The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
Q🤔: How is #Leadership nuanced by the culture of your organisation🏢, your school🏫, or even by the culture of your country 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇦🇺?
via @edu_ivers#BFC530
I would have to say that the biggest influence on our school's culture if a strong vision that drives everything we do. The embodiment of that shared vision on a daily basis is the fabric of our school's learning community. #bfc530
New ideas or paths are normally met with resistance at first as they are not yet routine. Once it soaks in and a few can see value, then it will gradually take off. #bfc530
School culture is an evolution and it takes time ... more time than what many leaders have to spend. Won’t happen in a single school year ... may take years. #bfc530
Great point and why a shared/distributed leadership model can be so powerful. It also means that sometimes decisions take longer, but once made by the team, there is immediate buy in (vs top down mandates that affect morale). #bfc530#teacherpowered
I think you can be a good principal and ignore school culture. to continue the analogy. The principal and choose the flavor of the broth but not every aspect of the soup. #bfc530
Our school culture outlasts our leaders and influences all of us. Autonomy and isolation, creativity and unpredictability, social justice and political correctness. There’s a positive and negative side. #bfc530
I also see that some colleagues will only recognize leaders as those in admin, and not those that are implementing changes throughout the building (with/without consent). #bfc530
The clearest example I've seen is admin being influenced by the culture of testing. That's coming down to them from the top, but it unfortunately can have a big impact on school culture if they let it. #bfc530
My take: Absolutely not. The culture is a reflection of the entire learning community. And if it's going to honestly change, it must be owned and driven by the entire community. #bfc530
Our leaders do a good job of balancing a pretty traditional, somewhat conservative district, with our lower SEC & high Hispanic community, and (on the whole) forward-thinking staff. P mostly allows us to make decisions-even when disagrees-we even do the interviewing. #bfc530
I think with patience and the right leaders (both admin and teacher leaders) it can be done. If you go too quickly, you are likely to be meet with resistance. #bfc530
My take: Absolutely not. The culture is a reflection of the entire learning community. And if it's going to honestly change, it must be owned and driven by the entire community. #bfc530
And I am guessing Ben that if staff do not buy-in to that vision as a collective then a sub-culture can emerge, one which may even give rise to the anti-culture subgroup. Research from @Cornell suggests that critical mass is achieved at 84% of the staff. #bfc530
In reply to
@engineerteacher, @wheeler_laura, @Cornell
Agreed, top down will get the most resistance. Shared decision making with all stakeholder groups is more effective in making long-lasting changes #bfc530
#bfc530 Like many of you, I have been in my current #school for almost 20 years. Thank you to whomever started this discussion on #school culture. We need to promote #kindness among #teachers, not just #students. I am tired to seeing friends in tears over an unkind co-worker.
We must build relationships, connect, ensure our teaching is student centered, positive and inclusive, culture can be changed, be the change you wish to see! #BFC530
Yes! My old school had an amazingly positive culture, Ts doing all they could and more for Ss. We transitioned through several leaders who were hands off to varying degrees. In the vacuum they left, we created the school culture we wanted and needed. #bfc530
If you have a great classroom teacher who is negative in hallways and meetings, and blocks change/ progress, is it worth it to keep them around? #bfc530
How is this...equally responsible and accountable as anyone in the learning community to lead the drive to have a powerful and positive culture of educational excellence. #bfc530
Honestly, it often feels to me that leadership and culture of our school are at odds. I think of culture as the egg in the old egg-drop contests. Leadership is the make-shift carrier made of spare parts and duct tape and change is the fall from the roof. #bfc530
Q🤔: How is #Leadership nuanced by the culture of your organisation🏢, your school🏫, or even by the culture of your country 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇦🇺?
via @edu_ivers#BFC530
And there is that word again Relationships.. so very vital to develop true relationships in education. #bfc530 But many people are too “busy” to do that.
In reply to
@VtheLearner, @engageducate, @MrEandre
#bfc530 Turks do not kill civilians in Afrin. Why are not the news of Israel killing civilians in the Palestinian? Why is America allowed to give weapons to YPG/PKK/PYD/ISIS terrorist organization which is the same as North Korea?
