Hi there. I was hoping for some outside input. On my grade level team there is a teacher who has a very close relationship with the principal. Most people feel it is inappropriately close. I don't think that the "friendship" is any of my or anyone else's business, but lately this teacher has not been following set guidelines and rules. The team fears making her upset by bringing up these issues even though they are impacting the team. (Behavior problems, sharing work load). We are afraid that if we upset her she will tell principal who will automatically side with her. We have considered addressing these issues with a different administrator, but I don't know if that is the right route to take. Does anyone have any words of advice?

[goldenbeads]

I strongly recommend that you document what is supposed to happen and what is actually happening on your team. If everyone agrees to plan one unit to share, and she doesn't, have your minutes from team meeting written and when she doesn't have it, show her the documentation.

I think you have to bring it up, but make sure you're right and can prove it in case it does get ugly.

[teach2read10]

I've seen these kinds of "friendships" before. Hopefully, it will run its course and you can back to being a teaching team.

[LilMissSEI]

I don't have any advice, but I am in this exact same situation right now. I've only received input from one other teacher on my team that she notices it too. I would never ask the others because they are very much in the same clique as the "friendly" teacher. Her relationship with the P is very inappropriate in my opinion. Greets him every morning by going into his office and closing the door behind her. Eck! Even if nothing is going on, the favoritism being displayed is nauseating.

I have begun to tread very carefully around her. I don't trust that every little thing I say will not be repeated back to the principal. I agree with goldenbeads. Document what every person on the team should be doing and whether or not they are meeting their obligations. That way if you do need to address it with the principal, you will have proof, and he can't just side with her because they're in love

I wouldn't go to a different administrator though. You don't want to upset the principal.

Ah - have schools always been soap operas?