Let me be blunt: Toxic leadership in education is one of the biggest problems facing schools today. As someone who spent years in the classroom, online environments, and even as an instructional coach, I've seen how bad leadership can completely derail a school. We're talking about principals and admins who just can't seem to lead with integrity or vision—and trust me, it’s not just annoying; it’s dangerous. The kind of leadership that stifles growth, promotes fear, and makes people want to leave the profession is not something that should be swept under the rug.

Toxic leadership in schools? It's a topic that doesn't get nearly enough attention. It’s easy to point the finger at systemic problems, lack of resources, or kids misbehaving. But after all my years in education, I’m convinced that poor leadership, especially from principals, is the root of many of these issues. The toxic leadership I witnessed wasn’t just a minor inconvenience; it was a slow poison, eating away at the fabric of the school community and leaving teachers burned out and students left behind.

Let’s talk about what toxic leadership really looks like in education and how it’s showing up in the actions (or lack thereof) of principals, and the damage it does to everyone involved.

One of the first things that made me want to pull my hair out was how many principals I worked with were not leaders—they were just bosses. There’s a big difference. A true leader inspires. They lift up their staff, set a clear vision, and lead by example. A boss? Well, they’re all about control. They micromanage, boss people around, and prioritize their ego over the needs of the school.

I’ve had a number of “bosses” who clearly saw their job as more about flexing power than actually leading a team. These were the types who were too busy protecting their image or building their personal empire to give a damn about the mission of the school. Instead of creating a positive, collaborative environment, they sowed division, fear, and favoritism. And don’t even get me started on how they treated the teachers.

Let me tell you, favoritism in schools is a killer. Some principals were so deep in their little “inner circle” that it became a joke. It wasn’t about who was the best teacher or who was doing the most for their students, it was about who could kiss up to the principal or who fit their personal preferences. The rest of us? We were left out in the cold.

This favoritism? It destroys morale. Teachers who weren’t in the clique felt like they didn’t matter. Their ideas were ignored, and they were given the hardest tasks. Meanwhile, the so-called "favorites" got special treatment. Lighter workloads, better schedules, and constant praise. This isn’t just frustrating, it’s soul-crushing.

This kind of behavior leads to resentment, distrust, and, ultimately, a lack of teamwork. Teachers stop working together to help students. Instead, we’re all scrambling to stay in the principal's good graces. It’s not how schools should work, but it’s how too many of them do.

If there’s one thing that’ll make a teacher want to quit faster than anything, it’s a principal who micromanages. I’m talking about principals who can't trust their staff to make even the smallest decision without their say-so. They hover. They scrutinize. They make teachers feel like they’re walking on eggshells, afraid to make a move.

Micromanagement sends a clear, demoralizing message: "I don't trust you." And let me tell you, trust is everything in teaching. It’s exhausting when you’re trying to teach your kids while someone is breathing down your neck, questioning every little thing you do. Instead of feeling empowered to take risks or try something new in the classroom, teachers start feeling like robots, just following orders without any space for creativity.

A toxic leader thrives in a blame culture. When something goes wrong, and let's be real, in education, things go wrong a lot, the first instinct is to blame the teachers. I've seen it happen time and time again. Principals throw their staff under the bus when things go south, instead of taking responsibility and looking at the bigger picture.

Teachers who speak up about problems are labeled as “complainers.” Those who try new approaches and fail? They get slammed for it. Instead of learning from mistakes and growing, the atmosphere becomes one of fear and self-preservation. Everyone is so worried about covering their own behind that no one is focused on the students.

Let’s talk about the real damage here, the teachers. I’ve watched countless educators, full of passion and idealism when they started, get beaten down by toxic leadership. It doesn’t just drain your energy; it chips away at your soul. Toxic leadership chews you up, spits you out, and leaves you exhausted, burned out, and wondering why you’re even bothering.

For me personally, as a veteran dealing with PTSD, the stress of working under toxic leadership pushed me over the edge. I had to make the hard choice to walk away because staying in that toxic environment wasn’t just ruining my career, it was ruining my health. Teachers aren’t robots. We need support. We need care. We’re expected to give everything for the job, but who’s looking out for us?

But here’s the kicker: the real victims in all this are the students. Teachers who are burned out, unsupported, or just plain unhappy can’t give their best. And when a school is run by toxic leadership, it shows. Higher turnover, lower morale, and an overall drop in the quality of education. The students pick up on all of it.

Students can feel stressed out or disengaged when their teachers are stressed out. It affects their own learning and their sense of safety. Toxic leadership doesn’t just hurt teachers, it hurts the kids. They deserve better than that.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. There are ways to break the cycle of toxic leadership in schools, but it’s going to take real effort. Here’s what needs to happen:

Walking away from teaching was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it was also liberating. Toxic leadership is a problem that won’t be fixed overnight, but we can start by talking about it. For those still in the game, you are not alone. What you’re experiencing is not a reflection of you, it’s a broken system. And for those in leadership positions, remember: your actions affect real people. Lead with integrity, empathy, and a genuine commitment to the mission of education.

Toxic leadership is not a given. It’s a challenge that can be overcome if we all put in the work. Let’s build schools where teachers can thrive, and, more importantly, where students can thrive.