Agreed. The buy in comes from the development of the shared vision - and revision over time to ensure that it is still reflecting the needs of the community. That buy in translates into action...every day. #bfc530
I get angry at teacher negativity. Thats a thing I need to work on. "Anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, suffering leads to the dark side." #bfc530
Here’s a ‘semantics’ response - yes, a good principles should FEEL 99% responsible. Doesn’t mean they are, but they should certainly take on the responsibility in their mind - just as I do for my classroom #bfc530
That's an excellent question, first try to work with that T, if it doesn't work need to make a decision someone too negative can quickly change the positive atmosphere #bfc530
Yea, that's something you need to accept, support training against, and garner the help of other teachers. It's a hard job, we all know, but it's about perspective #bfc530
Exactly! Nothing is achieved by going so fast, the leader has left everyone back at the start line. As John Maxwell says: “If you think you are leading and nobody is following, then maybe you’re just taking a walk!” #bfc530
In many cases the starting point is inviting the marginalised, those who fell they don't typically feel they have a seat at the table. Participation is a powerful thing to those who typically don't receive the invitation. #bfc530
In reply to
@Katiemc827, @MrEandre, @wheeler_laura, @edu_ivers
And just like this sad metaphor, we deal with so many outside forces along the way. The winds of political change, the weight of district initiatives, the pull of parents, the pressure of our students' needs...#bfc530#eggdrop
Depending on who feels they don't have a voice, this is incredibly powerful. I think Ps and Ss typically feel unheard, but in some schools it can be Ts as well. Having a seat and the opportunity to share your thinking begins the culture shift. #bfc530
In reply to
@MrEandre, @Katiemc827, @wheeler_laura, @edu_ivers
Oh! Thought of another. When you get it wrong, you end up with an even bigger mess than the imperfect pile of odds and ends you started with. #bfc530#cultureeggdrop
The research-where there is no real leader (I’m not referring just to a position but the exercise of it), then a leader will emerge from the group& be acknowledged.That becomes dangerous as the sub-culture creates an organization within the organization & at odds with it! #bfc530
Blah sorry i missed everyone this morning. This daylight savings thing has me all outta whack like never before. I could have used yet another snow delay !!! #bfc530
I think it's important to set ground rules that the purpose is CHANGE and growth, learning and understanding, NOT complaining. It's equally important to invite those who will challenge thinking while working towards the common goal. #bfc530
In reply to
@MrEandre, @Katiemc827, @wheeler_laura, @edu_ivers
Yes! And that includes Student and Parent voice. If the Leadership Team and Staff are the ‘keepers of the flame’ the Students & Parents are the ‘Carriers of the Flame’ and will pass it to the next generation #bfc530
My district does a very good job of encouraging teacher leadership but this seems to be creating skepticism among Ts who don’t feel empowered to participate #bfc530
In reply to
@engineerteacher, @edu_ivers, @wheeler_laura, @Cornell
I thought so when it turned up in the notes. There will always be 5% who will never commit and 10% who will fence sit or be ‘last minute’ adopters. That brings you to 84-85%. We actuall did a simulation task where we had to convince stakeholders of the change to get 84% #bfc530
In reply to
@wheeler_laura, @engineerteacher, @Cornell
We have a new principal in our district who is quietly but firmly pushing back on lots of norms. She is doing great things to help the school look at itself. I wish I worked in her bldg. #bfc530
That’s it Ben! It needs to acknowledge the rich heritage that has been and yet honour the history that as a school community you collectively are about to create! #bfc530
In reply to
@engineerteacher, @wheeler_laura, @Cornell
Ts will step up, the problem is that Ts often have a narrow view of the school. This might be more true for me because of the massive size of our school (4K+ Ss), but T lead initiatives are often unsustainable on that scale. Can be done without leadership, but it's hard. #bfc530
Be relentlessly positive! I won’t let one negative teacher be the loudest voice. Sometimes it is even necessary to shut it down (not publicly) but remind “that’s not how we do things around here” #bfc530
Indeed! In Catholic Schools (the sector I work in), the school is also a faith community. To be that the experience of God and faith has to be able to be shared safely and respectfully. Ritual plays an important part of Culture. #bfc530
In reply to
@MrEandre, @Katiemc827, @iruntech, @wheeler_laura
Spot on! And as they get a voice at the table, they empower others on staff to be brave / strong enough to do the same. The culture creates collective wisdom too. #bfc530
