Hi folks. George Evans, coming to you from Japan where I teach Secondary English and Humanities at an IB World School. Blog: https://t.co/HVCqyGmhNd#engagechat
A1 School culture is the day to day activities, attitudes, and relationships in a school. It is the vibe in the building created by the people who engage in the learning environment. #engagechat
A1. It is the type of environment that exists in a school. The workplace where teachers feel supported and make connections with colleagues to grow together. #EngageChat
Gary, former supt from Illinois & now a coach and supporter of educators striving to integrate character & values into the life of a school. #engagechat
A1: School culture is beliefs of a school, the behaviors that communicate those beliefs, and the experiences those behaviors create for everyone that enters the school. #engagechat
A1 School culture is the day to day activities, attitudes, and relationships in a school. It is the vibe in the building created by the people who engage in the learning environment. #engagechat
School culture is the community we build through our interactions, collective agreements on how to treat one another and the passion we bring to the table. The more people adding to the culture the stronger it becomes (hopefully for the best).
#engagechat
A1 school culture shapes the important decisions to be made that will impact the student learning. It is invisible like air but as important as air. #engagechat
A1. School culture is walking your talk! Being welconing to Parents and community and inviting them in to share your story, of positivity about your Ss and T with growth mindset, Ss and T showing leadership by using voice and choice in leading! #engagechat
School culture is the community we build through our interactions, collective agreements on how to treat one another and the passion we bring to the table. The more people adding to the culture the stronger it becomes (hopefully for the best).
#engagechat
A1. School culture is walking your talk! Being welconing to Parents and community and inviting them in to share your story, of positivity about your Ss and T with growth mindset, Ss and T showing leadership by using voice and choice in leading! #engagechat
A1 School culture shows the cultivated relationships that we build with students and staff daily. It’s the connections, the heart, and the soul of the school. #engagechat
A2. When teachers are given opportunities to collaborate and share ideas and resources, students benefit better from more effective teaching. #EngageChat
A2: A positive school culture can have a positive impact on student Achievement. When teachers are positive and supported trickles down to the S. #engagechat
A2 Ss want to come to a positive, engaging, loving place. If they don’t feel that, they are not going to come to school or they will zone out. Positive culture = positive outcomes #EngageChat
With a positive school culture Ss are encouraged daily through their positive interactions with Ts and peers. Everyone works together to help each other out and build each other up. Success is the inevitable outcome of such wonderful community spirit.
#engagechat
A2: A positive school culture can have a positive impact on student Achievement. When teachers are positive and supported trickles down to the S. #engagechat
A2: school culture creates expectations good or bad. Those expectations drive the way students feel about learning and how learning happens in the classroom.
#engagechat
A2: The more positive, welcoming, & caring the community is, the more Ss will thrive! Conversely, if students don't feel accepted or comfortable in the setting, they will struggle. #engagechat
A2 Any principal who has turned around a school will tell you that you have to fix the culture before fixing achievement. When you close instructional gaps you will address your achievement gaps! #engagechat
A2 It makes a world of difference!! Positive school culture students feel loved and valued, relationships have been built and it is a great place to be!!! #engagechat
A2. School culture has a big impact on student achievement! Schools which are open to parent engagement and community, have Ss achieving better grades! A positive culture, open door school, is welcoming compared to a closed door school where the P are shut-out! #engagechat
With a positive school culture Ss are encouraged daily through their positive interactions with Ts and peers. Everyone works together to help each other out and build each other up. Success is the inevitable outcome of such wonderful community spirit.
