Preschool Teacher vs. Director Conflicts and How to Solve Them

When you are in the classroom you are guiding your preschoolers through conflict resolution strategies all day, every day. One of the most difficult conflicts that you may encounter as a preschool teacher though, is not in your classroom. It is with your director. It is important to address these conflicts and not try to ignore them. Ignoring the problem would just make matters worse, and you would be missing out on an opportunity for personal growth. It is not always easy to bring a conflict to the attention of a director, but here are some tips on how to solve conflicts between teacher and director.

REFLECT

Self reflection is an important tool for any teacher. When you find yourself in conflict with your director, before bringing it to their attention, first do some reflection. Determine what the problem is exactly. If it is a problem with a new policy or request from you director, you need to understand exactly what your issue with it is.

It is always a good idea to make a real attempt at any new policies or procedures that your director wants implemented before making any complaints. This way, you reduce the stress on the situation and are able to demonstrate that you are willing to do the work. Then, you will be able to show your director why their policy or procedure was not working for your classroom and have some possible solutions ready.

ADDRESS IT

If you find yourself in a situation where you are having a conflict with your director, you must address it. Addressing problems when they are small makes them a lot easier to solve. The worst thing you could do is ignore it. Bring it to their attention and set up a time to have a meeting. Make sure you do not address it for the first time in front of other staff. Conflicts between a teacher and the director can impact a lot more than just their relationship. It can change the work environment entirely, including for your students if you bring it up in front of them.

SEEK SUPPORT

It can be intimidating to bring difficult issues to your director, especially when the problem is with them. Bring a trusted colleague with you when meeting with your director for support. This person can help you communicate your concerns and desires. Having a third person there can also be helpful for reviewing what was discussed later, so that you can put any solutions that were discussed into action.

No matter how small the conflict may seem, when you have an issue with your director you need to address it before it becomes a bigger problem. Problems between teachers and directors can quickly change the environment of the work place, as other coworkers pick up on the tension.