1. 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

2. 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?
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3. 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??
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4. Setting the Tone
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5. California’s Current Context8
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
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6. 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?
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9. What is Your Current Reality? What is Your Desired State?
Staffing
Workload
Climate
Opportunity
Professional Development
Goals/Plan
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10. 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….
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11. 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)
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12. Your District’s LCAP
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14. 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)
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15. Just Do It!
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16. What Resources Do You Need?
Time
Money
Additional staff
???
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17. Constructing a Timeline
Be realistic
Get team input
Factor in the cycle of continuous improvement
Advertise your plan
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18. People Involved Motivate, motivate, motivate
How can you maximize your early adopters?
How to best communicate?
How can you nurture and maintain relationships?
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19. Take Care of Yourself! Proper nutrition Exercise Least stress possible
Relaxation
Be organized
Non-toxic friends and family
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20. 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
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21. 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!
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22. Resources
National School Climate Center
CA State PTA
Character.org
West Ed
CDE
NEAA
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23. CONTACT INFO: Susan Levine, Ed.D. Director II, Pupil and Administrative Services Riverside County Office of Education
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