Dealing with Difficult Parents (School Leader Edition)

Todd Whitaker (@toddwhitaker) is a leading presenter in the field of education and has written 65 books, including the bestseller What Great Teachers Do Differently. He is a former teacher, coach, and principal, and is currently a Research Professor at the University of Missouri..Douglas J. Fiore is Dean of the College of Education at the University of Central Missouri and is author of numerous books, including the popular textbook School-Community Relations, Sixth Edition.

• 1. Dealing with Difficult Parents: An Overview Part I: Understanding Today’s Parents 2. Who Are These Guys? Understanding Parents’ Circumstances 3. Why Aren’t They On Our Side? Understanding Parents’ Perceptions Part II: How to Get Parents Off Our Backs and Onto Our Sides 4. Building Credibility: Everyone Wants to Associate with a Winner 5. Taking Your Classroom Social: Good News Builds Trust 6. Positive Communication with Parents: An Ounce of Prevention 7. The Power of Consistent, Proactive Parental Communication Part III: Dealing with Difficult Parents: And Knowing When to Look Inward, Too 8. Initiating Contact with Parents 9. Calm Is Good 10. The Best Way to Get in the Last Word… 11. What If the Parent Is Right? 12. Do You Feel Defensive? If So, Something Is Wrong 13. The Blame Frame Part IV: Dealing with Difficult Situations: The Nicer the Parent, the Harder It Can Be 14. Delivering Bad News 15. But Do Parents Feel They Got a Good Deal? 16. What If They Use the “F” Word—Fair? 17. Focus on the Future 18. Universal Strategies for Challenging Situations: And Ways to Keep Things From Becoming Escalated Part V: Strategies for School Leaders L1. Understanding Is Not an Excuse L2. Identifying the Problem Before You Try to Solve It L3. Supporting Your Staff L4. Be Aware of What You Don't Know L5. Dealing from the Role of a Leader L6. The Principal Must Focus on the Future L7. Always Show Concern L8. The Fairness Doctrine L9. What If We Are Wrong? L10. Build Relationships Before You Need Relationships