Collaboration with school leaders isn’t just about checking boxes or getting approval. It’s about creating meaningful change and building a school culture where both teachers and students can thrive.
But let’s be honest: collaboration isn’t always easy. Maybe your administrator is juggling a million things. Or they don’t quite understand the daily reality of your classroom. Maybe you’ve tried sharing your ideas in the past and felt dismissed or misunderstood. Still, here’s the truth:
When teachers learn how to “manage up” with clarity, strategy, and care, they can influence decisions, advocate for their students, and build mutual respect with school leaders—without burning out or giving in.
Let’s explore how you can make collaboration with school leaders a tool for growth and impact, no matter your role or personality.
What Does It Mean to “Manage Up” in a School Context?
In the business world, “managing up” means taking intentional steps to improve how you work with your boss. In education, it means building a relationship with your principal, assistant principal, or instructional leader that’s based on shared goals, clear communication, and mutual support.
But here’s the twist: managing up isn’t about manipulation or flattery. It’s about influence, not control.
It’s not about sucking up or agreeing with everything that’s said. And it’s definitely not about doing your leader’s job for them.
It’s about learning how to communicate with clarity, anticipate their priorities, and align your advocacy with shared school goals—without abandoning your boundaries or values in the process.
When you manage up well, you’re better positioned to:
- Influence decision-making from your role
- Communicate concerns in a way that’s heard, not dismissed
- Get support for your classroom needs more effectively
- Build trust with administrators that leads to more autonomy and respect
Here’s the shift: instead of seeing school leadership as a barrier or a hurdle to overcome, you start seeing it as a relationship you can cultivate. One that, over time, helps you create better conditions for your students—and a more sustainable experience for yourself.
This is especially important if you’re in a school where you feel under-resourced, unheard, or misaligned with leadership. While you may not be able to change every system or decision, you can change how you engage—and that shift can create real momentum over time.
Managing up is about leading from within, not waiting for someone else to hand you permission. It’s about using your professional insight, communication skills, and steady presence to advocate for what matters—while staying grounded in what you can control.
Why Collaboration with School Leaders Matters More Than Ever
We are in a time of rapid change and real pressure in schools. Teacher burnout is rising. Student needs are growing. Initiatives are increasing.
And in the middle of it all? Teachers and leaders trying to work together—with mixed results.
According to a report by the Learning Policy Institute, teachers who report supportive leadership are more likely to stay in the profession and feel effective in their roles. When there’s a strong feedback loop between classroom teachers and school leadership, trust goes up, and staff turnover goes down.
In other words, collaboration with school leaders isn’t just nice to have—it’s a protective factor against burnout and a catalyst for school improvement.
Strategy #1: Understand Their Perspective to Strengthen Yours
One of the fastest ways to improve your collaboration with school leaders is to understand what’s on their plate. School administrators are often balancing:
- State and district mandates
- Parent and community expectations
- Budget constraints
- Staffing issues
- Safety protocols
- Student behavior escalations
- Teacher retention challenges
That doesn’t mean their decisions are always right—but it does mean their bandwidth is limited. Knowing that helps you frame your communication in a way that’s clear, efficient, and aligned to their priorities.
Try This:
Instead of saying:
“I don’t think this new behavior system will work.”
Try:
“I’d love to share a few insights from my classroom that might help us strengthen the rollout of the new behavior system. I’ve noticed a few patterns that could affect student buy-in and teacher consistency—would now be a good time to share them?”
It’s collaborative. It’s professional. And it signals that you’re a partner, not a problem.
Strategy #2: Lead with Solutions, Not Just Frustrations
Every school has challenges. What sets transformational teachers apart is how they show up in the conversation.
Bringing problems to your leadership team is part of your role. But if you want to elevate your collaboration with school leaders, bring potential solutions too.
Even if the solution isn’t perfect, showing that you’ve thought it through demonstrates leadership and initiative.
Real Example:
A teacher I worked with once felt frustrated that students were being pulled from class too often for non-emergency issues. Instead of just venting, she gathered a week of data, created a color-coded spreadsheet of disruptions, and proposed a new pass system that gave students more ownership and teachers more control.
Guess what? Her admin said yes—and rolled it out schoolwide.
Because she came with data, a proposed next step, and a clear link to student success, she was seen as a thought partner, not a complainer.
