the situation, and terrified that it would only get worse. Yet I knew that there had to be others out there like me, who were going through the same situation, who felt so all alone just like I did.
Today I choose to reclaim my past as I leave my old district and school and venture forward, it is time to take back the power that this situation had over me. It is time to move on and away from the past. It is time to tell the story of what can happen when teachers bully teachers.
The year I got hired at my school my mentor moved away. I was eager, ready to learn, and most of all ready to form a team. Unfortunately I was the third wheel to a two-some that had been together for some years and had gone through some pretty heavy-duty stuff. They switched classes, they knew each other like the back of their hand, and I was the puppy always trailing behind, hoping they would throw me a bone. It wasn’t that they excluded me, I just don’t think I knew how to fit. After a while, I decided to go on my own, after all, my students were waiting for me to teach them and not having a team was not going to be a good enough excuse to fail my kids. So I forged on, challenging myself and hoping that one day my team would find space for me. That year I was by myself through difficult parent situations and difficult student situations. I ate lunch in my classroom because no one sat with me in the staff lounge. It wasn’t that they didn’t like me, they just didn’t have time for me. Instead other teachers were busy pointing out how I was a favorite since the principal spent so much time in my room. They didn’t realize that the reason he was in there was because I invited him just so I had someone to help me that first year. I didn’t realize how I was viewed until later in the year I was pulled into my principal’s office to be reprimanded for having said “Have a nice weekend” in the hallways. I was told that someone had complained about me since I should be thankful I had a job and not look forward to the weekend so much. In fact, it was later included in my formal observation that I should know my place more. Stunned, I asked who it was, but was refused an answer. I left that conversation wondering who would want to get me into trouble over something so trivial well knowing that it could have been many people. I felt so alone.
I heard the rumors about why I was hired (because of my looks), I heard how I was the favorite and was therefore given easy classes, extra things for my room, and basically had a free pass. I cried about it, got angry, tried to discourage the principal from coming into my room. It didn’t help. He stopped coming but the rumors continued. The whispers as I walked by in the hallway, the icy stares, the unreturned hello’s. The social isolation would have made any mean girl proud. So I got really quiet and tried to keep to myself, finding a couple of people I could trust, continuously trying to reach out to my team, hoping that someone would take pity on me. Few did, after all, I had done it to myself.
Once more I ended up in the principal’s office; this time a teacher had turned me in for disagreeing with a veteran teacher in a small meeting. I was written up for being disrespectful and not knowing my place. Again I asked who had come to the principal and was given no answer. It was not in my best interest to know and I should be happy that there were not more severe consequences. It was even put in my formal observation for the year, my permanent record, and I had to submit an apology to the teacher, who by the way, was not the one who had complained about me. Instead I was told to keep my mouth shut, know my place, and try to get people to like me. The ignorance of my principal that he, in fact, had anything to do with the fact that people despised me was more than I could take. I started to contemplate moving but decided that I wanted to stay to try to make a difference, to change the attitude, rather than to let them run me out.
This year I knew was going to be a challenge. One powerful teacher, in particular, had become the ring leader of my hate group. She complained about me to anyone that would listen, including my fledgling team, parents, and, of course, the principal. For some reason she had power and people listened. I knew that some of my more unorthodox ideas such as limiting grades and homework were really going to upset people, particularly some veteran teachers who already disliked me, she being one of them. And yet, I knew I had to keep growing as a teacher whether people hated me or not because after all how bad could it get? I would always have my principal or so I thought, instead I didn’t. He left me alone because he was told by senior teachers that they knew I was his favorite and how hurtful it was to them. So instead I became isolated, fending for myself. Thank goodness for a couple of good friends, my husband, and Twitter or I would have lost it.