#engagechat
Hi, Gretchen. Yes! Do you think the culture is primarily within or what people see on the outside? I notice you put families and community first! 👏🏽 #EngageChat
A2: School culture establishes how we treat one another. It impacts how the adults collaborate, how we show we value relationships with students and the community. It directs how we engage with students and the community. It becomes a mindset. #engagechat
I am firm believer in welcome very Ss with a smile and a “We are so glad you are here.” When they show up on time or late😊 Our office staff is amazing as they manage phones, PA announcements, and welcoming our late kiddos with huge smiles every day. #engagechat
A2 It makes a world of difference!! Positive school culture students feel loved and valued, relationships have been built and it is a great place to be!!! #engagechat
A2) When you want to increase student achievement the first thing you look at is the school culture. You have to improve the culture to improve student achievement! #engagechat
A2. School culture has a big impact on student achievement! Schools which are open to parent engagement and community, have Ss achieving better grades! A positive culture, open door school, is welcoming compared to a closed door school where the P are shut-out! #engagechat
A1: School culture encompasses our principles, values, integrity, and beliefs. It's who we are. It's how we treat one another. https://t.co/7Bv59Wtn8z#engagechat
A2 A positive culture enhances opportunities to teach & learn well. Everyone is better able to attend to content/academics when culture is balanced and steady. #engagechat
A1: School culture encompasses our principles, values, integrity, and beliefs. It's who we are. It's how we treat one another. https://t.co/7Bv59Wtn8z#engagechat
A2: Kids are people, too. Just like us, they want to be respected. They want to have a positive environment. They want to learn and grow. They want to have agency in their life and in their learning. School culture impacts all of that. #engagechat
A1 What you do shapes the practice. What you practise shapes the structure and process. The structure and process adopted by the whole organisation become the school culture. Might not be so linear but this is my simple guiding principle. #engagechat
I’m peeking in to #EngageChat while away for #DigCitWeekend in St. Louis. @Joe_Sanfelippo’s lovely presentation today for #DigCitDay was a perfect demonstration of leading a great school culture from the top.
A1/2: School culture is -values as a community. It's your school "crest" but in daily https://t.co/rES3CBUcV5 culture is what everyone works towards together. When everyone is working together, student achievement is inevitable bc kids know it see it and believe in it!#engagechat
A1 School culture is the heartbeat and soul of the building. It’s often intangible and not even noticed unless it’s REALLY good or REALLY bad. #EngageChat
A2 If a student feels safe & loved, they will work and succeed. Providing a safe and supportive environment that encourages them is worth it. #engagechat
A3 The leadership of the school sets the tone for everything!! When a leader leads by example, walks their talk, is honest, trustworthy, transparent everything falls into place! #engagechat
A3: Leadership establishes culture by what we expect and how we hold the line on those expectations. Culture drives behavior and behavior produces results. #engagechat
A3: I believe that leadership can make or break a building. I've been in both and know where I prefer to be. 🥰 People are more productive & happy in a building where they feel supported. #engagechat
We need leaders to be creative and keep Ss engaged in the culture. We must find ways to make school feel like a place Ss want to be and not a place they are forced to go. Share your passion for learning in a way that is contagious to everyone you encounter!
#engagechat
A2 If a student feels safe & loved, they will work and succeed. Providing a safe and supportive environment that encourages them is worth it. #engagechat
A3: Leadership can definitely impact culture positively or negatively, but I really believe that staff has more power and impact than they realize. I’ve definitely worked at schools w/o strong leadership but a highly committed and connected staff, and it was great. #engagechat
A3: Leaders nurture and foster a culture that all faculty/staff and students want to live in and be a part of . Leaders must model those cultural values and it should be visible in every corner, classroom and interaction in the school. #engagechat
A3 School Leadership supports and encourages staff and students to take risks and be amazing. They’re an integral part of the school culture. #engagechat
A3.Leadership has a huge impact on school culture, too! If T are given freedoms too lead and take risks in the classroom, and P are given opportunities to lead in in clubs and org., Ss can lead in school w/ various things w/voice , choice, leadership as well! More L! #engagechat
A2 The impact of culture on achievement can seem invisible. If we forget to focus on those intangibles, the negative impact is felt in every other area. #EngageChat
