SCHOOL CULTURE revised

(1)

(2)

REFLECT ON THE CULTURE OF YOUR

SCHOOL



Good Things



Not So Good Things

(3)

HOW SCHOOL CULTURE IS LIKE AN

AQUARIUM…..



If the Fish in the Aquarium are

Getting Sick

 Don’t blame the Fish

 Fish need a health environment to thrive and grow  Fish school together for support and protection’

 Fish will prosper when the temperature of the water

is ideal

 The water must be clean and free of toxic

substances

 Not all fish have the same needs

 Fish in the aquarium are helpless in efforts to

(4)

WHAT IS SCHOOL CULTURE



What is School Culture?

Deal and Peterson (1993) have offered the most succinct definition of school

culture. They simply state it is an "inner reality."Robbins and Alvy (1995) expand the definition by stating that "This inner reality reflects what organizational

(5)

HOW TO TELL IF THE CULTURE IN THE

AQUARIUM (SCHOOL) IS TOXIC

 The Staff is overwhelmed and have

exhausted all of their efforts to improve scores.

 Teaching and leading a school has lost its joy

and become one of drudgery favoring a “just a job” mentality.

 Tension and stress abound.

(6)

GUIDING QUESTION TO ASK ABOUT

YOUR SCHOOL CULTURE

 Are you striving for a positive school

climate supported by a spirited staff?

Is your school focused on teamwork and collegiality?

Are all stakeholders involved in the process?

(7)

School



What is School Culture

People more important than

programs

How people treat one another How people value one another Accumulation of many

individuals‘ values and norms

Consensus about what is

important

The way we do things “Around

Here”

Shared Experiences

Common Vision and Mission School’s beliefs, attitudes and

(8)

CULTURE

VS

CLIMATE

PETERSON ( 2002)

 Personality of school  Shared experiences

(both in and outside the school)

 Traditions

 Celebrations

 Sense of Community  Norms, Values,

Symbols and Stories

 Physical Appearance  Outward Indicators  Displays of student

work

 Safe and welcoming

environment

(9)

FOUR STEPS TO IMPROVING

SCHOOL CULTURE



Assess the current culture



Analyze the findings



Select Areas for

improvement



Continue to monitor and

(10)

ASSESS THE CURRENT CULTURE

 Needs to Assess… the

Three Major

Indicators of School Culture.



COLLABORATION

_i_{s characterized}_as

the degree to which people work together, share information and instructional strategies, and are encouraged to have constructive discussions and debates.



Professional Collaboration

_… Teachers and other staff meet to solve

(11)

AFFILIATION AND

COLLEGIALITY



COLLEGIALITY

is about a sense of

belonging, emotional support, and

inclusion as a valued member of the

organization.



Affiliation and Collegiality

…Working

(12)

EFFICACY AND

DETERMINATION

 EFFICACY, for the purpose of this process,

tends to focus on how stakeholders' view themselves. Do they feel as if they have control of their destinies or do they view themselves as helpless victims of "the

system?" Do they respect research-supported evidence about good teaching or are they

rigidly attached to the status quo?

 Efficacy and Determination…I am in this

(13)

ANALYSIS



Find out what areas need

immediate attention



Make modifications and

improvements



Maintain the fine qualities of the

school’s culture



Celebrate the excellent parts of

the school’s culture

(14)

(15)

MONITOR AND ADJUST



School Culture can be

compared to a personal

relationship



Regularly Strengthened and

supported



Promote continuous

(16)

ARTICLE JIGSAW ACTIVITY

 Read the 4 articles related to school culture

(15 minutes)

 Barth….Culture Builder

 Reeves…How Do You Change a School Culture  Wagner…Leadership for and Improved School

Culture

 Peterson…Positive or Negative

 Return to group and tell the group the

highlights of your article (2 minutes for each article)

 Produce a Group MIT CHART (_{Most Important Things)}

of 10 and star the top three (3)