Throughout this process I have been forced to look in the mirror again and again. Am I those things that people claim? Am I a person not to be trusted because the principal is my confidante, because I am his favorite? Will my students fail because of me? Will they not be prepared for the rest of their school years because of what I did to them? I have had to reflect and tear myself apart as I wonder; did I do this to myself? Sure, there have been days I have not been proud of, days where I should have kept my opinion to myself, or tread more lightly. Yet there has also been so many days where I did not deserve the treatment I was given, where even after extra effort, people just did not care, did not believe, did not want their minds changed. I also question myself; is this all in my head? Have I created the awkwardness, the silence, the people passing by my door rather than coming in? Then I realize that it did happen, that the rumors were spread, those hushed conversations, those scoldings really did happen. Perhaps I could have done more but I guess I will never know if it would have changed anything. I know I have not been a perfect team member, I know I have made mistakes, but I have also tried to do my best. I have been open, eager, welcoming, and ready to share. And yet somehow all of this was not enough,
So what has this year been like? Like the worst high school experience, the only thing missing has been being locked in a locker or having my car keyed. All year I have fought comments about how awful I am as a teacher and how dare I challenge what veteran teachers are doing. I have been told that other teachers worry about my students since I am not teaching right or even preparing them well. I have been told that I need to know my place over and over and that no one likes me. I have been told that no one wants to be on my team and that I am giving the school a bad name. I have been called selfish, delusional, and ineffective. I have been called a bad teacher. So this year I have cried, vented to close friends and just tried to rise above it. I know what is best for my kids. I know that I am good teacher. And yet, I am worn down.
It is funny; I have lied so many times about how supportive my school is of me, that I sometimes start to believe it. My principal was supportive, in secret, my special ed teacher, ELL teacher, and a few friends were, but that is really it. Some teachers have not cared, which was a welcome relief or just outright told me how they feel. The powerful teacher told me that she is genuinely worried for my students since she does not feel they will be successful next year and that I shouldn’t be allowed to teach. At least this time she said it to my face rather than behind my back.
So a couple of weeks ago, I did the unthinkable, I applied for a transfer to another school. After a secret meeting was called to discuss how the principal cannot be trusted and the powerful teacher cried about how she was the victim at our school, I thought; enough. I don’t want to be the scapegoat anymore. I don’t want to be in a place where success is not celebrated. Where challenges are not desired. This is not me. I love teaching and I want to teach for many years to come, but I cannot go to work in a place where I am not welcomed. Where I am blamed for things I have nothing to do with, where people feel they have a free pass to tell me how they really feel about me and my teaching style without even knowing anything. So I am leaving, and my heart is lighter, and yet I feel like a coward.
I feel like I should stay and fight for change like I have been the last 3 years. Like I shouldn’t rock the boat. But I can’t stay, it will devour me if I do. When I pressed send on that email letting my employee coordinator know that I wanted to transfer, I felt the biggest weight lift. And then I felt tears. These years of being hated, of not knowing who to trust or who to confide in has taken their toll. It will be a long time before I try to have a close relationship with my principal, in fear of being labeled, I will have a hard time trusting team mates. Too many times the accusations came from the team I was supposed to have and the protection did not come from my leader.
Postscript – I didn’t leave. I never got any of the transfers but instead received a phone call late one night. It was the ring leader calling to apologize. I still remember her words telling me that she knew she had done me wrong, that she had been a bully, that she had prayed about it, and she was sorry. In fact, she was so sorry that she had decided to leave the school (not just because of me). She asked me if I could forgive her and although I should have said yes, I told her I didn’t know. The damage she had done to me was so raw that I couldn’t think of forgiveness at this moment, I still don’t know if I could. So I stayed and I became a 5th grade teacher and found a team, one that might have thought I was a bit crazy, but still supported me. One that taught me that we can all get along, that there is room for all sorts of teaching, and that there are ways to discuss our differences. I stayed three more years until my heart called for a new challenge and a new district. Which is where I stand today, poised at the edge of a new adventure, hoping that this never happens to another teacher.
I am a passionate teacher in Wisconsin, USA, who has taught 4, 5th, and 7th grade. Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day. First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” can be purchased now from Powerful Learning Press. Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” can be pre-ordered from Corwin Press now. Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.
