Should I approach the director?

Question

I have been at my job as a teacher at a childcare center for a month now, and I love it so much. I have so much job satisfaction...except for one aspect. I have 2 other teachers in my classroom who are extremely cliquey and who go out of their way to make me feel alienated. I get along with EVERYONE else there, but my co-teachers talk about me behind my back to the center's director rather than approaching me with any problems or questions about the way that I do things (I am a very recent college grad and they are battle-scarred veterans of childcare who expect me to know and understand everything despite my lack of experience). Talking to them about this has done exactly nothing, so I want to go to the director and clear up any misconceptions she may be getting about me. However, I am worried about continuing this "he said, she said" business and looking petty. Should I approach this with her, or take the high road and let my work speak for itself?

Answer 1

Well, I don't think you should tell your director unless they haven't been pulling their weight in teaching the class and if you know that they're talking about you TO the director, then I think that you should confront your co-teachers and let them know that if they have a problem with the way you're teaching, then they should let you know first instead of going straight to the director.  If it's a problem that you think you cannot fix by yourself, then maybe ask them for help.  And think why they are they talking about you too?  They might not be talking to you about what they think about your teaching because they feel alienated by you.  FIND OUT.  If they just have a problem with you in general, then you can either choose to live with it and keep working with them, or you can tell your director and ask him/her what to do with the situation.

Good Luck with Everything!!

Answer 2

I think you've already done all you can. If they're determined to act that way, you can't control them. Some people are just nasty. Just try to enjoy your job, everyone has aspects of their job they don't like. Yours sounds above average on the whole.

Answer 3

If the director does your review, then I would ask for a meeting so that you can "get some early feedback" to make sure you are on the right track.

This way, any real problems will be called to your attention.  Your co-teachers may be talking to the director, but you really don't know how much credence he/she puts into what they are reporting.