Dealing with Resistant Teachers

One of the biggest roadblocks to educational change is resistance from teachers, parents or other stakeholders. I understand that everyone deals differently with change. Some are more accepting, others more resistant. People often resist change because they are anxious about the implications. Often resistors have legitimate needs for information, training or support. There may be a conflict between their personal beliefs and the proposed change or there motives may be driven by concern for students rather than outright resistance.

While it is true that some people resist because that's who they are, they love being the "known resistor, most people don't readily embrace that role. They are genuinely concerned. A recent article on ASCD Express share strategies for "turning resistant teachers into resilient teachers." It outlines four categories of resistors and provides strategies and tips that school leaders can use to overcome the resistance.

I'd enjoy hearing from you about your experience with resistance and how you've worked to overcome that resistance.

COMPASS Model of School Change

I work with lots of principals and teachers on ways to improve their school. Often they're looking for the one tool or strategy that will make their school better. But I've grown to appreciate that school improvement is far more complex and involves an integrated set of strategies. Because I'm always looking for a good metaphor to share with groups a colleague, Barbara Blackburn, and I developed The COMPASS Model. We like the idea of a compass because it is a very useful tool. It can guide and direct us. It can help us get back on track if we're lost and it always points toward true north.

Our model includes seven components.

C - Creating a Positive and Supportive Culture
O - Ownership and Shared Vision
M - Managing Data
P - Professional Development
A - Advocacy
S - Shared Accountability
S - Structures and Organization

In posts over the next few weeks I'll explore each of the seven components in more detail. You can learn more about The COMPASS Model by watching this short video I prepared for one of my classes and by reading Rigorous Schools and Classrooms: Leading the Way available from Eye on Education. We also wrote a companion book Rigor in Your School: A Toolkit for Leaders that shares almost one hundred tools that leaders can use to improve their school.

As always I'd enjoy hearing from you about how you work to improve your schools.