Here is a suggested way to respond to being called into the principal’s office for a “discussion” about how you are teaching:
1. Say as little as possible.
2. Nod your head and get out of there.
3. If the principal demands that you say something, explain that for years you have been putting your soul into transitioning into a way of teaching that you believe is best for kids and that aligns with the research and that therefore being thus confronted in a generally negative way by a superior is, in the light of all the conferences and training you have done and the generally favorable responses of your students, a bit much to absorb all at once and that you would like some time to reflect on what she said before responding.
4. Another safe thing to say, instead of getting into an argument defending your position (you will lose) is to simply state that it is your professional opinion that the field of foreign languages is due for a change, that too many people think that they are bad at languages and have intensely disliked their experiences as second language learners, and that if nothing else, this is a matter that goes beyond personal preferences and is, in fact, a matter of our national best interests and even our national security.
5. Then start sending her articles. Choose from the hundreds that we have here on the PLC, but don’t send too many all at once. Keep sending her one or two articles a week, and engage her in the hallway, invite her into your classroom, etc.
6. [Robert adds to] get clear with the administrator if this meeting will in any way have a negative effect on your evaluation or position. If so, tell her that you will need to have a union representative in the meeting with you. Then don’t answer any of the questions until you have a union representative present.
What will happen is that in a day or two the principal’s attention will be turned to something else. There will be another bigger fire for her to put out. Gradually, you win the battle. It always happens that way even though you would never believe that in the moment of being confronted.