It is a sad fact of teaching that there are bad teachers. There are burnt-out teachers. There are teachers that need to leave the profession. For a teacher that really cares about the best interest of the children, it can be very hard to work with one of the teachers described above.
So what can teachers do when they work with others that give the profession a bad name?
First, mentor. Be a good example for the lacking coworker. Share and offer ideas. Perhaps the teacher just needs a push to get started. If the teacher is a veteran, perhaps new ideas are what are needed to spark the dying flame. It may help to actually make copies or complete a lesson plan for the teacher. You can simply say that while completing yours, you thought it would be generous to do his/hers too.
Ominously place articles or good lessons that you find in the coworkers mailbox. Most schools have mailbox areas. Simply place the article or lesson in the coworker’s box when no one is around. The teacher may read it and begin to think about who might have left the article. Thinking that it might possibly could have came from a supervisor might get the teacher on his/her toes.
Second, privately discuss the situation and concerns with an advisor or administrator. I say privately because it is very likely that the teacher will not be leaving. You do not want hard feelings between you and a coworker. Simply suggest that perhaps your coworker might have the opportunity to attend a special workshop or conference to help with whatever area needs work.
It is sad to say that in some cases, there is nothing that can be done about an underachieving teacher. We all hope that our children are placed in rooms with energetic up to date lesson planners. But the fact is, they are not. Most of these lacking teachers are not detrimental to your child’s academic career. However, we just hope for more.