The Principal's Guide to Conflict Management

by Jen Schwanke

Conflict is certain to show up in any school, so how do you as the leader know how to respond or when to intervene?

Disagreements, friction, and even outright hostility are a common and unavoidable result of people working together, and not all conflict is necessarily bad; it can also provide an opportunity to learn and grow. Whether the situation involves students, parents, or staff, school leadership expert Jen Schwanke has specific advice to help you navigate conflict within a three-step cycle of decision

* Anticipate and recognize different patterns of conflict.

* Analyze the underlying causes and effects of any given conflict.

* Act—or choose not to act—in a way that best helps the school.

Managing conflict is a critical leadership skill that you can learn to accept, embrace, and make a healthy and productive part of your role. The Principal’s Guide to Conflict Management describes the mindset skills you need and provides scenarios, strategies, and reflection activities to help you manage all kinds of conflict with clarity and confidence.

164 pages, Paperback

Published February 22, 2024

About the author

Jen Schwanke, Ed.D., is a lifelong educator and the author of five books on school leadership. A rural Ohio native, she has spent her career sharing her expertise on school culture through speaking, consulting, podcasting, and her popular education newsletter, Principal Problems.

Schwanke has long dreamed of writing creative nonfiction. Her debut memoir, out in February of 2027, represents a new chapter in her journey as a writer.