Positive School Climate Leadership Strategies for Site and District Administrators CASCWA State Conference May 11, 2018 Susan Levine, Ed.D., Director II, Pupil and Administrative Services, Riverside County Office of Education CASCWA

Who Is In the Room? Directors/ Coordinators of Child Welfare and Attendance Directors/Coordinators of Special Ed Attendance Staff Principals/Assistant Principals Social Workers School Psychs Counselors Teacher Leaders Others? CASCWA

What Do Student Services/School Administrators Deal With? Attendance Absenteeism/truancy Discipline (suspension/expulsion) Special Ed Mental/Physical Health Wellness Safety School Climate Equity Other?? CASCWA

Setting the Tone   CASCWA

California’s Current Context 8 STATE PRIORITIES NEW STANDARDS, FRAMEWORK AND ASSESSMENTS DASH-BOARD EQUITY ESSA PLAN   SHIFT FROM RTI TO MTSS LCAP GROWTH MODEL COLLEGE AND CAREEER READINESS ALL STUDENTS CASCWA

WHAT IS A GOOD DEFINITION OF SCHOOL CLIMATE? The National School Climate Center (NSCC) defines school climate as the quality and character of school life. School climate is based on patterns of students', parents' and school personnel's experience of school life; it also reflects norms, goals, values, interpersonal relationships, teaching and learning practices, and organizational structures. WHAT IS A GOOD DEFINITION OF SCHOOL CLIMATE? CASCWA

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What is Your Current Reality? What is Your Desired State? Staffing Workload Climate Opportunity Professional Development Goals/Plan CASCWA

Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership How Will You Get There? Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership (Kouse and Posner, 2012) Model the Way…. Inspire a Shared Vision.... Challenge the Process.... Enable Others to Act.... Encourage the Heart…. CASCWA

It Matters What Leaders Do or Don’t Do! “The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate.” (Gruenter and Whitaker) CASCWA

Your District’s LCAP CASCWA

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Taking Action (steps) Form a leadership team Collect data Review data Map your assets and partners (What are you doing well?) Unpack causes (barriers, aversion, disengagement) Develop and implement solutions Assess results (cycle of continuous improvement) CASCWA

Just Do It! CASCWA

What Resources Do You Need? Time Money Additional staff ??? CASCWA

Constructing a Timeline Be realistic Get team input Factor in the cycle of continuous improvement Advertise your plan CASCWA

People Involved Motivate, motivate, motivate How can you maximize your early adopters? How to best communicate? How can you nurture and maintain relationships? CASCWA

Take Care of Yourself! Proper nutrition Exercise Least stress possible Relaxation Be organized Non-toxic friends and family CASCWA

School Climate Leadership Challenge Activity Find a new partner Share your current school climate challenge Brainstorm ideas together to make your problem less challenging Switch roles Share out CASCWA

Hey You! You Are So Brave and Amazing! SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF PERFORM CRITICAL JOB FUNCTIONS WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECT SCHOOL CLIMATE AND STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE!!! YOUR LEADERSHIP COUNTS! CASCWA

Resources National School Climate Center https://www.schoolclimate.org/ CA State PTA https://capta.org/focus-areas/lcfflcap/priority-areas/school-climate/ Character.org http://character.org/key-topics/school-climate/ West Ed https://www.wested.org/project/california-school-climate-survey-cscs/ CDE https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/se/schoolclimate.asp NEAA https://www.nea.org/assets/docs/15584_Bully_Free_Research_Brief-4pg.pdf CASCWA

CONTACT INFO: Susan Levine, Ed.D. Director II, Pupil and Administrative Services Riverside County Office of Education 951-826-6448 slevine@rcoe.us CASCWA