350 likes | 530 Views
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?.
E N D
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.
1950 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 Teacher Challenges
35 Creating Heroes On Campus
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 Performance • What You • RESPECT, • REWARD, • RECOGNIZE& • REINFORCE • GETS RESULTS
“Sometime, somewhere long, long ago schools got a great deal on beige paint.” (Scharenbroich)
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 ispsychological survival to be understood to be affirmed to be validated to be appreciated. Stephen R. Covey The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People