Should I Handle This Myself or Call in Backup? Knowing When It’s Time to Involve Admin

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Show Notes:

It’s the third time this week you’ve had to pause your lesson because of one student’s outburst. You can feel your patience thinning and your students’ focus slipping. You know this feeling because you’ve been here many times before. You’ve reached that pivotal moment every teacher faces, when you wonder, “Is this something I handle, or is it time to bring in admin?”

Teachers naturally want to manage everything that happens in their classrooms and handle student behaviors independently. But when the tension between wanting to do it all yourself and knowing you’ve reached your limit starts to spill over, that’s when it’s time to pause and reflect. At what point do you stop wondering if you’ve failed and start realizing it’s time to call in support? In today’s episode, I’m walking you through how to confidently know what you can and should manage in the classroom and the red-flag moments that signal it’s time to involve admin.

Knowing when to bring in administration isn’t about giving up, but about recognizing the limits of what can be handled on your own. Before involving admin, it’s important to do some preparation and try key strategies first. This includes pausing to reflect on your own stress levels, documenting behaviors consistently, using student intervention techniques, and maintaining regular communication with parents. However, if those efforts aren’t leading to improvement, that’s a clear sign it’s time to call for backup.

When you do involve admin, the how matters just as much as the when. In this episode, I’ll share the two major red flags that indicate it’s time to get support and break down how to approach your administrator in a way that shows you’re prepared, professional, and solution-focused. Going to admin isn’t a form of failure. It’s a proactive step toward creating a healthy, safe learning environment for all your students (and yourself!).

Every teacher reaches a point where they need backup, and knowing when to lean on your support system is part of sustaining yourself in this profession. When challenging behaviors arise, remember that you don’t have to face them alone. Involving administration thoughtfully not only protects your classroom but also models for your students what collaboration and advocacy look like. Together, you’re building a supportive, safe, and positive learning environment for everyone.

Inside this week's show, you'll learn:

• Practical strategies to try and steps to take independently in your classroom before asking administration for help with challenging student behaviors.
• Two major red flags that signal it is time to involve administration for additional support.
• How to approach your administrator in a way that shows you’re prepared, professional, and focused on solutions.
• Why your well-being, safety, and mental health matter just as much as your students’.
• Why involving admin is about teamwork and creating a safe, positive classroom environment for everyone.

Links & resources mentioned inside this episode: 

• Classroom Management Club Waitlist
• Beginning Teacher Talk on YouTube
• Grab a copy of my book, Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do: Your 5-Step R.E.A.D.Y. for School Roadmap for Elementary Classrooms
• Lung Cancer Free: One Couple’s Journey Through a “Lungs in a Box” Double Lung Transplant.
• Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card by leaving a review for Beginning Teacher Talk on Apple Podcasts!
• Follow Dr. Lori on Instagram
• Follow Dr. Lori on Facebook
• Follow Beginning Teacher Talk on TikTok

I hope this information is helpful as you prepare for your first, second, or third year of teaching. Until next time, remember, just because you're a beginning elementary teacher, there's no need for you to struggle like one.

💛 Lori

Dr. Lori Friesen | Beginning Teacher Mentor

Creator of the R.E.A.D.Y. for School Academy and The Classroom Management Club, Dr. Lori Friesen has mentored thousands of beginning teachers across the country through her workshops and courses. Host of the popular podcast Beginning Teacher Talk and author of Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do, Dr. Lori is dedicated to serving educators and inspiring learners. Learn more at drlorifriesen.com.

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Related episodes you might enjoy:

• Is Your Admin Supportive? How to Ask for the Help You Need
• When Is It Time to Involve Admin for Help with a Challenging Student?
• New Teacher Training Series Part Four: 4 Ways to Prevent Challenging Behavior in Your Elementary Classroom
• Handling Challenging Behaviors with Confidence

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