The Culture of Schools: Building Positive and Transforming

Toxic Cultures

2008

Dr. Kent D. PetersonUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

1025 W. Johnson StreetMadison, WI 53706

kpeterson@education.wisc.edu

Culture and Effectiveness“At a deeper level, all organizations, especially schools, improve performance by fostering a shared system of norms folkways, values, and traditions. These infuse the enterprise with passion, purpose, and a sense of spirit. Without a strong, positive culture, schools flounder and die.”

(Peterson and Deal, 2002, p. 7)

“Effective leaders know that the hard work of reculturing is the sine qua non of progress.” (Fullan, 2001, p.44).

Culture is a Powerful ForceSchool culture influences

how people think, feel, and act.

Culture is a key determinant of staff

focus, commitment, motivation, and productivity.

Key Roles of Cultural Leaders

READ the CultureHistorian and Anthropologist

ASSESS the CultureAnalyst and Evaluator

REINFORCE or TRANSFORM the CultureVisionary, Symbol, Potter, Poet, Actor, and

Healer

(Deal and Peterson, 1994; 1999)

Elements of Culture• Norms, Values and Beliefs that underlie thinking,

feeling and acting• Symbols and Artifacts that Communicate

Meaning• Stories that Herald Values• Cultural Network• Heroes and Heroines• Rituals, Traditions, and Ceremonies• “Culture is “the way we do things around here!”

Elements of Toxic Cultures• Negative Values and beliefs hold sway in toxic

cultures.• Sense of purpose is spiritually fragmented.• Relationships are negative and destructive.• The cultural network’s most powerful members

negaholics (Carter-Scott, 1989)• The only heroes are anti-heroic.• Few positive rituals, traditions, or ceremonies exist to

develop a sense of community and hopefulness.

Deal and Peterson (1999).

Three Key Questions on Values

• What makes a good day?

• What makes a good week?

• What makes a good year?

Typical Informal Typical Informal NetworkNetwork

• GossipsGossips• Spies, Counterspies, MolesSpies, Counterspies, Moles• StorytellersStorytellers• Heroes and heroinesHeroes and heroines• “ “ Keepers of the Dream “Keepers of the Dream “

Toxic Informal Network• Saboteurs• Pessimistic Storytellers• “Keepers of the Nightmare”• Negaholics• Prima Donnas-Prima Donalds• Space Cadets• Martyrs• Deadwood, Driftwood, Ballast• Resource Vultures

Working with your INFORMAL NETWORK

• How can you best use your positive members?

• How can you help members change?

• How can you protect the culture from toxins?

Symbols and Artifacts in the School

• Communicate values

• Reinforce culture

• Build success through commitment

• Symbolize the mission

What are key SYMBOLS in your School?

• What do the symbols communicate?

• How does your daily work symbolize what you consider important?

• How do the symbols connect to students and parents?

Ways of Reading Your Culture...Ways of Reading Your Culture...Ways of Reading Your Culture...Ways of Reading Your Culture...•List Six Adjectives to describe your school.List Six Adjectives to describe your school.•Think of a song that depicts your culture.Think of a song that depicts your culture.•Create a metaphor… If my school were an animal, Create a metaphor… If my school were an animal, it would be a _______ it would be a _______ because_________________________.because_________________________.•Conduct a school history.Conduct a school history.•Interview a school’s storytellers.Interview a school’s storytellers.•Look at how newcomers are welcomed?Look at how newcomers are welcomed?

The Importance of Ceremonies and Celebrations

• Reinforce Values

• Build Culture and Community

• Recharge Motivation

• Communicate Purpose

• Celebrate Success

Types of Celebrations• Beginning of Year• Fall Solstice• Ethnic Events• Battle Preparations• Retirements• End-of-Year• Large and Small Successes

Map Your Ceremonies and Celebrations Over the

Year

* Opening to Closing of School*

Celebrations that Sputter or Fail

• Lack of Purpose• No Energy or Spirit• Inappropriate Words or Stories• Unpopular Symbols• Meaningless Rituals • Negative Meanings• Poor Planning• Dispirited Activities

Elements of Ceremonies• Banners, Flags• Processionals• Speeches• Clothing and Location• Symbols and Artifacts• Special Visitors• Symbolic Rituals• Songs and Music• Mottos, Slogans, Recitations• Food and Drink

Redesign Key Celebrations

• End of school• Opening School with Staff• End of Winter Break• Retirements• Special Awards

Culture Shaping Roles• Anthropologist• Historian• Visionary• Symbol• Potter• Poet• Actor• Healer

(Deal and Peterson, 1999)

"Becoming a leader is a lot like investing successfully in the stock market. If your hope is to make a fortune in one day, you're not going to be successful."

John C. Maxwell

“Teachers usually have no way of knowing that they have made a difference in a child’s life, even when they have made a dramatic one…

Good teachers put snags in the river of children passing by, and, over the years, they redirect hundreds of lives…

[Great schools are] made up of people who can never really know the good they have done.”

Kidder (1989): Among Schoolchildren

Resources and Research

Research on Organizational Culture

Effective Schools Research (Edmonds)School Reform Literature (Fullan)Professional Learning Communities (DuFour)Good to Great (Collins)Balanced Leadership (Marzano et al)Execution (Bossidy et al)

Elements of Positive, Successful

Cultures• a mission focused on student and teacher learning• a rich sense of history and purpose• core values of collegiality, performance, and improvement that

engender quality, achievement, and learning for everyone• positive beliefs and assumptions about the potential of students and

staff to learn and grow• a strong professional community that uses knowledge, experience, and

research to improve practice• an informal network that fosters positive communication flows• leadership that balances continuity and improvement• rituals and ceremonies that reinforce core cultural values• stories that celebrate successes and recognize heroines and heroes• a physical environment that symbolizes joy and pride• a widely shared sense of respect and caring for everyone• Source: Shaping School Culture: The Heart of Leadership (1999). Terrence Deal and Kent Peterson, San

Francisco: Jossey-Bass.