112 & 312. Practical Ideas to Transform Your School Culture and Create a Vision
A positive school climate & culture is critical to the learning process for students as well as creating a collaborative environment for teachers. Listen to practical ideas on how to create a positive climate and culture in your school. Whether you are a teacher or in a leadership role, you have an opportunity to make your school inviting for all.
Presenter(s): Bruce Vosburgh
Location: Colony C
Practical Ideas to Transform Your School Culture and Create a Vision
1. Practical Ideas to
Transform Your
School Culture and
Create a Vision
NC Association for
Middle Level Education
Bruce Vosburgh -
PAMLE
2. Bruce Vosburgh – Schools to Watch
Director in Pennsylvania,
- PAMLE State Executive Board
- Retired middle level teacher, team
leader, coach, administrator
- President Elect – National Forum to
Accelerate Middle Grades Reform
3. THIS WE BELIEVE
CONNECTIONS
a shared vision developed by all
stakeholders guides every decision
leaders are committed to and
knowledgeable about this age group,
educational research, and best practices
leaders demonstrate courage and
collaboration
organizational structures foster
purposeful learning and meaningful
relationships
4. Schools to Watch
A shared vision of what a high-
performing, developmentally
appropriate school is and does drives
every facet of school change.
1. The shared vision drives constant
improvement.
2. Shared, distributed, and sustained
leadership propels the school forward
and preserves its institutional memory
and purpose.
3. Everyone knows what the plan is and
the vision is posted and evidenced by
actions.
5. EXPECTED OUTCOMES
participants will learn how to transform
toxic cultures into collaborative
endeavors
participants will analyze and discuss
their current school culture and begin
the development of a plan to make it
more collaborative
7. HOW BIG IS THE GORILLA IN
YOUR SCHOOL?
In most schools, the
800 pound gorilla
that impairs
performance and
stifles change is
CULTURE.
8. CHANGE IN THE GULCH
trailblazers
pioneers
settlers
survivors
saboteurs
9. TRICKS TO DEALING WITH
COMPLAINERS
disperse their negative power
do not treat them as a group
realize they cannot influence the
believers
remember they complain
EVERYWHERE
Leading School Change
10. TRICKS TO DEALING WITH
COMPLAINERS
redesign staff meeting arrangements
meet with them INDIVIDUALLY to
discuss plans for change
do not put them in adjacent classrooms,
common teams or PLC’s
match them up with trailblazers and
pioneers
Leading School Change
11. What are the causes of the
resistance to change we
often find at our schools?
13. RATE YOUR SCHOOL CULTURE:
A SINGING VERSION
Toxic Healthy
I Can’t Get No Satisfaction
Who Let the Dogs Out?
I Will Survive
16 Tons
Take This Job and Shove It
Help!
Hard Day’s Night
Wrong Again
Send in the Clowns
The Sounds of Silence
Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Rainy Days and Mondays
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
Stairway to Heaven
Celebrate
We Are the Champions
Top of the World
I Am a Believer
We Are Family
The Hero Is In You
Lean on Me
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Imagine
One Moment in Time
I’m A Believer
14. THE LOOK OF A TOXIC
CULTURE
toxic
negative
values
fragmented
destructive
lack of
integrity and
values
negative
relationships
pessimistic
staff
negative
beliefs
Shaping School Culture
15. SHIFTING SCHOOL
CULTURE
teaching
teacher isolation
pass/fail mindset
compliance
curriculum overload
general goals
static assessment
independence
planning to plan
time and staff fixed
learning for most
learning
collaboration
elimination of failure
commitment
guaranteed curriculum
specific goals
dynamic assessment
interdependence
planning to improve
learning fixed
learning for all
FROM TO
19. • be a role model for the change – all staff
• realize that the first impression when instituting change is
all important
• emphasize that the change is in the best interests of the
students
• instill an awareness of both the existing culture and the
need for change
• invite teachers to be part of the change
• support positive cultural elements and staff
20. • gather support of the superstar teachers
and then bring the others along
• pretend almost everyone is on board
• focus on recruitment, selection, and
retention of effective, positive staff
• focus on eradicating the negative
• meet the negativity head-on
21. • diminish fear and apprehension
• rebuild around positive norms and beliefs
• consistently celebrate the positive and the
possible
• develop new stories of success, renewal,
and accomplishment
• help toxic teachers make the move to a new
school
23. SHAPING A SUCCESSFUL
CULTURE
focus on a student-centered mission
and purpose
strengthen positive elements of
existing culture
build on established traditions and
values
hire staff who share the values of
the culture
use history to fortify and sustain
values and beliefs
Shaping School Culture
24. Creating A Vision
Create Small focused groups to
brainstorm and discuss the following
questions
1. How are we different from other
schools?
2. What kind of school do we hope to
be?
3 What can we do differently?
4. What do you think should be included
in our vision statement?
• Radnor MS
25. Bringing the Vision to Life
Branding
Create a logo
Develop posters, T-shirts, stickers
Display in all school communications
Create Vision Days, Pep Rallies
• Radnor MS
27. POWERFUL, POSITIVE
CULTURES
appreciation and recognition
caring, celebration, humor
involvement in decision making
protection of what is important
honor traditions
honest, open communication
Butler and Dickson, 1987
28. TODAY’S PRINCIPAL
provides an atmosphere conducive to shared decision-
making and collaboration at all levels
asks questions rather than providing answers
facilitates the process of school improvement rather
than prescribing how it should be done
collaboratively explores alternatives to ineffective
policies and practices rather than dictate the ones that
will be used
This We Believe in Action
29. TODAY’S TEACHERS
are active leaders in the school learning
communityparticipate in instructional discussions within learning
communities that are centered on student success
are involved members of their teams
seek ways to make curriculum integrative, relevant, and
challenging for students
This We Believe in Action
30. TODAY’S TEACHERS
share instructional strategies to help meet individual
student needs
discuss data with their colleagues and use it to inform
instruction
share their expertise to help the school solve
problems, make decisions, and set policy and direction
This We Believe in Action
31. SCHOOL RITUALS AS PART
OF CULTURE
RITUALS
coffee and
doughnuts
attendance
dismissal
schedule
32. SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS AS
PART OF CULTURE
Celebration is a key element in building and maintaining a positive,
collaborative culture – embrace ALL partners in your celebrations
Responses were collected and coded for keywords and phrases.
Common language was identified and used in developing a vision statement.
Vision statement was vetted through your school committee as well as through grade level and department meetings.