Every day, I see another post criticizing school principals. Sometimes these posts come from my Facebook group, The Principal’s Desk.
My principal is disconnected.
Mine doesn’t support teachers.
My admin team only care about test scores.
My principal doesn’t know what’s happening in classrooms.
Due to the start of the school year in a couple weeks, these posts are multiplying daily.
Are there ineffective leaders? Absolutely. Just as there are ineffective teachers, superintendents, counselors, and people in every profession.
Here is my challenge to everyone – Can we stop painting every principal with the same brush?
The vast majority of principals I know didn’t choose this work for recognition or an easy schedule. They chose it because they believe they can make a difference for students, teachers, and their communities.
They spend countless hours behind the scenes navigating staffing shortages, student mental health crises, parent concerns, teacher requests, budget cuts, district mandates, school safety, and the hundreds of decisions that never make it into a social media post.
No principal gets everything right. I sure didn’t. Even after a decade in the role. Leadership is difficult, and every decision affects real people.
If we’re serious about improving education, we need more conversations built on collaboration, not constant criticism, especially when it is inaccurate. Our schools need teachers and principals working together, trusting one another, and assuming positive intent. We do not need posts from “edu-celebrities” or accounts designed for clicks rather than truth, tearing down other educators.
Let’s hold leaders accountable when necessary, but let’s also recognize the thousands of principals who quietly show up every day, support their staff, and do everything they can with the resources they have.
Education has enough challenges without us tearing each other down. Maybe it’s time we started telling more stories about the principals who are making a difference.
The Principal’s Desk, Assistant Principal’s Desk, and The School Counselor’s Desk was founded by Dr. David Franklin. Dr. Franklin is an award winning school administrator, education professor, curriculum designer, published author and presenter at national and international education conferences. He is also the co-author of “Can Every School Succeed” and the #1 Amazon Best Seller in Education Administration: “Advice From The Principal’s Desk”.
THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK 