Things I’ve learned as a teacher

 


As a teacher, you learn pretty quickly that admin is rarely the thing that makes or breaks your ability to do your job. Sometimes you have great admin, sometimes they’re just there, and other times, they’re frustrating. But at the end of the day, no matter who’s sitting in that office, our job stays the same—teaching kids.


There’s a big difference between admin making decisions that are annoying or unpopular and admin actually preventing you from doing your job. If you have an admin who is truly making it impossible for teachers to teach or for students to learn, that’s a problem. But if the frustration comes from things that don’t directly impact what’s happening in the classroom, then maybe the energy is better spent elsewhere.


Who Actually Supports You?


The reality is, admin changes. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not. But your team—the teachers around you—is what truly makes or breaks your day-to-day experience.

• Do you have people you trust when things get tough?

• Do you have support when a student is struggling?

• Do you work in a culture of problem-solving, or just problem-pointing?


Because at the end of the day, admin isn’t the one standing next to you in the classroom, supporting you through the daily challenges of teaching. Your colleagues are.


What Really Makes a Good Admin?


A good admin isn’t defined by whether or not people like them. Some of the most effective administrators aren’t necessarily warm and fuzzy. What really matters is whether they:

• Trust teachers to do their jobs without micromanaging.

• Make decisions based on what’s best for students, not politics.

• Listen to feedback, even when it’s critical.

• Maintain professionalism—no gossip, no playing favorites.


But even the best admin can’t fix everything. Schools function because of teachers.


What’s the Real Constant in Schools?


Teachers.


Admin comes and goes. Some leave a lasting impact, others are quickly forgotten. But we are the ones who build school culture, support students, and make a school feel like a community. If we’re always waiting for admin to set the tone, we’re giving up the control we do have.


So maybe the bigger question isn’t “Do I like my admin?” but “Am I doing what I can to make this the best place possible for students and teachers?”


There will always be things out of our control. But what happens in our classrooms? That’s on us.


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