transforming school culture

[Liz Tokar (@q)]

What are the special aspects of your school's culture? Would you characterize your culture as positive, negative, toxic, or fragmented? If it is not positive, in what ways might you work to transform it?

[erin kalfsbeek]

I had the pleasure of going to a CADA (California Activities Director Association) conference with the activities director from my school. Our goal for next year is to integrate my students into the student government class and make sure that all students fell a part of something at the school. If you ever have a chance to attend one of these conferences I highly recommend it. I feel that our school in the past year has brought back some traditions that make students want to come to school and are proud to tell students what high school they attend. For example we start the RED ZONE. It is a student led area at sporting events that cheer on the teams in a positive way. This is something that we have not had for probably 15 years or more.

[Maria M. Ossiander]

My school culture is toxic. We have a micromanager for a superintendent. She does not believe we need a class for student that can't communicate in English. According to the state definitions of newcomers we only have seven but if you use the actual time needed to at least understand (maybe 2yrs) we have 54 students out there lost in the student general population and clueless as to what is happening in the classroom.
We have a new principal who says he is very familiar with PLC and has even trained people in it. We shall see. He has strict instructions from the micromanager as to what she expects to be done at our school.
I have send the info from the institute to other teachers, and school board members.

[beth smith]

I believe my site is toxic at this time.  there is a general belief that certain people are entitled - perceived to be shared by those same people and the powers that be- and that the rest are expendable or unimportant. When perceived favoritism is in place, anxiety sets in.  Permeating the campus is a distrust of the administration- though I believe it is important to question authority respectfully, there is a big difference between asking for justification and assuming the worst of anything sent out by the admin.  People are forming cliques and backbiting is pervasive.  I am seeing some of this among our classified as well.

 

Being honest, kind, and true to myself helps me.  Not falling in with the fear and being sure to circulate and touch bases with others helps.  Being a real colleague to them most affected by the toxicity helps everyone.  Touting the accomplishments of fellow staff members lightens the daily grind.

 

I have thought about the toxicity survey from the CTA magazine that was published about 8-10 years ago.  I might request a copy and see if our site would be willing to take it.  That survey might open up discussions and awareness which could lead to transforming.