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)

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 Challenges1950 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 PerformanceWhat 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 SendWithout 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