If you’re looking for tools to help you organize your ideas, bring clarity to conversations with leadership, or lead from within your team, my PLC Starter Toolkit is packed with exactly what you need. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to revitalize a current PLC, it’s designed to help you lead structured, impactful conversations—without adding more stress to your plate.
Strategy #3: Build the Relationship Before You Need It
You don’t have to wait for a formal meeting or conflict to connect with your school leaders. The strongest teacher-administrator collaborations are built over time, in small moments.
Too often, the only time we connect with administrators is when something has gone wrong—or when we need support. But by then, the relationship may not have the strength or context it needs to be productive.
The best time to invest in connection? Before you’re in a high-stakes conversation.
Strong professional relationships are built the same way trust is built in the classroom: in small, consistent moments. When your admin knows you as a thoughtful, steady educator—not just someone who brings problems to their door—they’re more likely to seek your input, respect your perspective, and respond with openness when hard conversations do arise.
And the best part? It doesn’t require grand gestures or tons of time. A few intentional touchpoints can go a long way.
Easy Ways to Build Relationship:
- Share a student success story via email.
- Ask how you can support a new initiative (within your boundaries).
- Offer appreciation for something specific (not just “thanks for all you do”).
- Invite them to visit your classroom during a special project or showcase.
The goal isn’t to be a favorite—it’s to be visible, respected, and known for your clarity, competence, and care.
Strategy #4: Set Professional Boundaries with Confidence
Strong collaboration with school leaders doesn’t mean you say yes to everything. It means you communicate your limits with professionalism and clarity.
One of the biggest challenges in teacher-administrator collaboration is knowing how to say no—without damaging the relationship. You want to be a team player, contribute meaningfully, and support your school’s goals… but you also know you can’t do it all.
Here’s the truth: real collaboration with school leaders includes boundaries.
If your principal is constantly asking you to take on more, pause and say:
“I really appreciate your trust in me. Right now, I’m at capacity with my current commitments, and I want to make sure I can do them well. Can we revisit this next quarter?”
It’s not rude. It’s realistic. And school leaders who respect boundaries are more likely to keep asking for your input without overloading your plate.
When you overextend yourself or say yes out of guilt or pressure, the work suffers—and so do you. But when you communicate your capacity clearly and respectfully, you create space for sustainable collaboration.
Remember: effective boundaries don’t close doors—they create clarity. They help administrators understand where you can contribute most powerfully, and where additional support or delegation may be needed. Boundaries aren’t barriers to trust—they build it.
Step-by-Step: How to Approach a Difficult Conversation with Admin
Sometimes, you do need to advocate for something hard—more support, clearer communication, or changes to a policy that’s not working.
Here’s a simple structure to guide you:
- Start with connection
- “I appreciate the work you’ve done to support _____. I know we both care deeply about [shared goal].”
- Name the challenge without blame
- “One thing that’s been difficult is _______. It’s been impacting [students, instruction, morale, etc.].”
- Share your insight/data
- “Here’s what I’ve observed over the last few weeks…”
- Offer a constructive next step
- “Would you be open to exploring this idea as a pilot?”
- “Is there a time we could revisit how this is working in a few weeks?”
- End with partnership
- “Thanks for hearing me out—I’m committed to making this work, and I’d love to collaborate on what’s next.”
Final Thoughts
Collaboration with school leaders isn’t about tiptoeing or going along to get along. It’s about advocating effectively, building trust, and showing up as the professional that you are.
You don’t need to be in a leadership role to lead. When you approach your admin team with clarity, curiosity, and confidence, you can drive real change—from right where you are.
So the next time you’re invited to give input, or you need to speak up about something that matters, take a breath and remember:
You are a voice worth hearing.
You are a leader in your own right.
And with the right strategies, collaboration with school leaders can be one of your greatest tools for impact.
Ready to Strengthen Your Voice and Lead From Where You Are?
Grab my free PLC Starter Toolkit—your practical guide to running purposeful, teacher-led Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) that actually move the needle.
Inside, you’ll find:
✔ Step-by-step guidance to structure meaningful PLC meetings
✔ Reflection prompts and planning tools that support collaboration
✔ Tips for leading without the title—and getting buy-in from your team and admin
✔ Printable templates to save you time and keep your PLC focused
👉 Click the image below to grab the PLC Starter Toolkit and start leading with clarity and confidence—whether you’re facilitating a full PLC or simply sparking better conversations with school leaders.
