The Key Ingredient To Creating A Culture
What makes a school successful?
The grades of their students? The extra-curricular activities? The seasoned staff members? Maybe even the building itself?
While these may be part of the formula, they are nothing without one key ingredient.
It’s the one thing that builds a culture, reinforces values, attracts opportunity, and creates a shared understanding that everyone within the building plays a vital role in its success.
What is this key ingredient?
Repetition.
When something is repeated over and over again, it becomes more deeply ingrained in our minds and behaviors, and we are more likely to remember and act on it. In the context of culture-building, repetition helps to create a sense of consistency. When individuals within a school repeatedly hear the same messages, practice the same routines and see the same behaviors modeled, they begin to internalize these values and behaviors as part of the schools identity (for better or for worse).
Repetition relating to culture-building is a determining factor in students feeling safe and supported at school, giving them more opportunities to thrive academically and socially. At the same time, when staff members feel valued and respected, they are more likely to remain dedicated and motivated in their work.
And today, more than ever, repetition is the key factor separating a failing school community from a thriving one.
Revolving Doors
Now before we really dive into this topic, let’s get something straight. Education is notorious for repeating the same mistakes over and over again. For instance:
The continued usage of Standardized Testing: Education has been using standardized testing for decades to evaluate the effectiveness of programming, despite the fact that these tests really only determine which students are good at taking tests, with no predictors of future success or progress.
Unsuccessful recruitment strategies: The interest in the teaching profession is currently at the lowest point it has been in the last 50 years, dropping 50% since the 1990s and 38% since 2010 (Edweek). Yet, we have not made the changes required to attract new talent or even applied what we need to do to retain existing talent.
Declining student engagement: Education has also continued to ignore that 49% of students lack of sense of belonging in their schools. Due to the lack of choices they are able to make, a sense of belonging in schools can drastically change the pathway for a child, with 9% more students saying they plan to graduate when they report feeling like they belong.
And last but not least, let’s take a look at some hard facts that really paint the picture…turnover.
Overall, more than 44% of new teachers leave the profession within 5 years.
Over 50% of all school principals leave their jobs within 3 years.
An average superintendent lasts a little more than 3 years in a district.
An abundance of issues play into these revolving school doors that are moving at warp speed, making it impossible to truly create a culture that is built off of repetition.
And once again, our kids are the ones getting hurt the most.
Repetitive Actions
Creating a positive culture within a school building takes time and effort (something we can clearly see does not exist in education today), but the benefits are worth it.
A good culture fosters positive relationships, trust, and a sense of belonging among all individuals within a school community. There are several key components that contribute to a good culture, and trust me, some schools are knocking this out of the park. The goal is to get every school there through repetition of key actions that distributes value across the board. Here’s where it starts:
Clear values and goals: A good culture is built on a foundation of clear values and goals that are understood and shared by everyone within the school community. These values and goals provide a sense of purpose and direction, guiding decision-making, both in-and-out of the school building.
Positive relationships: A good culture is characterized by positive relationships among all individuals within the school community. This includes trust, respect, and support for one another, as well as open and honest communication, regardless of title and age (ask a student how to improve their school and you will be amazed at the innovative concepts they share).
Diversity and inclusion: We hear DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) a lot these days, and for good measure. A good culture values diversity and inclusivity, recognizing that people of different backgrounds and perspectives bring unique strengths and insights to a school community. This includes creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or other identity markers.
Transparency and accountability: A good school culture is characterized by transparency and accountability at all levels. This includes clear communication about decisions and policies, as well as a willingness to admit mistakes and take responsibility for actions. I have recently seen numerous districts carve out positions for students on their school boards, giving them a platform to share their voice and ideas. This is something that should be replicated nationwide.
Recognition and reward: A good culture recognizes and rewards individuals who contribute to the success of the community. This includes acknowledging and celebrating accomplishments, as well as providing opportunities for growth and development, setting up a structure for all members to build off of.
By implementing these and other innovative strategies, schools can create a community where everyone feels supported and invested in the success of the school.
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