Steve Bollar, a.k.a. Stand Tall Steve, is an educational thought leader, former Superintendent, principal, and globally recognized school culture expert. Known for his quick wit and creative insights, Steve inspires audiences to think differently about schools, education, and life. He’s been named one of the Top 30 Global Gurus in Education and authored Stand Tall Leadership, Ideas, Ideas, Ideas!, and co-authored the 10-Minute Classroom Starters series. With humor and authenticity, Steve shares his expertise with students, staff, and communities worldwide, empowering them to create positive, transformative change.
Building a Strong School Culture: For the Classroom, School and District
As educators, we often hear about the importance of school culture and climate, but what do those terms actually mean, and how can we begin to make a real impact? A positive culture and climate aren’t just about a feel-good environment; they’re about creating an atmosphere where students and staff thrive. A healthy school culture is the key to student success, teacher satisfaction, and overall school improvement.
Understanding Culture and Climate
Let’s start with some clarity: culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, and practices that shape how a school community interacts. Basically, the traditions within an organization. Climate, on the other hand, is the emotional tone of the school, the “vibe” students, staff, and visitors feel when they walk through the doors. When these elements align with what you truly value, the results are tangible: higher engagement, improved performance, and a more collaborative, positive environment.
But here’s the reality: you can’t improve your school culture and climate if you don’t know what you stand for. Read that again! Identifying what you respect and value is the first step in making meaningful change. Before you can begin improving your culture, you need to define the values that will guide your interactions with students, staff, and parents. This is where the work begins, by defining the values that will guide your actions.
Just Do This… Start small and focus on a few core values such as respect, integrity, teamwork, or accountability. These values should be front and center in everything you do. In your classroom, make sure these values are clearly stated and visible. Let students know what behaviors you expect from them and what behaviors they can expect from you. For example, if respect is one of your core values, make it clear that you expect students to listen when others are speaking and that you will always listen to them. When students know what’s expected, they can follow through.
Internal Branding of Values
But defining your values isn’t enough. Just Do This… Brand them internally. Make them visible and part of your school’s daily routine. Internal branding means embedding your values throughout your environment so that they are not just words on a wall but become integral to the everyday culture. Post posters, create displays, and use digital platforms to continuously reinforce these values. For example, if integrity is a core value, consider setting up a “Wall of Integrity” where students and staff can share examples of honest behavior. Similarly, create a Teamwork Board where collaborative efforts are celebrated.
Consistency is key. Reinforce your values through your daily actions. If teamwork is one of your values, ensure that students see collaboration happening in every classroom activity. Additionally, don’t hope that students see teamwork. Be purposeful and point out when the values are taking place. This branding creates reinforcement, familiarity, and helps people see the values as a living, breathing part of the school’s culture.
Building Relationships to Strengthen Commitment
Now that you’ve identified and branded your values, the next step is to build relationships around them. Positive relationships are the foundation of a committed culture. When students and staff feel valued, respected, and heard, they are more likely to invest in the school’s mission and values.
This goes beyond just being friendly; it’s about showing you care. Just Do This… When you recognize students for living out the school’s values; whether it’s through verbal praise, small rewards, or public recognition, it reinforces that behavior and shows everyone else what’s expected. Leadership can further this by creating space for feedback and collaborative decision-making. When staff and students are involved in shaping the school’s culture, they are more likely to feel committed to it.
Just Do This… Use professional development sessions as opportunities to promote values and relationships. These aren’t just training sessions, they should be conversations where educators reflect on how they can contribute to a positive school culture. Invite staff to brainstorm ways to implement the school’s core values in their classrooms and to discuss how they can collaborate with others to reinforce those values. Then actually do it! Take the ideas and put them into action. Suggest having accountability partners to help strengthen the implementation.
Fostering School-Wide Commitment
At the school level, leadership must involve the entire staff in defining the shared values that will guide the work. When values are aligned from the classroom to the district, everyone knows what the school stands for, and it’s easier to make decisions that reinforce the culture you want to build. Regularly highlight these values in staff meetings, newsletters, and on the school website. Remember, consistency builds commitment, so make sure that everyone is on the same page about what’s important.
Fostering school-wide commitment means creating a climate where teachers are not just following orders but are fully invested in the school’s success. Just Do This…
- Provide opportunities for staff to lead initiatives that reflect the school’s values.
- Encourage collaboration between teachers and staff across different grade levels and departments.
- Recognize and celebrate when staff members go above and beyond to model the school’s core values.
Reinforcing Values Across the District
For district leaders, creating alignment between individual schools is crucial. The district’s vision and values should be clearly communicated and reinforced across all schools. Just Do This… Provide resources and training for school leaders that focus on embedding values at every level of the district. This could include creating district-wide initiatives that encourage collaboration and shared responsibility for student success.
Additionally, ensure that communication is transparent, and that feedback loops are in place to allow staff and community members to share their thoughts on how the district is embodying its values. This shared sense of ownership helps create a unified commitment across all schools within the district.
Start Small, Think Big
Changing the culture and climate of a classroom,school or district is no easy task. It takes time, effort, and a clear commitment from everyone involved. But by focusing on small, actionable steps that align with your core values, you can start making a tangible impact today. Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once, and you don’t have to do it alone. With consistent effort, collaboration, and a focus on relationships, you can build a thriving learning environment where commitment to values is the driving force behind every action.
Don’t Compare Your Beginning to Someone Else’s End
As you embark on this culture and climate journey, keep one thing in mind: don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s end. Every school’s path to building a positive culture and climate is unique. It’s easy to look at successful schools or districts and feel like you’re not making enough progress, but remember, every step you take brings you closer to where you want to be. Focus on your own journey and celebrate the progress you make, no matter how small. Keep doing the work, and soon enough, you’ll have a thriving classroom, school or district culture that benefits everyone.