Edwards Educational Services

  • Services
    • Our Advantage
    • School/District-Wide
      Paradigm Shift
      • Framing Your Success
    • Leadership Development
      • Student Leadership – iLead 21
      • iLead for Adult Learners
      • iLead Prequels for Elementary Schools
      • ELI Tool for Educators
      • iLead Summer Camp
    • Bullying Prevention
    • Strategic Planning
      • Dropout Prevention
    • Speaking & Keynoting
      • Keynotes
      • Workshops & Training
  • Publications & Videos
    • Books
    • Articles
    • Videos
    • ed Says…
  • Impact
    • iLead Nigeria
    • “Edwards Educational Services an asset for county schools”
  • About Us
    • Mission
    • Steven W. Edwards, Ph.D.
    • ed Leadership Team
    • Press
    • Our Partners
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Vega Schools

School Culture By Design

February 17, 2016 By ed

There are so many aspects to a Principal’s job that it can feel overwhelming when thinking about what is most important to you in the sea of responsibilities, duties, and requirements. There’s community involvement, testing, instruction, discipline, and scheduling—but after 41 years as a teacher, principal, and central office administrator, my thoughts continually return to culture. So what the heck is this culture thing all about?

School culture is defined as the set of norms, values and beliefs, rituals and ceremonies, symbols and stories that make up the ‘persona’ of the school.It is our reason for the investment of our time, energy and resources. Just about every school has a mission statement, vision statement, and core values. As a principal do we visit these on a daily basis? In our conversations with stakeholders, do we hold true to these principles? Do we base our decisions on these values?

Building a culture begins with all stakeholders’ input and allegiance to the mission, vision, and core values of the building. This means we work above the line, with intention, purpose and skill. We walk the walk and talk the talk. As leaders we create the culture. The culture drives the behavior. The behavior of your building personnel is a reflection of your culture.

It’s possible that you will only have 10 percent of your team on board and committed, 80 percent who are for the most part team players but waiver and rarely give it their all, and the bottom 10 percent that are uncommitted and go through the motions. My advice, based on experience is have your top 10 percenters pull your 80 percenters to the top and forget about the bottom 10 percent. Invest your time and resources in the 80 percent to get the best return. Remember, every organization has a culture by design or default; which is it in your school? I believe our culture is aligned perfectly to the results we get. What are your results? Do you have the courage to be the leader who will build the culture necessary to get your desired results?

Build your organization on a strong cultural foundation.

~Ralph A Schade, Edwards Educational Services Consultant

Filed Under: Educational Leadership

Blog Categories

  • Assessment (4)
  • Board of Education (2)
  • bullying (2)
  • cyber bullying (2)
  • Dropout Prevention (2)
  • Educational Leadership (21)
  • Educational Policy (3)
  • educational professionalism (3)
  • Emotional Intelligence (6)
  • General (36)
  • iLead 21 (1)
  • Learning (6)
  • Moral Purpose (2)
  • Motivation (5)
  • Publications and Videos (2)
  • Services (2)
  • Speaking and Training (3)
  • Student Engagement (8)
  • Student Leadership (7)
  • Students (9)
  • Teaching (14)
  • Work (6)

Blog Archives

  • August 2020
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • February 2017
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • June 2015
  • April 2015
  • January 2015
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • January 2012
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • July 2010
  • September 2009
  • Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Connect with us on LinkedIn Add us on Pinterest Follow us on Pearltrees Join our mailing list
  • Edwards Educational Services, Inc Services

    Phone:
    703-837-0223

    Mailing Address:
    1110 Cromley Alley
    Alexandria, VA 22314

    • Site Map
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2025 · Agency Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in