Why Teachers Get Called “Difficult” — And Why That Might Be a Good Thing
From Teachers in Transition: Career Change and Real Talk for Burned-Out Teachers by Vanessa Jackson
February 18, 2026 · 24 min
About this episode
This episode discusses how being labeled 'difficult' can signify a commitment to integrity and the challenges faced by educators who speak up.
Send us Fan Mail What if being labeled “difficult” wasn’t a flaw — but a sign that you refused to walk away from your integrity? In this episode of Teachers in Transition, Vanessa continues her anti-shame crusade with a powerful conversation about boundaries, conviction, and why educators who speak up are often misunderstood. Inspired by Toby Ziegler from The West Wing, this episode explores how integrity can look uncomfortable — and why real change doesn’t always come from being warm and fuz...
People in this episode
Host: Vanessa Jackson
Topics covered
- boundaries
- integrity
- education
- conviction
- misunderstanding
- change
Keywords
- difficult
- integrity
- boundaries
- education
- change
- conviction
- misunderstood
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The West Wing
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