A3) What leadership makes a priority (vision) dictates the school culture. Also how well leadership communicate with stakeholders shapes the school culture. Bad communication = confusion & confusion = poor school culture. #engagechat
A3: A school's culture trickles down from leadership. When school leaders are joyful, approachable, & focused on doing what's best for kids that shapes the entire school climate for the better. Everyone is happier & healthier—which fosters an environment for learning. #engagechat
A3: Leadership has the single biggest impact on school culture. Leaders must own this and use it to empower others to make positive changes. There's no hiding. An absence of leadership makes just as much of an impact as positive leadership. In the other direction. #engagechat
A3 School Leadership supports and encourages staff and students to take risks and be amazing. They’re an integral part of the school culture. #engagechat
A3 I am interested to know how about leaders who are weak culture-builders. How can we help them to build a stronger team with the desirable culture? #engagechat
A3 School Culture starts with admin. Our admin knows every Ss name (800 kids). They encourage us to facilitate PD and to try something new support Ss achievement and a positive culture. #engagechat
A3: Leadership can impact school culture negatively or positively. Structures have to be in place to measure/assess school culture and leadership is tasked w/ creating an environment where school culture is conducive for teaching and learning. #engagechat
A3: Leadership can impact school culture negatively or positively. Structures have to be in place to measure/assess school culture and leadership is tasked w/ creating an environment where school culture is conducive for teaching and learning. #engagechat
A3: Principals can create a culture that empowers & instills confidence in Ts, believes in Ss, & seeks the help of parents and community members to enhance the school’s effectiveness. #engagechat
A3: I mean... the buck has to stop somewhere, right? Someone has to remind everybody who they serve... (The kids) And how that service is supposed to feel to young people. It's easy for Adults to forget what it was like... someone has to remind them. #engagechat
Excellent point. We often blame leaders, and we need to remember they are learning and growing, too. Offer feedback and ideas. Building relationships and team-building doesn’t come naturally to everyone. #EngageChat
A3. Leadership guides positive culture and atmosphere. Leadership is about sharing the knowledge, giving feedback with good attitude and help support others. #engagechat
A3: At Character Counts, we believe the leader plays a critical role in a positive culture by inspiring commitment to vision, effective and efficient management, promoting trust & confidence of constituents, & establishing regular communication #engagechat
A2 positive culture is crucial to learning. It is a collaborative process and should filter from building, district culture all the way through classrooms. Let Ss take part in creating and leading #LEARNlap to foster ownership #engagechat
A4 #Engagechat Gossip and staff not willing to work on behalf of the collective. We want students to buy in to what we are doing, but if staff are not buying in to different things... it makes it harder to be on the same page. Trust me, students pick up on it.
A4: I think a lot stems from a lack of clarity or vision. Things like dishonesty, lack of transparency, hiding in one's office, etc all lower respect and destroy culture even more. Get the vision right, hire good people, monitor but don't micromanage, & lead! #engagechat
A4: Actions that lead to:
1. Exclusion;
2. Lack of Respect/Perceived abuse of power;
3. Being Punitive;
4. Ignoring the voices of the stakeholders
5. The isms...
#engagechat
A4 School culture can be destroyed by those who are unwilling to respectfully listen. It's not always about us; it can't be. Once we realize we're all in this together, a culture is born. If we teach and think in isolation, we become isolated. It's that simple #engagechat
#engagechat A3: We as leaders either create the culture or we let it happen. @E_Sheninger As leaders, we have to have the courage to address issues. It is not easy. If it was, we would not be talking about culture.
A4 School culture can be destroyed by those who are unwilling to respectfully listen. It's not always about us; it can't be. Once we realize we're all in this together, a culture is born. If we teach and think in isolation, we become isolated. It's that simple #engagechat
A2: My foundation gives grants to teachers. Last year, we had two recipients that could not purchase technology for their programs, from our grant $$, because the school leader refused to cash the check. A breakdown of culture. #engagechat
We have a collective norm on our team about vaulting. If it does not affect you in any way (personally or professionally) you don't speak about it to others that are also not involved. Don't spread rumors or engage in hurtful conversations about staff or students.
