School Politics: How to Keep Your Nose Clean

Here’s how it starts. “Did you hear about so-and-so not getting renewed next year?” or “Did you hear the band performance last night? Yeesh.”

You’re standing there — in the hallway, copy room, maybe the teacher’s lounge. It sounds casual. Someone’s just talking. Then they turn to you. “What do you think?”

I grew up in the time of “Choose Your Own Adventure” books. You walked through a forest, came to a fork in the road — go to page 22 if you took the left path, page 48 if you went right. If you’re like me, you just closed the book. Safest option was to read something else. But we don’t always get that option.

Whatever you say next has a pretty good chance of being repeated, reshaped or brought up later — usually without you in the room.

Early on, it’s easy to think you can avoid school politics completely. You can’t. Every building has them. The goal isn’t to win or fix them. The goal is to stay out of situations that can follow you for years because once you say something, you don’t control where it goes after that.

Gossip Is a Test (Not a Conversation)

Gossip is sneaky. It sounds like concern or curiosity or someone just trying to “figure things out.” Someone brings up another teacher or an administrator and asks your opinion like it’s no big deal — but it is. If someone is comfortable talking to you about other people, they’ll be comfortable talking about you to other people.

As music teachers, we’re in a weird spot. We hear things from students, staff, parents. People assume we know more than we should — and they’re right. That doesn’t mean you need to share any of it.

When you’re put on the spot, these are perfectly acceptable answers:

• “I don’t really know enough to weigh in.”
• “I try to stay out of that stuff.”
• “I haven’t heard enough to have an opinion.”

Those lines might feel awkward, but you’re not there to win the conversation — you’re there to stay out of it. If you wouldn’t want it repeated, don’t say it.

Lose-Lose Situations

Some questions don’t have a good answer. “Be honest … don’t you think Bill really needs some help with woodwind teaching?” (Sorry. if you’re Bill — I’ve only heard great things.)

That “be honest” part is doing a lot of work.

• Agree → you’ve picked a side.
• Disagree → now you’re the problem.
• Split the difference → it still gets used however they want.

You don’t owe anyone an answer.

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Other lose-lose traps may start with these phrases:

• “No offense, but …”
• “I hate to say this, but …”
• Or even “I don’t mean to talk behind their back, but …”

It’s awkward at first, but I find the best way to handle these is to say, “If you think someone needs help, why don’t we include them in the conversation?” The gossiper will most likely retreat on this.

Reputation Is Built Through Actions

Nobody hands you your reputation. It builds in the background, during every class, performance, conversation, interaction and what you get pulled into. Over time, people start to form a picture. You don’t notice it happening — until you hear your name come up in conversations you weren’t part of.

Here’s a simple three-step filter to consider before you choose your words:

1. Would I be fine with this getting back to admin?
2. Would I be fine with this getting back to the other person?
3. Would I be fine with whatever I said going on a billboard in a giant city?

Nothing is as private as people think.

You Don’t Have to Be a Part of Every Room

If you’re hanging out with people and leave feeling more stressed than when you walk in, consider your company. Constant complaining and gossiping will affect your teaching. You may find yourself having shorter patience, less energy and an impatient tone.

You don’t have to make a huge announcement. Just go somewhere else. Take a walk. Close your door. I’ve done this. Nothing happened. Things just got quieter, and I was able to find a group that fit what I needed.

Don’t Become the Middleman

“Can you tell ___ something for me?” Nope.

“What’s going on in that class?” Also no.

The second you start carrying messages, you’re part of it. And when it goes sideways — and it will — you’re attached to it.

I’ve had this happen at previous schools with admin. They heard about something, usually classroom management or expectations, and asked me to speak with the other teacher. Unless you’re a department chair in charge of supervising staff members, try this answer: “I’m not quite comfortable with that. If it were me, I wouldn’t appreciate a colleague coming to me with this.”

The Grass Isn’t Greener

My mentor once told me, “Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side because they use more fertilizer.”

Teachers often think their school is the only one with problems. But it’s not. Every building has politics. Some are handled well. Some are not. If it seems like it’s too much to handle, remember that you can leave a tough situation. Just be realistic that some version of this will exist in any place where people are involved.

What Helps You Sleep at Night

If you stay out of most of this, you’ll miss some things. You won’t always be “in the know.” Some may say you’re aloof or oblivious. That’s OK.

You’ll also avoid a lot of problems that stick around way longer than the original situation. No replaying conversations. No wondering who heard what. No cleanup.

The easiest way to do this is to keep your nose clean.