Dysfunctional Thinking
Why is the leadership of the principal, Mr. Carroll, so important?
Mr. Carroll certainly can sense the tension between the new faculty members and the veteran teachers, and as the person with the most authority, he needs to act as a go-between the two groups. More than just a go-between, he has to show the leadership that is required in this situation; his leadership is pivotal in order to prevent a clash of cultures between new and old teachers. For the good of the students -- which is his essential responsibility -- and in order to assure that his school performs as expected and that any personality friction can be reduced or eliminated, Mr. Carroll must be strong and assertive in smoothing over ruffled feathers.
Basically, it should be the principal's decision as to which faculty member should chair the Wordsmith contest. There should be no doubt about Mr. Carroll's role in selecting the faculty member that will chair the Oakview part of this contest. And in this particular case, since it is the first time that Oakview High School has participated in the citywide contest, there needs to be a smooth, non-controversial system for preparing the honor students in English and for appointing the chair. Mr. Carroll has a huge responsibility in this matter.
What climate & cultural factors might influence the divisiveness among the faculty?
The problem seems to be with the entrenched faculty, the ones who have been around for a long time, because they clearly seem threatened by the newcomers. A climate of confrontation has been created, and this could negatively impact the students. This is most unfortunate, but schools do develop specific work subcultures within faculty ranks,...
Given that there are rumors that the administration is trying to push the older teachers out -- perhaps because it is cheaper to hire new teachers without tenure -- one can clearly understand the resistance to back down on the part of the veteran faculty members.
What is likely to be the difference between the needs disposition of Ms. Farmington and Mrs. Douglas? The principal needs to explain to Mrs. Douglas that he has selected Ms. Farmington because of her vast experience in the past with the Wordsmith competition. He should also commend Mrs. Douglas for her great work with students, and ask her to join with Ms. Farmington to make the most out of this opportunity. Mrs. Douglas needs an ego massage and Ms. Farmington simply needs to be given the authority in this matter. After all, with $100,000 worth of computer equipment at stake, the school can't afford to be bogged down with dysfunctional personality conflicts. Ms. Farmington should also conference with Mr. Carroll, and be assured that she is trusted notwithstanding any interference caused by Mrs. Douglas.
What professional development activities might be recommended to Mrs. Douglas?
This is tricky because Mrs. Douglas is a "faculty favorite" so if it is perceived that she is being sent to a development program to in effect adjust her approach in any way that would be a public relations disaster for the principal. The professional development for Mrs. Douglas should involve new technology tools for the classroom and new curriculum resources; hence, if Oakview should win the $100,000 worth of technology equipment, Mrs. Douglas will…