#engagechat
#engagechat Just got this today by @DrBobbyMoore . Great read and and great resource. Perfect title too. We as leaders, determine what is acceptable and what the culture will be. We can have help but it starts and ends with us. #abettermemeansabetterwe
A4: Culture erodes when expectations and consequences aren’t clear. People become resentful because they feel they aren’t being treated fairly or that some people are getting special treatment. This is true for kids and adults. #engagechat
A4 We can’t make a difference by doing things the way they have always been done. You’re spinning wheels in the mud if you don’t shift the mindset in your schools! #engagechat
Great question, Brandy. Lots of reasons. Highly contextual, I think, ranging from similarly poor leadership above (e.g. the superintendent), seniority (he/she has been around longer than anyone else), restrictive contractual agreements… the list is a long one. #engagechat
A4: School culture is destroyed when we stop engaging in authentic dialogue (which includes LISTENING), when we stop treating one another with genuine respect, when we stop seeing adults AND students as unique, incredible human beings and we stop treating them as such.#engagechat
A4: inconsistencies with rules, norms, and expectations. People need to know what is expected of them and it needs to stay consistent all school year. #engagechat
A4 Negative, uncooperative, manipulative attitudes will always hurt any culture. It is so important for the positive to be loud to drown out the negativity!! #engagechat
A4. School culture can be destroyed by those who are afraid of change and positivity! (The naysayers or the Jekle and Hyde char.) The ones who don't want to listen to different ideas and welcome changes! #engagechat
A4a Everyone has to be willing to walk the talk. My admin. teaches classes, cleans the lunch room, helps in the nurses office. They are everywhere. We have a deep belief all of our Ss are ours not just Ms. So and So’s Ss. #engagechat
@PreK33#A4 As a principal, it starts and ends with me. I can get help but it starts and ends with the leader. Culture is determined by the worst behavior a leader will tolerate. #engagechat
Just my opinion. But highest priorities—the “core” – must be clarified incessantly. “Clarity is the antidote to anxiety...if you do nothing else as a leader, be clear!" -Marcus Buckingham #engagechat
A4: It is hard to have a positive school culture when staff and students don’t feel seen or appreciated. We need to show our community we see the good things they are doing and we’re thankful for them! #engagechat
I agree, my hope as a leader is for staff (not just teachers) to believe in the power of positivity as it will spread to the students, making it a special experience for all. Lately, I’ve been playing light jazz during lunch for students and the students love it #engagechat
@PreK33#A4 As a principal, it starts and ends with me. I can get help but it starts and ends with the leader. Culture is determined by the worst behavior a leader will tolerate. #engagechat
A5: The two are interwoven, for sure, but I think of the two as being at different elevations. Climate is more on the surface (e.g. laughter, folks helping one another) while culture has both obvious and hidden features, which get at values and belief systems. #engagechat
A5: Climate is the key point for any school culture, which means that if Principals want to shape a new culture, they should start with an assessment of the climate. #engagechat
This is awesome! You name it, I have done it in a school! Thanks to my mom who always said “you cannot ask someone to do something that you are not willing to do yourself!” #EngageChat
"A 142-country Gallup report (below) shows that 63% of employees are not engaged at work and 24% are actively disengaged, leaving a mere 13% of workers who are engaged in the work that they do." I'm hopeful that engagement schools are different
https://t.co/gLvsXdBCWz#engagechat
A4: Lack of stability/too much turnover at the admin or teacher level. Lack of authentic relationships, lack of PD fostering growth mindset, lack of trust with each other and/or community. #engagechat
Not easy. I am learning though and stepping out of my comfort zone. I think as principals, you want 2 B liked b/c it can be lonely, but I feel the confrontation if done in a professional, healthy way can leader to stronger relationships w/ those who are bldg culture #engagechat
A5 You must assess the climate to address the culture of your school. You must see below the surface to have a true sense of what it’s like to be a student or teacher in your building. #engagechat
A5: They are certainly interconnected, yet distinct. Climate is the environment of the school. Culture is who we are—our values and principles. They both help to shape one another. #engagechat
A5: Culture establishes the principles by which we operate. Climate is a temperature check at any given time of how well we are remaining consistent with our principles. #EngageChat