Pernille Ripp 
Thank you for sharing this. A colleague recommended that I read this particular blog post and I am so happy that I did. I have experienced much the same thing in my school. Prior to my first maternity leave, I was one of the “golden children” but once I returned from my mat leave (a year later-I’m Canadian), I was treated as a lepar by my admin. It was even so bad that my admin told me while discussing the possibility of an overnight or long day field trip that if I couldn’t go because of my parenting responsibilities that was just too bad. This time around, I was told at the end of the year that I was unapproachable, unprofessional and my mental health was called into question(I don’t hide that I’m on anti-anxiety meds as a result of this place). The decision was made to pull me from the class that I was to loop up with and put me into teaching a world language full time (not what I wanted to do and shares this when I was asked about it in March) as a result of a promise that was made to the previous years’ language teacher that it would only be for a year. Instead of hiring someone else for the world language position, they hired other teachers for other positions including replacing me. I was furious and made it known that I was not happy. Big mistake. This is when I was told that my feelings meant nothing because there were other more serious things that have happened in our school like a teacher being murdered, another dying of cancer and a parent who has brain cancer that are more serious than my feelings about teaching a world language. After having the summer to think and learning that we are getting a new administrator, I’m excited to have the opportunity to create a strong world language program. I’m
Also going into the year with new strategies and an awareness of who my real friends are on staff and whom I can and cannot trust. Thank you for sharing your story and letting others know that they are not alone.
Dear Jessie, I am a veteran teacher of 27 years with experience in an urban and county schools. I am currently writing a book about bullying by colleagues. I realized that my PSU daughter never learned how to deal with colleagues while studying elementary education. It is time we give a “shout out” on this subject. Please consider being part of my book. Names will be changed if needed or desired! D. D James 2928 Sparrow Drive York, PA 17408
I’ll be part of your book. I’ve got a story you wouldn’t believe.
Me too. I’m happy to share an unbelievable experience.
I would be willing to share my story as well if it could help others.
Kari, Can you tell it here? it might help you and would help me to know how to deal with it. I had a horrible school, then quit and found a wonderful place with hardworking, supportive coworkers. Unfortunately my husband was transferred this summer and I am beginning to see signs of trouble again at my new school. I want to be positive and excited but it is draining to have to defend myself against comments that have no basis in assessments of students’ actual performance. I have always done well in schools where my students’ growth is measured yearly, but I don’t know how to work in an environment where teachers “wonder” if my students are learning but won’t look at valid assessments and measures of growth. I am willing to get together as a team, look at the objectives we are teaching, measure how students are doing on those goals but no one wants to do that – another veteran teacher comments on how her course is so much harder but does not even share any materials, not even the semester exam, so how do I know what they mean by “harder”? It seems so unfair. I would like to hear how you are handling it.
This is beyond sad, but mean girls grow up to be mean women. I had a b***h for a teaching partner for years, except she acted sweet to my face while trying to destroy me behind my back. This all boils down to how much a principal will tolerate in bad behavior; both of our admins should have stopped this cold.
Thank you for sharing this! I recently reached out to a colleague of mine about similar situations and wanted Godly advice about what to do and how to handle it. She responded with her story and then sent me the link to this post! This post couldn’t have come at a better time! Our situations are so similar it is scary. Thankfully, I am out of my misery and in a new team of wonderful and supportive teachers! As morbid as this sounds, I am happy to know I am not the only one who has had to deal with this.
I could write a companion letter. For sure. Thank you for sharing your story. Being different in a place that should be one of the most creative and open to risk taking environments has always been mind boggling to me. Onr year I was told my questions ( simple inquiring, exploring, learning type questions) offend the mob. That’s what I call them…The Mob. They along with their mob mentality want status quo with no one ever to question or disagree. Ever. So sorry you had to go through that. It shouldn’t exist.
so glad you found a better place to work…i did too! I’m not going to go into details, as I am still in the same district, and it wasn’t other teachers, but the new principal who played favorites. But I’m in a great situation, now, and while I was sad to leave my old school, it was the best decision. Others were able to leave there to different positions within the district, as well, and we are all so glad we did!
