Strategies Every Teacher Needs for Dealing with Difficult Parents

Originally published in TEACH Magazine, March/April 2025 Issue

By Fiona Tapp

A teacher’s job is made easier through collaboration. This can be with school administration, other educators, and professionals like speech pathologists and psychologists. One of the most vital partnerships, however, is with parents. By fostering a strong home-school connection, parents can support homework and provide insights about their child, while teachers can share classroom strategies for success.

From time to time, teachers might meet a difficult parent who doesn’t want to work with them or who may be combative or even violent. A recent survey of Alberta teachers found that 50% of teachers (and 75% of school leaders) had experienced aggression in their work environment within the first three months of the school year.

Fiona Tapp

Fiona Tapp is a former teacher and school administrator of 13 years. She writes about education, parenting, and travel for a variety of publications including National Geographic, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Sunday Times, and many more.