Understanding School Culture

Linda S. NelsonExecutive Director

North Carolina Association of Independent Schools

UNDERSTANDING SCHOOL CULTURE

BeliefsValuesTraditionsPatterns of BehaviorClimateEnvironment“The Way We Do Things”

WHAT IS SCHOOL CULTURE?

Expressed Culture vs. Observed Culture

Are they the same?Should they be?

WHAT THEY SAY vs.

WHAT THEY DO

THREE LEVELS OF CULTURELevel One

What you might see on your first visit – first impressions

Level TwoValues, beliefs, “the way things

should be done”These are “testable” in the physical

environment

Level ThreeFundamental beliefs about school,

students, etc.Reason for being

BOARDBroadly defines through Mission

and Vision

It’s the head’s role to translate and communicate that “definition” of culture. Heads do not have a choice about whether they communicate; everything they do is a communication. They only have a choice about how and what and how consistently they will communicate.

THE HEAD OF SCHOOL IS THE CULTURAL LEADER– LIKE IT or NOT…

The primary methods available to leaders to allow them to shape culture are:

Paying attention to some aspect of school life

Choosing to measure some aspect of school life

AS CULTURAL LEADER…If a head is consistently interested in one thing, it will become a centerpiece of school culture. If a head is inconsistently interested in many things, unclear in communicating with employees, or inconsistent in decision-making or defining priorities, people will spend a lot of time trying to figure out what’s going on. The head’s inconsistency will become a central feature of the school culture. (Understanding School Culture, Michael Thompson

HEAD OF SCHOOL IS:Symbol of CulturePotter who shapes the

CulturePoet who uses language to

describe the CultureActor who plays out the

values and visionHealer who presides over

life transitions in the community

HEAD HAS A KEY ROLE IN DETERMINING IF EXPRESSED

CULTURE AND OBSERVED CULTURE MATCH

Supporting CastWatchdog vs. Enablers

ROLE OF TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS

SKELETONS IN THE CLOSETEvery school has skeletonsThese skeletons become a

part of the culture – good or bad

The way a community deals with these “skeletons: speaks volumes about its “culture” and commitment to self-improvement

Independent Schools as institutions most closely resemble families and churches

Everyone related to the school has a vested interest in what is going on and has strong opinions

Personal and Professional lines can become blurred

Strategic thinking, visioning, values can quickly become “situational”

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY

WHERE DO “NEWBIES” FIT IN?

Good Question… “Does the Shoe Fit?”

Fresh EyesBroader Perspective

QUESTIONS…FINAL THOUGHTS