The Principal and School Culture Session Two
EDLD 616
Principals who seek their own
interests over those of their staff
will breed a culture of cynicism
and selfishness…In contrast,
principals who find their own
fulfillment in the empowerment
of others and in the
accomplishment of group goals
will inspire others to do the same.
Stuart C. Smith (quoted in Smith and Piele, 2006, p. 181)
Encourage People to Collaborate
Model Trust and Respect
Know Yourself
Listen
Use Humor
Improve Your Data Collection and Analysis Skills
Stay Current in Your Field
Attend Professional Development with your
Staf
Be a Moral Person
Be an Encourager
Have a Personal Wellness Program
People feel valued when they have
meaningful input in shaping the school’s
culture.
Building planning committees
The closer the decision is made to the
student, the more benefit the student will
receive.
Trust and respect enable personnel to
adopt innovation and risk-taking as part
of the school’s culture.
Trying new innovations and supporting
the staf will always pay of…
However, if the project fails you must take
the blame and encourage the group to
try again. (That is what we are paid to
do!)
What are your true strengths?
What are the weaknesses that you
believe you need to work on?
What are the traits that you most admire
in other people?
What are the traits in other people that
really upset you?
What do you really believe about the
statement, “All Children Can Learn”?
How do you handle criticism from others?
Listen more than you talk. (One mouth
and two ears…there was a reason for
that)
Listening is more than hearing, it shows
reflection and careful thought
When you
interview
someone…
remember the rule:
Listen 75% of the
time…Talk 25% of
the time
Principals must be able to laugh at
themselves and encourage personnel to
appropriately use humor. Humor benefits
personnel by balancing stress levels,
motivating staff, energizing meetings,
stimulating team spirit, improving
communication, reducing conflict
situations, increasing productivity,
building self-esteem, and fostering new
ideas from creativity
(Gibson, 2003)
Data analysis is powerful, but only if the
school’s personnel understand it and accept it.
Teachers need training in how to use data.
Teachers need to be taught about the four
types of data. (Demographic, Perception,
Resource, Student Achievement)
“A Thought Without Data…Is Only An Opinion”
(Johnson, 2002)
“You must take care of yourself so you can take
care of others”
(My Mother, 1959)
Here are some tips:
Subscribe to a professional magazine and read at least one
article each week.
Read a book of interest in your current situation.
Consider forming a book study group with a group of your
colleagues.
Get professional audio books and listen to educational podcasts.
When you make small talk with your staf,
make it about new and innovative
educational issues!
Professional development should be customized
for your staf. One size does not fit all.
When you attend professional development
with your staf, you establish at least two
things.
1.
2.
It provides you with a better idea of how the
professional development supports the campus
instructional plan.
It sends the message to the staf that the training is
important.
Don’t ask teachers to do things that you wouldn’t
do yourself. You must show your teachers that
you are not above doing any task at your
school.
You cannot be a moral leader if you are not
moral yourself!
Who are your moral leaders?
What are their characteristics?
Why are you drawn to them?
What is your definition or morality?
Self examination is the only solution!
Encouragers give support, comfort, and
hope to people, and they stimulate
development.
Tips:
Meeting and greeting personnel every day
Sending a hand written note
Surprising them with a treat
Eating lunch with a diferent group each day
Encouragement can be as simple as a smile or a
cheerful hello
Attending a staf members family funeral
Doing a good deed anonymously and watching what
happens.
Encouraging moments are a reflection of you and
what you are really all about.
If the school doesn’t have one, develop one.
If you feel better, you work better.
A good exercise program reduces stress.
If you participate in a wellness program with
your staf, it will deepen your relationships with
them.
NO PROGRAM OR KIT EXISTS TO
CREATE A QUICK FIX FOR EITHER
CULTURAL OR PERSONNEL ISSUES.
When in doubt read a
good book:
“Whatever It Takes:
How Professional
Learning
Communities
Respond When Kids
Don’t Learn” (Dufour,
Dufour, Eaker & Karhanek, 2004)
He was no liar, he was not bloody and
cruel…In anger and passion he was soon
reclaimed; easy to be reconciled towards
such as had offended him; [he] ruled by
reason in such measure as he would not
scorn the advice of mean men; and … he
governed his men better with fewer
strokes, than others did with many; truly
loving where he loved.
-Hobbamock’s eulogy of Massasoit, sachem of the Wampanoag, 1623
HOBBAMOCK’S QUOTE
He was no liar
He was not bloody and cruel
In anger and passion he was
soon reclaimed
Easy to be reconciled towards
such as had ofended him
Ruled by reason in such
measure as he would not scorn
the advice of mean men
He governed his men better
with fewer strokes than others
with many
Truly loving where he loved
10 MOST WANTED STRATEGIES
FOR SHAPING SCHOOL CULTURE.
He could be trusted
He took care of his people
(moral person)
He knew his strengths and
weaknesses and worked on
improving them
He understood forgiveness
He listened to others, even
those who ofended him (data
collection)
He listened and was an
encourager. Encouraged
collaboration and with fewer
beatings of workers
Truly loving requires listening,
encouragement, trust, respect,
humor, morality…
Principals who seek their own
interests over those of their staff
will breed a culture of cynicism
and selfishness…In contrast,
principals who find their own
fulfillment in the empowerment
of others and in the
accomplishment of group goals
will inspire others to do the same.
