1. School Culture: Three Important Systems
Anthony S. Muhammad, Ph.D.

2. QUICK Review!!!!!!!

3. Two Forms of Change
Technical–structural (skill)
Cultural (will)

4. Will and Skill
Culture
Pedagogy

5. High Will and High Skill
Low Skill
High Skill
Low Will

6. Healthy School Culture
“Educators have an unwavering belief in the ability of all of their students to achieve success, and they pass that belief on to others in overt and covert ways. Educators create policies and procedures and adopt practices that support their belief in the ability of every student.”
—Kent D. Peterson in Cromwell, 2002

7. School goals guide behavior.
Prescriptive
Commitment
Belief in all students
School goals guide behavior.
Reflection
Analyze data
Confront brutal facts.
Prescription
Collaborative
Disciplined practice

8. The Will to Lead Aligning the Philosophy Managing Frustration
Creating a Culture of Collaboration
Institutionalizing Cultural Health
Hollie and Muhammad, The Will to Lead, the Skill to Teach (2011)

9. 3 Systems that Support Cultural Health
Communication Systems
Systems of Celebration
Mentoring Systems for New Teachers (Tweeners)

10. Communication Systems
Human relationships rely on formal communication
Informal communication can destroy human relationships
Communication must be two-way
Communication system must be responsive

11. Stephen Decatur Middle School
School administration and teachers made a pact to only discuss frustrations through their formal communication system
School administration and union reps designed a simple form for all staff members to use to facilitate a cooperative negotiation
Twice per month, school administration and union reps conduct a “Decatur Collab”
The general notes are ed to all staff and specific feedback is given to the concerned parties

12. Complete Action Plan Section #1
Action Planning
Complete Action Plan Section #1

13. Authentic Celebration
We celebrate what we value
“Authentic” vs. “Staged” celebrations
Celebration is for all stakeholders (students, staff, and parents)
Creates platform and context for Believers to comfortably operate and control language
Creates welcoming atmosphere for Tweeners who become more likely to be Believers

14. Intentionally Inviting Symbols

15. Intentionally Disinviting Symbols

16. Innocuous Symbolism

17. Complete Action Plan Section #2
Action Planning
Complete Action Plan Section #2

18. Support System for Tweeners
Traditional “mentor” system has been a failure
Comprehensive, multi-faceted system works best
Avoid ‘toxic’ teams
Administration must remove the ‘wall of silence’ and encourage communication about struggles
Create opportunities to connect with school on many levels
Skill development and capacity building are essential

19. Complete Action Plan Section #3
Action Planning
Complete Action Plan Section #3

20. Contact Information
Website: Follow on Like on Facebook: “Dr. Anthony Muhammad”