Episode 208: When A Teacher’s Crisis At Home Starts Affecting Their Performance At School

We will call her Julie.

Julie walked into my office, closed the door and said, “Do you have a minute?” Julie sat down and told me about a serious personal crisis.

It involved a family member experiencing a significant health problem. Julie was trying to take care of this person, continue working and keep the rest of life from falling apart.

My heart went out to her. I remember thinking, “I don’t know how this person is getting out of bed every morning, let alone coming to school and teaching.”

So, I did what most caring leaders would do. I listened. I expressed empathy. I asked how I could help. I gave her some additional flexibility. And I meant every word of it.

But over the next few weeks, something else began to happen:

Julie started arriving late.

Assignments were not being graded.

Emails from parents went unanswered.

She became more impatient with students.

Colleagues were covering homeroom and classes and assuming additional responsibilities.

At first, everyone was understanding. They cared about Julie and knew that something very difficult was happening.