WEBVTT 00:00:05.776 --> 00:00:09.287 Well, it's not worth trying to figure out why a bully does what they do. 00:00:09.355 --> 00:00:11.730 I mean, you've got a bigger problem than that. 00:00:12.168 --> 00:00:13.308 What do you mean? 00:00:13.402 --> 00:00:15.566 Well, if she's bullying you in front of other people, 00:00:15.576 --> 00:00:17.576 then she's also damaging you professionally. 00:00:18.253 --> 00:00:21.551 You need to protect yourself and your reputation. 00:00:21.873 --> 00:00:24.925 Trust me - you need to take some additional steps, 00:00:24.936 --> 00:00:27.981 or your professional reputation could be permanently damaged. 00:00:29.460 --> 00:00:33.528 Like a lot of teachers at my school, teaching is a second career for me. 00:00:33.912 --> 00:00:38.696 Our Principal doesn't like us much. She calls us non-traditional teachers. 00:00:39.250 --> 00:00:41.435 Nothing we do is good enough 00:00:41.445 --> 00:00:44.594 and if we do come up with a good idea or take initiative 00:00:44.605 --> 00:00:46.538 she's quick to slap us down. 00:00:46.605 --> 00:00:47.996 Hey, that looks great! 00:00:48.050 --> 00:00:51.154 Oh, thanks! I'm going to put this up outside the classroom 00:00:51.165 --> 00:00:53.165 so the students can see it when they walk in. 00:00:53.300 --> 00:00:54.482 Great idea! 00:00:55.277 --> 00:00:57.250 You can't put that sign up. 00:00:57.992 --> 00:01:00.631 - Why not? - You didn't clear it with me first. 00:01:00.688 --> 00:01:04.077 I just finished grading the final exams at 10:30 last night. 00:01:04.099 --> 00:01:05.811 It was obviously too late to call you then. 00:01:05.889 --> 00:01:08.101 Come on! It's just a poster! 00:01:08.317 --> 00:01:11.861 It's not even 8am and already you two have reminded me 00:01:11.872 --> 00:01:14.126 how incompetent my staff can be. 00:01:14.272 --> 00:01:17.563 I don't have to explain this to the real teachers in this building. 00:01:17.588 --> 00:01:21.146 Why should I have to explain it to you? 00:01:23.213 --> 00:01:26.130 The poster does not go up! 00:01:28.180 --> 00:01:32.295 Later that summer, Gayle sent an e-mail outlining a ridiculous new policy: 00:01:32.697 --> 00:01:35.977 ALL classroom posters needed to be approved by her first. 00:01:36.034 --> 00:01:38.123 Then when school started in the fall, 00:01:38.134 --> 00:01:43.072 Gayle told us to create posters to show individual student achievement. 00:01:43.619 --> 00:01:45.463 She totally stole my idea. 00:01:45.613 --> 00:01:47.900 So she's obviously only out for herself. 00:01:48.183 --> 00:01:51.241 That's awful! So what did you do? 00:01:51.370 --> 00:01:53.135 Well, after she did that, 00:01:53.145 --> 00:01:56.635 I reviewed our school's policies on professional behavior and bullying. 00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:59.229 And then I started to document Gayle's behavior... 00:01:59.299 --> 00:02:02.510 her e-mails and her rude comments from our last staff meeting 00:02:02.520 --> 00:02:04.520 along with the poster incident. 00:02:05.084 --> 00:02:06.523 When I was ready, I confronted her 00:02:06.533 --> 00:02:09.765 and I reminded her that another teacher saw my poster before 00:02:09.776 --> 00:02:11.210 she had taken credit for it. 00:02:11.376 --> 00:02:15.804 I also told her that I was prepared to go to the district Superintendent. 00:02:16.480 --> 00:02:19.742 She changed her tune pretty soon after that 00:02:19.753 --> 00:02:22.957 and she made a big show of thanking me for my creativity 00:02:22.968 --> 00:02:24.593 at our next staff meeting. 00:02:25.772 --> 00:02:29.596 If Carly is undermining you and making it look like you can't do your job, 00:02:29.606 --> 00:02:31.946 then you need to do something to protect your credibility 00:02:31.956 --> 00:02:33.956 and your professional reputation. 00:02:35.006 --> 00:02:38.915 And if it keeps happening you may want to file a formal complaint. 00:02:40.554 --> 00:02:42.915 You've given me a lot to think about. 00:02:43.996 --> 00:02:47.137 You're right. This thing with Carly does need to change and... 00:02:47.183 --> 00:02:50.073 I really need to commit to doing something about it.