Glad to know I’m not alone. I’m going on my 4th year teaching in a toxic school and it gets harder every day. Leaving this school would mean leaving the island (as it’s the only k-12) and I really love living here. I’ve considered filing a report with my union rep, but feel that it will only make me a bigger target and nothing would change anyways. What are your guys’ thoughts on reporting?
I think that is a really hard situation, and would consider filing with the union if you have tried other options and they have not worked. I guess the bottom line is; do you see the situation changing or not?
Pernille: Thank you for your story. Mine is the same, I just left my school mid January (giving one month notice). I was there 3.5 years and so excited to teach! I loved my students and had some good compliments. I was not perfect but excited and would do/try anything if asked. I incorporated technology as that was new to our school and some teachers hated that. I graded homework even though I was told not to by old teachers. I was ignored and left out, even laughed at at dept meetings – for planning! My supervisor made fun of me often for being organized and planned, yelled at me once telling me that another teacher of course treats me badly because I was so excited to teach! New headmaster was great, I loved his ideas and he supported me but I think others saw that (especially after he read a letter sent by a parent praising me in a faculty meeting) and he backed away (he was bullied also) to get support from old time teachers. Then they bullied me more as I lost my support. Supervisor was bully to kids also, really yelled at a special needs student – making student’s anxiety worse. Then a class of my students complained he hit a student in the head with a notebook. I filed a formal complaint and then it turned bad. I did try to reach out to the two who bullied the most but they just denied anything, perhaps they have lived in that atmosphere so long they really do not realize what they do! But they must as how they treated me in private was so different than in public. Headmaster I liked turned against me, perhaps bringing to light what was happening looked bad on him. I could not take the hostility to students or me anymore and quit – luckily God sent another job. But it is hard, my excitement has diminished. I love my new students but just feel fear most days even though my new school is good and coworkers nice. I want to be my old self and be excited to teach again. I have never met meaner people than those working at that private, catholic school. I am sad for my past students that they have to deal with that. I am sad for the dreams of what I could do for them died.
I am happy I just found this post.
I am a first year teacher going through, exactly this. I have a ring leader, and 3 other grade partners. 2 out of the 3 are the bullies. I’ve been called disrespectful, inadequate and much more. As a first year teacher I am still learning, but apparently my teaching style isn’t what they like. They’ve gone behind my back, called me a liar without knowing the whole story and when I tried to explain myself and what actually happened, they didn’t want to listen. Whenever they make a decision and I disagree with it, I get “in trouble”. (Basically the knowing my place as you said). Luckily, there’s about 20 more days of school and I really want to transfer.
Great post!
There are solutions to bullying of teachers by teachers. Here are some practical tips from an expert:
http://blackboardtalk.com/2018/02/04/when-teachers-bully-other-teachers-bullying-in-the-teaching-profession/
Thank you for sharing your story. I am going through problems at school with a colleague. She has been telling lies about me and making me feel awful about myself.
When I saw the title of the post it really resonated with me. I think this problem is even more relevant in countries where the pressure to do better – to aim for a higher grade – is more prevalent, like in India. This is something I used to face, and parents would often force teachers to conduct weekly tests, or pile more homework on the students.
Here the actual villains were the parents and society, those who wanted students to do better, but inadvertently stressed them out and made them do worse. A lot of times, though, teachers wouldn’t see subjects as Art or PE as important when compared to Science, Math or Business. It really restricted me, and I think it’s important to recognize how much of an impact these teachers have on their students. Some teachers don’t give themselves credit for this, but when they truly recognize how much they influence those they teach, I think they might be empowered to make better decisions.
Thank you for being one of these teachers!
I had an awful experience today that left me shook, and I found this post while trying to make sense of what happened to me.
I read this post to my fiance who works in my building with me. He thought it was something I wrote. I have experienced this exact treatment.
Today I told my administrator that I am not resigning yet, but I am actively looking for a different job, and I probably will not be returning in the fall.