The Hard Truth Schools Won’t Admit—Weak Teachers Are Driving Out the Best Ones

Gwendolyn Lavert, PhD | Contributor on Children’s Education and Literacy

I have spent 30+ years in education, and I’ve seen a pattern that no one wants to talk about. The best teachers are leaving.

• Not because they aren’t passionate.
• Not because of low pay.
• But because schools are protecting the wrong people.

Learn How to Leverage Your Story through our Story To Asset Framework.

Ever notice how in some schools, the weakest teachers seem to have the most influence?

Ever seen great teachers ignored, while the ones resisting change get their way? Here’s the hard truth:

• Weak teachers form alliances and block innovation.
• They resist accountability while the best teachers pick up the slack.
• Instead of being valued, great teachers are silenced, sidelined, and eventually, they leave.

And schools wonder why they have a “teacher shortage” problem.

The 3 Ways Weak Teachers Push Great Teachers Out

1. The Loudest Voices Get Their Way—Even When They’re the Wrong Voices

The teachers who complain the most, resist change, and dodge accountability often dictate school culture. Meanwhile, strong teachers, who quietly focus on student growth, are ignored.

2. Weak Teachers Protect Each Other While Isolating Strong Educators

They form alliances, resist new strategies, and sabotage innovation. Strong teachers who challenge low expectations are often dismissed as “difficult” or “doing too much.” Instead of lifting schools up, these groups drag them down.

3. Leadership Caves to the Wrong People

To “keep the peace,” weak teachers are allowed to control school culture.

Meanwhile, great teachers get frustrated and leave—while mediocrity stays in place. If we don’t address this, we will continue to lose our best educators—and our students will suffer for it.

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What Schools Must Do to Keep Their Best Teachers

1. STOP Giving Power to the Wrong Voices

Just because a teacher is loud doesn’t mean they’re right. Schools must prioritize the voices of high-impact teachers over those resisting growth.

2. HOLD All Teachers to the Same Standards

Weak teachers should not be protected while strong teachers are pushed out. Performance, student impact, and collaboration should determine influence—not school politics.

3. CREATE a Culture That Supports Excellence

Strong teachers should feel valued and heard, not dismissed and ignored. School leadership must support those who drive excellence—not those who block it.

Take These Steps to Protect Strong Teachers!

Superintendents & School Leaders: Implement teacher evaluations based on performance, student outcomes, and peer feedback. Stop allowing weak teachers to control school culture—empower strong educators instead. Create mentorship programs that allow strong teachers to lead and be compensated for it.

Teachers:

Advocate for fair workloads—if you’re doing extra work, speak up and demand balance. Document your impact—don’t let weak teachers discredit your contributions. Support colleagues who are fighting for better schools—don’t let resistance win.

Parents & Community Members:

Demand transparency in teacher evaluations. Ask school boards how they are supporting strong educators. Hold leadership accountable when great teachers leave.

Learn How to Leverage Your Story through our Story To Asset Framework.