Teacher Bullies: How to Handle Being Bullied by Other Teachers
How do you handle bullying behavior from colleagues? Find out how to respond to teacher bullies.
What Is Teacher Bullying?
Undoubtedly, it was a rude awakening to discover that your students are not the only recipients of bullying behavior.
As a teacher, you may find yourself on the receiving end of bullying from fellow teachers or administrators.
How do you handle teacher bullies?
General Tactics for Handling Teacher Bullies
Before we get to the specifics, here are some general tactics for dealing with teacher bullies.
Keep It Professional
You are an adult and a professional; keep it that way.
Do not resort to the same language or behavior exhibited by teacher bullies.
This does not mean you should be a doormat. It means you should respond, not react or retaliate.
Seek Support
You should not suffer in silence.
Ask for guidance from a trusted colleague, mentor, or counselor.
Seeking support does not mean publicly disparaging an individual. You don’t want to resort to that.
Seeking support means asking wise and trustworthy people for guidance on what to do next.
Understand Policies
Read your employee handbook and school policies.
How does your school address issues of bullying? Learn the proper protocol, and know your rights.
Make Notes
Documentation is key to defining and proving repeated bullying behavior.
Keep a dated record of bullying instances.
Contact Your Union Rep
Depending on the severity of the bullying, seek advice from your union representative if you are a union member.
Self-Care
Bullying is stressful: physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Fill up your reserves by practicing self-care.
6 Types of Teacher Bullies and How to Handle Them
Read through the following scenarios to learn how to handle various forms of teacher bullying.
Exclusion
Exclusion can take one of two forms.
If you are routinely excluded from meetings, collaborative projects, and social gatherings, you can feel isolated.
If your comments or suggestions are ignored or discarded in team meetings, this is another form of exclusion.
This type of bullying is subtle and less actionable.
If you feel excluded socially, seek out colleagues who make you feel valued and included. Spend time with them instead.
Continue to be professional in meetings. Do not let repeated dismissal silence you. Continue to share your ideas and suggestions.
You can discuss these circumstances with a mentor or school counselor for specifics on handling this person.
Dumping Extra Work on You
If you are assigned a disproportionate amount of the workload (or the tasks that no one else wants to do), this is a form of bullying behavior.
These tasks may be assigned by someone in administration or a colleague in a senior position (like your grade’s team leader).
Keep a written record of your assignments and deadlines (especially if those deadlines seem unrealistic and unfair).
Talk to the person assigning the workload and ask for a fair distribution moving forward.
If that does not bring about change, move up the ladder and speak to their supervisor. Make sure you back up your complaint with documented evidence.
Verbal Abuse or Threats
You would like to think that as adults, we are beyond this, but teacher bullies can use harsh, critical, or even aggressive language and body posturing.
This is serious, and you need to respond the right way.
First and foremost, do not lash out. Stay calm. Do not react by yelling or name-calling.
Instead, calmly but firmly tell the person that what they are saying (or how they are saying it) is unacceptable and that they must stop.
Immediately afterward, document the incident. Include the time, date, what was said, and if any witnesses were present.
Report the incident to the school administration or HR, and talk to your union rep.
Undermining Your Authority or Credibility
Does someone question or criticize you in front of students? This undermines your authority.
Likewise, if a teacher or staff member criticizes you in front of colleagues (or talks about you behind your back), this cuts into your credibility.
First of all, document these instances with times, dates, and specific words that were said.
Go to the individual privately and ask them to stop. Explain how their comments affect you.
If this does not resolve the behavior, speak with your union rep or school administration. Bring your documentation.
Sabotage
If a fellow teacher deliberately misplaces materials or gives you wrong information to mess up your projects or lesson plans, this is sabotage.
It is a form of undermining that goes beyond words to actual action.
If you suspect but cannot prove the sabotage, you will need to secure your materials and records and not rely on the individual moving forward.
If you can prove the sabotage, record the incident and bring it up with the school administration.
Professional Jealousy
Is there a fellow teacher who seems strangely competitive with you?
This may lead to verbal undermining, gossip, lack of recognition of achievements, or a public dismissal of your successes.
You cannot do anything about the attitude of another person.
Do not let their words and actions keep you from professional development and achievement.
Find others who are willing to celebrate your joys with you.
If professional jealousy leads to overt behaviors like undermining, verbal abuse, or sabotage, take appropriate action.
Handling Teacher Bullies
Sadly, teacher bullies do exist. You can counteract their behavior by knowing your rights, advocating for yourself, and relying on your support system.
