Introduction: Parents make complaints against just about everything. One of the most common complaints is that a particular teacher is too hard. This often occurs when a particular teacher has extremely high expectations for their students, pushes them academically, and essentially forces the student to learn something to earn their grade. The truth is that these teachers are often the most effective teachers you have in your building.

They get the most complaints, but they also get the best results. It sometimes takes years for students and parents to appreciate a teacher who is deemed too hard.

Decision Maker: Principal

Grade Level: Ninth Grade

Scenario: A parent lodges a complaint with the principal against a freshman English teacher saying that the teacher is too hard. The parent claims that their child has always been a straight A student, but has had a B in this teacher's class all year. The parent has visited with the teacher with the same complaint. The teacher has told them that the student struggles with being an effective writer and has given them writing samples to back their claim. The teacher has also offered to tutor the student on her own time, but the parents have not accepted that offer.

Decision(s): Support the teacher 100% on this issue. Explain to the parent that this is one of your district's finest teachers and that their child will be better off having her as a teacher. Finally, encourage the parent to take up the teacher's offer of tutoring.

This will be the quickest way to see their child's grade improve.