Research on School Culture:
"Research strongly suggests that school improvement occurs when multiple elements are in place, including strong school leadership, a safe and stimulating learning climate, strong ethical and trusting relationships, increased teachers' professional capacity for instruction and leadership, student-centered instruction, and links to parents and the community" (Kaplan& Owings, 2013).
Many of us in the educational field know that there needs to be a strong school culture to encompass all of these elements. According to Culture Re-Boot, "Research suggests that positive school cultures that support hard work and high achievement contain the following 10 characteristics" (Kaplan & Owings, 2013).
Positive School Culture Characteristics
An inspiring vision
Leadership
Innovation and risk taking
High expectations
Trust and confidence
Referring to the knowledge base
Involvement in decision making
Honest, open communication
Tangible support
Appreciation and recognition
The good thing to know is that school culture is not static, but it is hard to change.
Kaplan & Owings, 2013
Many of us in the educational field know that there needs to be a strong school culture to encompass all of these elements. According to Culture Re-Boot, "Research suggests that positive school cultures that support hard work and high achievement contain the following 10 characteristics" (Kaplan & Owings, 2013).
Positive School Culture Characteristics
An inspiring vision
Leadership
Innovation and risk taking
High expectations
Trust and confidence
Referring to the knowledge base
Involvement in decision making
Honest, open communication
Tangible support
Appreciation and recognition
The good thing to know is that school culture is not static, but it is hard to change.
Kaplan & Owings, 2013
School Culture and its Connection to School Leadership
According to Kaplan and Owings there are three levels of school culture as seen in the graphic organizer below. This module is going to focus on level two, Values, which there is little level of awareness of when it comes to teacher leadership. We are using these values as characteristics of school culture that involve teacher leadership and empowerment. Since school culture is formed by teacher leadership and the degree of teacher empowerment we are using these characteristics as a guide to evaluate your school culture and find ways to provide empowerment to teachers that will increase the school culture.
Definitions:
The following are definitions that will be helpful for you to complete the module:
School Culture: "The shared orientations, values, norms, and practices that hold an educational unit together, give it a distinctive identity, and vigorously resist change from the outside" (Culture Re-Boot, 2).
Teacher Leadership: As stated by Charlotte Danielson, "The term teacher leadership refers to that set of skills demonstrated by teachers who continue to teach students but also have an influence that extends beyond their own classrooms to others within their own school and elsewhere" (Danielson, 12).
Teacher Empowerment: The participation of teachers in all decision making directed towards carrying out the schools instructional mission both in the classroom and throughout the school. (Imig, Ndoye, & Parker, n.d)
Imig, S. Ndoye, A, and Parker, M. (n.d.) Teacher Empowerment, School Leadership, and Student Performance in North Carolina’s Charter Schools.
Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/649783/Teacher_Empowerment_School_ Leadership_and_Student_Performance_in_North_Carolinas_Charter_Schools.
School Culture: "The shared orientations, values, norms, and practices that hold an educational unit together, give it a distinctive identity, and vigorously resist change from the outside" (Culture Re-Boot, 2).
Teacher Leadership: As stated by Charlotte Danielson, "The term teacher leadership refers to that set of skills demonstrated by teachers who continue to teach students but also have an influence that extends beyond their own classrooms to others within their own school and elsewhere" (Danielson, 12).
Teacher Empowerment: The participation of teachers in all decision making directed towards carrying out the schools instructional mission both in the classroom and throughout the school. (Imig, Ndoye, & Parker, n.d)
Imig, S. Ndoye, A, and Parker, M. (n.d.) Teacher Empowerment, School Leadership, and Student Performance in North Carolina’s Charter Schools.
Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/649783/Teacher_Empowerment_School_ Leadership_and_Student_Performance_in_North_Carolinas_Charter_Schools.