Power Play: An Assistant Principal’s Dilemma and Unexpected Rise to School Leadership

Abstract

This case describes the dilemma of recently hired assistant principal, Fred Bates, who finds himself in a school with a negative and unsupportive school climate. There are significant trust issues between the teachers and principal. Bates struggles to navigate various obstacles and works to establish positive relationships with both his principal and the teachers. He begins to question his loyalty to the principal, and has ethical concerns as he realizes that the school principal has abused his power and damaged, at times intentionally, the trust and respect of the teachers. The principal reaps the repercussions of his unethical actions and is dismissed from the school. Bates is then appointed as the new interim principal, and he is left with the daunting task of rebuilding the trust and confidence of the teachers.