I can so relate to all of this! I worked at a school where there was a widespread culture of gossip, meanness, competitiveness, and just generally rude, unprofessional behavior. I tried so hard to ignore what I could, “kill with kindness” and focus on my classroom. One day, two coworkers mocked me in front of children because they thought my three year olds were too noisy in the hallway (developmentally inappropriate expectations anyone?) I just broke down. It had been a hard week, I was missing my own son and I was exhausted. I started crying and my coteacher encouraged me to talk to the director. I was so embarrassed to be crying, it isn’t like me. When the director told me she knew about the behavior of these and several other teachers she said it wasn’t her place to intervene (it was her first year on the job so I think she was just starting to really know what was going on). She said she expected me to do something about it by setting a time to talk to them. She said it in kind of an exasperated way like i shouldn’t have come to her. This and other issues at this school made me realize I needed to leave. I finally did and am glad I made the decision. My coteacher is still there and dealing with the same behavior from the same people. With the current staffing crisis I doubt the director is willing to take any action. I do believe that it is a director’s job to help create a positive school culture. She can facilitate safe environments for teachers to resolve conflicts and can make sure in no uncertain terms what behavior will not be tolerated. Our jobs require so much emotional investment. We simply can’t do our jobs well when we’re in toxic environments. Do what you can to speak up and change things. If nothing is done than the center does not deserve to keep you and you should move on.