Stuart C. Smith (quoted in Smith and Piele, 2006, p. 181)
Encourage People to Collaborate
Model Trust and Respect
Know Yourself
Listen
Use Humor
Improve Your Data Collection and Analysis Skills
Stay Current in Your Field
Attend Professional Development with your
Staf
Be a Moral Person
Be an Encourager
Have a Personal Wellness Program
People feel valued when they have
meaningful input in shaping the school’s
culture.
Building planning committees
The closer the decision is made to the
student, the more benefit the student will
receive.
Trust and respect enable personnel to
adopt innovation and risk-taking as part
of the school’s culture.
Trying new innovations and supporting
the staf will always pay of…
However, if the project fails you must take
the blame and encourage the group to
try again. (That is what we are paid to
do!)
What are your true strengths?
What are the weaknesses that you
believe you need to work on?
What are the traits that you most admire
in other people?
What are the traits in other people that
really upset you?
What do you really believe about the
statement, “All Children Can Learn”?
How do you handle criticism from others?
Listen more than you talk. (One mouth
and two ears…there was a reason for
that)
Listening is more than hearing, it shows
reflection and careful thought
When you
interview
someone…
remember the rule:
Listen 75% of the
time…Talk 25% of
the time
Principals must be able to laugh at
themselves and encourage personnel to
appropriately use humor. Humor benefits
personnel by balancing stress levels,
motivating staff, energizing meetings,
stimulating team spirit, improving
communication, reducing conflict
situations, increasing productivity,
building self-esteem, and fostering new
ideas from creativity
(Gibson, 2003)
Data analysis is powerful, but only if the
school’s personnel understand it and accept it.
Teachers need training in how to use data.
Teachers need to be taught about the four
types of data. (Demographic, Perception,
Resource, Student Achievement)
“A Thought Without Data…Is Only An Opinion”
(Johnson, 2002)
“You must take care of yourself so you can take
care of others”
(My Mother, 1959)
Here are some tips:
Subscribe to a professional magazine and read at least one
article each week.
Read a book of interest in your current situation.
Consider forming a book study group with a group of your
colleagues.
Get professional audio books and listen to educational podcasts.
When you make small talk with your staf,
make it about new and innovative
educational issues!
Professional development should be customized
for your staf. One size does not fit all.
When you attend professional development
with your staf, you establish at least two
things.
1.
2.
It provides you with a better idea of how the
professional development supports the campus
instructional plan.
It sends the message to the staf that the training is
important.
Don’t ask teachers to do things that you wouldn’t
do yourself. You must show your teachers that
you are not above doing any task at your
school.
You cannot be a moral leader if you are not
moral yourself!
Who are your moral leaders?
What are their characteristics?
Why are you drawn to them?
What is your definition or morality?
Self examination is the only solution!
Encouragers give support, comfort, and
hope to people, and they stimulate
development.
Tips:
Meeting and greeting personnel every day
Sending a hand written note
Surprising them with a treat
Eating lunch with a diferent group each day
Encouragement can be as simple as a smile or a
cheerful hello
Attending a staf members family funeral
Doing a good deed anonymously and watching what
happens.
Encouraging moments are a reflection of you and
what you are really all about.
If the school doesn’t have one, develop one.
If you feel better, you work better.
A good exercise program reduces stress.
If you participate in a wellness program with
your staf, it will deepen your relationships with
them.
NO PROGRAM OR KIT EXISTS TO
CREATE A QUICK FIX FOR EITHER
CULTURAL OR PERSONNEL ISSUES.
When in doubt read a
good book:
“Whatever It Takes:
How Professional
Learning
Communities
Respond When Kids
Don’t Learn” (Dufour,
Dufour, Eaker & Karhanek, 2004)
He was no liar, he was not bloody and
cruel…In anger and passion he was soon
reclaimed; easy to be reconciled towards
such as had offended him; [he] ruled by
reason in such measure as he would not
scorn the advice of mean men; and … he
governed his men better with fewer
strokes, than others did with many; truly
loving where he loved.
-Hobbamock’s eulogy of Massasoit, sachem of the Wampanoag, 1623
HOBBAMOCK’S QUOTE
He was no liar
He was not bloody and cruel
In anger and passion he was
soon reclaimed
Easy to be reconciled towards
such as had ofended him
Ruled by reason in such
measure as he would not scorn
the advice of mean men
He governed his men better
with fewer strokes than others
with many
Truly loving where he loved
10 MOST WANTED STRATEGIES
FOR SHAPING SCHOOL CULTURE.
He could be trusted
He took care of his people
(moral person)
He knew his strengths and
weaknesses and worked on
improving them
He understood forgiveness
He listened to others, even
those who ofended him (data
collection)
He listened and was an
encourager. Encouraged
collaboration and with fewer
beatings of workers
Truly loving requires listening,
encouragement, trust, respect,
humor, morality…