Professionalism is as professionalism does

A teacher does not like a new program being implemented schoolwide.

• He begins bad-mouthing the program to his coworkers.

• He discusses his feelings with the principal, giving reasons he does not like the new program. During this discussion, he offers suggestions as to what he feels would be a more effective program or means of accomplishing whatever this particular program is trying to accomplish.

A student is refusing to do work in class.

• The teacher talks to the student privately, asking if there is a problem and offering assistance.

• The teacher warns the student, in an angry or frustrated tone, that they need to get busy.

You have a disagreement with another teacher over what lesson the PLC should employ in an upcoming unit of study.

• You gossip about the teacher you had a disagreement with.

• You reflect on the conversation and decide to speak again with the teacher once things have calmed down.

A teacher does not agree with the results of her most recent observation conducted by an administrator.

• The teacher begins talking to other teachers in order to find out if they are dissatisfied with their observation results. She also discusses her dissatisfaction with her own observation results.

• The teacher schedules a meeting with the administrator to discuss the observation and collected data.

A teacher is struggling with classroom management. She cannot seem to get her students to stop talking during class. She cannot seem to get her students to complete assignments.

• The teacher enlist the support of a few negative coworkers who she already knows are having trouble with those same students. A griping session about the student ensues.

• The teacher seeks advice from a positive teacher who seems to be able to get any student to behave. She ask for a few pointers.

A teacher is confronted bt an angry parent. The conference does not go well. The parent leaves, and nothing has been resolved.

• The teacher ask a positive coworker or an administrator for suggestions on defusing such a situation in order to deal with this more effectively in the future.

• The teacher tells everyone who will listen about the conference, sharing her negative opinions of the parent.