Before our new principal started two years ago, I considered transferring. Two of my colleagues had also left over the previous year. Morale was generally low, parents complained a lot, and I heard rumors in the community about our school. We were the brunt of jokes, but I felt powerless to do anything about it because I was not in a position of leadership or in any position to tell our principal that something needed to change in order to improve the culture of the school. Thankfully, the former principal moved out of state and the position was soon filled with a transformational leader that has radically turned around our school’s culture. The result has been improved student outcomes, improved teacher retention and job satisfaction, and a greater engagement with the community. Now, when the old jokes about our school resurface, people almost always react with, “Yeah but you should see it now!” The parents are of course more thrilled than anyone. What is working well now can be boiled down to a few strategic initiatives. One of the first things that the new principle did was to create orientation sessions and activities that reflected the tenor of the school’s culture. The orientation activities create a “sense of belonging,” essentially...
43). Orientation was not just a one-day affair, either. Parents had a full week, with extended hours in the evenings, to bring in their children and receive tours of the school from none other than former students who received class credit for their work. The effect was wonderful—the older students giving the tour received valuable leadership and public speaking experience, engendering a sense of self-confidence and also making them feel like their education was valuable on a deeply personal level. We noticed this especially when the older students were giving tours to their younger siblings or to their younger siblings’ friends and their families. Orientation options were also created throughout the year to welcome new student transfers, which minimized stress and helped the new students feel welcome and adapt to their new surroundings.References
Habegger, S. (2008). The principal’s role in successful schools. Principal. https://www.naesp.org/sites/default/files/resources/1/Principal/2008/S-O_p42.pdf
“ISLLC Standards,” (n.d.). https://www2.fgcu.edu/coe/faculty/valesky/ISLLCStandards.htm
Prokopchuk, J. (2016). Unpacking the impact of school culture. SELU Research Review Journal, 1(2), 73–82.
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