In reply to
@iruntech, @Katiemc827, @MrEandre, @wheeler_laura
Every teacher should do their best to spread the culture they want to grow, don’t wait for admin, just be a louder more positive voice 🗣🗣🗣🗣 they’ll wear down eventually 😃 #bfc530
I really think that the “narrow view” you referenced can be one of our key challenges in education—particularly when the individual holding that view is unwilling or unable to broaden and deepen it. #bfc530
In Catholic Schools, at least in Australia one of the 3 senior school leaders is the Religious Education Coordinator, who assists the Principal in the animation of the Religious Dimension of the school. That involves ensuring that such a culture exists. #bfc530
In reply to
@gilkatgil, @MrEandre, @Katiemc827, @iruntech, @wheeler_laura
The next step in that equation is where and how these empowered a Teachers will exercise leadership? Role confusion can be a massive issue here and a potential destroyer of the Culture you sought to create #bfc530
In reply to
@biologygoddess, @engineerteacher, @wheeler_laura, @Cornell
The same research reports that as a side effect. Instead of ability it can become a case of the most dominant personality in the staff room wins! Not a great way to operate. #bfc530
In reply to
@BradShreffler, @iruntech, @kathyiwanicki
If the staff doesn’t buy in ... should they be there? You can be the best teacher but if you don’t buy into the culture than you can be a cancer. #bfc530
In reply to
@edu_ivers, @ylonkarodriguez, @MrEandre, @wheeler_laura
One powerful thing I saw a new Principal do was this. We gathered the staff together&also at appropriate times, parents & students to create a Learning Belief Statement. It took 6 months to create &endless meetings but it was 10 key beliefs about learning we all agreed to #bfc530
Is it a fix? Sometimes Principals don’t have a real choice ... district transfers a teacher ... can’t let someone go because they don’t fit the culture. #bfc530
It’s definitely a science to getting staff on board with a more defined vision with @AVID4College. Like @ToddWhitaker@stevegruenert stress in School Culture Recharged, start with the highly motivated and then seek out/influence the interested. #bfc530
In reply to
@wheeler_laura, @edu_ivers, @AVID4College, @ToddWhitaker, @stevegruenert
As a leader, it is your responsibility to lean into that negativity and find it's source. Chances are this person has needs going unmet. The problem is most likely outside the classroom, something systemic #bfc530
Reflecting on Breakfast Club from this morning. Listen here. "School Culture, Leadership, and Egg Drop Metaphors. #BFC530" on Anchor: https://t.co/wJGzHIBkBK
Constructive discussion & questioning support growth, learning & understanding. Let’s stop the complaining, bickering debate & negativity. Be the change you want to see. Modeling is always an answer/first step! #PositiveCulture#bfc530
I think it's important to set ground rules that the purpose is CHANGE and growth, learning and understanding, NOT complaining. It's equally important to invite those who will challenge thinking while working towards the common goal. #bfc530
In reply to
@MrEandre, @Katiemc827, @wheeler_laura, @edu_ivers
Great culture needs to be about the entire community...not be based upon the primary leader, or it will not be sustainable. We must all own the building up of culture...gratitude, positivity, compassion, respect, empathy all help! #bfc530#culture#tlap#JoyfulLeaders#leadership
Squashing in & of itself seems rather negative. How about working to overpower it? B/c yes, it is always there/going to come from somewhere. But we can not let it dominate/rule. #bfc530#PositiveCulture
Absolutely agreed. Which is why it’s so essential that revision/reflect process includes “indicators of success”- How will we know? What might the change look/sound like? St. surveys re: their perceptions of learning, school & selves as Ss are also imp. sources of data #bfc530
In reply to
@edu_ivers, @engineerteacher, @wheeler_laura, @Cornell
@ElizabethCartau Definitely! Triangulate the data and see if it aligns with observations. In Sydney Catholic Schools Key Area 1 is ‘Catholic Mission and Identity’. This area with indicators of success are in each school’s Annual Improvement Plan (AIP).Guide/Direction #bfc530
Morning, #bfc530. Great cultures don't just happen; it's about everyone stepping up to talk about & describe 'em; name actions & words that embody 'em along w/those that don't. Celebrate former wherever, whenever they occur; speak politely, directly to perpetrators of latter.
Ours as well (Ontario). Often as part of collabo inquiries (theories of action) which can often contribute to making changes easier/safer to attempt if under the banner of “let’s try & see”. The buy-in comes from seeing impact (or not) rather than admin-driven initiative #bfc530
@MrEandre I think the admin have a role. But so do that T's colleagues who feel differently. Show them there's another opinion or way. Offer gentle but firm pushback. #bfc530
