CHANGING THE CONVERSATION: CLIMATE & CULTURE CONTROL FOR YOUR SCHOOL – STUDENTS AND FACULTY Presenter: Frank W. Palatucci, Jr. Director of School Leadership Programs Foundation for Educational Administration Principal, Highland H.S. (Retired)
What is Organizational Culture? “Culture is the underground stream of norms, values, beliefs, traditions, and rituals that has built up over time as people work together.” “... this set of informal expectations and values shape how people think, feel, and act in schools”... and serves as a highly enduring web of influence [that] binds the school together and makes it special.” (Peterson and Deal) (Peterson and Deal)
MAJOR ELEMENTS OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE Values & Ideals Norms Expectations Sanctions Communication through Symbolism Symbolic Activity through Behavioral Example
Distinguish Between Climate & Culture Culture = belief system(s) that undergirds the patterns of behavior in a school (organization) Climate = sum total of the dynamic interactions among the psychosocial, academic and physical dimensions of the school’s environment. Climate has a major influence on morale, productivity, teaching and learning – perceptions matter.
Teacher Challenges 1950 Talking Chewing gum Making noises Running in the halls Getting out of place in line Wearing improper clothing Not putting paper in the wastebasket 2012 Drug & Alcohol Abuse Pregnancy Suicide Lock-Downs Guns & Shootings Cyber Bullying Arson, Bomb Threats AIDS Gangs Dysfunctional families
Creating Heroes On Campus 35
RECOGNITION & RESPECT
CELEBRATE THE NOBLEST PROFESSION ON EARTH
CULTURAL ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE SCHOOL Positive Organizational Culture Emphasis on Academic Effort and Achievement Belief that All Students Can Achieve Ongoing Faculty Development and Innovation Safe & Orderly Learning Environment “The only thing of real importance that leaders do is to create and manage culture.” (Schein) “The principal has the ultimate responsibility for school culture.” (Krajewski) “When the principal sneezes, everyone catches a cold.” (Whitaker)
The Reality of Our Schools The community’s best kept secret The biggest and most important business in town Need to adopt the philosophy to “Do the right things right the first time” Quality education creates its own publicity
The 5 R’s of Performance What You RESPECT, REWARD, RECOGNIZE & REINFORCE GETS RESULTS
WHAT YOU RECOGNIZE, RESPECT…..
CELEBRATE ACHIEVEMENT & THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
Recipe for Success: What you Recognize….Reinforce….
CELEBATE THE HEROES THAT ARE AMONG US
The Messages We Send Without Saying A Word
LET THE MESSENGERS AND THE MESSAGES CHANGE
“Sometime, somewhere long, long ago schools got a great deal on beige paint.” (Scharenbroich)
LET TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND COURAGE SPEAK FOR ITSELF
CELEBRATE THE IDEAS AND IDEALS OF AMERICA
LOTS OF IDENTITY FOR LOTS OF PEOPLE – STUDENTS & ADULTS
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CHRONICLE ACHIEVEMENTS & TRADITIONS
Satisfied needs do not motivate. It’s only unsatisfied needs that motivate. Stephen R. Covey – The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
SHAPING SCHOOL CULTURE – THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL LEADER Develop & maintain an adequate understanding of your school’s culture Enhance the positive aspects of the culture Awareness of subcultures & counter cultures Promote values, respect diversity Continually state & clarify values & ideals Choose staff wisely Identify formal & informal leaders
Shaping School Culture….. Recognize & work with informal leaders Handle conflicts between formal and informal leaders immediately Keep the school’s mission in the public eye Use communication as a tool to shape culture
Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival to be understood to be affirmed to be validated to be appreciated. Stephen R. Covey The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People