The Superintendents’ “Three R’s” of Building Culture
We asked superintendent of Hemlock Public School District and educational leader Don K. to share his thoughts on the superintendent's role and impact in building school and district culture. Read his insights for K-12 leaders:
The crossroads of leadership and culture is a busy intersection, and the importance of these two is paramount. School leaders play a crucial role in setting the tone for creating a positive culture that fosters the mission and vision of the school system(s) they lead. Albert Einstein is credited with saying, “The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple.” A leader works to simplify organizational complexity into bite-sized human interactions that make school systems feel less institutional and more community.?
As leaders, we need to use the basics, the 3 R's: Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, to foster a thriving school culture for students, staff, families, and the greater community we serve.?
R1: Reading People - Fostering Emotional Intelligence
The first R, 'Reading People,' highlights the necessity of emotional intelligence in educational leadership. Leaders who excel in understanding the emotional landscape of their school can create a nurturing environment for both students and staff. This involves:
As a leader, it is so important to set the stage for the best outcomes and ensure all voices of your community are represented. It is not so much what you say, as how and when you say it – and staying on point, holding tight to the rudder, and ensuring your organization stays on course while meeting the needs of those you serve.
While we are busy reading people and taking the pulse of our constituents, we do need to be aware that they are reading us as well. So pay attention to your body language, smile often, stand tall, make eye contact, and make sure that you are being as vulnerable and human as possible. Work hard to be organized on the inside, so that when you have those public-facing moments, you can be spontaneous and in the moment. Don't be afraid to make mistakes or even embarrass yourself.?
Recently, our district did a video series patterned after the famous Carpool Karaoke . I can't sing, and neither can most of the people I had in the car with me, but the first installment got thousands of views over our social media platforms. Being authentic, vulnerable, and not afraid to be imperfect humanizes you as a leader and, in this case, communicates important information. Things like this go a long way to creating a fun and warm culture.??
By mastering the art of reading people, leaders can cultivate a school culture that values emotional well-being and mutual respect, which is essential for a conducive learning environment. Often, there is a mismatch between what people think and say and what they want and need, so do not be afraid of doing things that are counterintuitive sometimes.?
Pro-Tip: People watch, read a book (or two or three) on body language, and study human interaction. Take an online class on it, but be more focused on giving the right non-verbal cues than getting them, at least to start. Also, understand that human nature is often counterintuitive.?
R2: wRiting a Better Future Together - Vision and Collaboration in Education
The second R, 'Writing a Better Future Together,' focuses on the importance of a shared vision in educational leadership. School leaders must not only envision a progressive future for their institution but also engage the entire school community in this vision. This entails:
"Writing" can bring diverse stakeholders together, whether that is literally or figuratively, and collaborate. If your organization does not have a strategic plan, I highly recommend that you develop one. The process of developing and communicating a comprehensive vision is very empowering to every facet of your school community. There are additional visionary components you can consider as well, such as developing a brand guide or organizing a campaign committee around a specific initiative.??
There is power when a leader steps back and lets others in the school community run with something, whether that is a campaign, or implementation of a portion of the strategic plan, or something else. This collaborative approach ensures that every individual feels a sense of ownership and responsibility toward the school’s future, fostering a community of motivated learners and educators.
Beyond the collective work, it is important that you build a supporting narrative that works to harness energy toward your school district or organization's mission and vision. Mine: Innovate, Collaborate, Educate A Community of Learners. You can find that woven into almost every press release, social media post, or piece of swag we produce.?
Pro-Tip: Develop a strategic plan and a brand guide, and consider organizing a campaign committee to support an initiative such as a bond or referendum. Do not be afraid of people; they are your organization's greatest resource, and they appreciate (value goes up), unlike that lawn mowing tractor you bought last year that’s depreciating as you read this.?
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R3: aRithmetic in Every Subtraction and Addition - Strategic Decisions in School Leadership
The third R, 'Arithmetic in Every Subtraction and Addition,' refers to the strategic decision-making in school leadership. Effective leaders are those who:
It’s important to be doing the arithmetic in your human resource department. Not only from an economic perspective (as your labor likely represents 80-85% of your budget), but this type of arithmetic in developing a positive culture makes a huge difference in your organization's success.?
One time, during an interview, I was asking a candidate their thoughts on culture and professional development. Their response was, "What if you train people up and they leave? Or worse, you do not train them up, and they stay?" We hired that person, invested in them, and continue to invest in everyone within our organization. Early on, people did take the training and leave, but at some point, the tide turned, and people took the training, got better at their jobs, and stayed –?for the improvement of our district.?
To successfully impact culture, you need to ensure that various departments of your school district are aligned. We want alignment across them all, but depending upon the season, the level of alignment from one department to the next can flex. In the 2010's it was so important that the business and human resource departments aligned to keep the budgets on track. In the 2020s, mission-critical is keeping your human resource department and communication team aligned.?
Leaders who are adept in the area of arithmetic can steer the school towards continuous improvement and maintain a culture that is adaptable and aligned with educational values and goals.
Pro-Tip: Ensure that your hiring process is rigorous and even more so in times when it is difficult to find candidates. DO NOT settle. Develop a clear human resource philosophy and collaborate with as many other partner organizations as possible.??
Beyond the three R's, there are several strategies and practices that school leaders can implement to further enhance school culture:
For example, we’ve implemented a Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) system. This program helps shape the views of both staff and students and even parents as everyone looks to find good behavior, which helps foster a culture of positivity. Our middle school has gone as far as creating a reward option that includes students having lunch with their friends at special seating, with ceramic plates and real silverware, and allows the students to pick out the Apple Music playlist for the cafeteria during their lunch period.??
While the journey towards a positive school culture is rewarding, it is not without its challenges. Leaders may encounter resistance to change, resource limitations, or varying expectations from the school community. The journey towards a positive school culture is ongoing, requiring commitment, empathy, and strategic thinking. It’s about keeping relationships – building them and maintaining them – at the center of your work.?
And by embracing the three R's – Reading People, Writing a Better Future Together, and Arithmetic in Every Subtraction and Addition – along with implementing strategic initiatives and addressing challenges head-on, school leaders can cultivate an environment where every student and educator can thrive.?
About the Guest Author:
Don K. , aka "The Gladiator," is an educational leader with a wealth of experience from classroom teacher to the superintendency. With advanced degrees in educational tech and leadership from Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University, and Central Michigan University. In addition to educational research, Don has co-authored a children's book about teamwork and resilience called Warriors of Widgeon Way and has co-authored 43 Ways to Be Less Lame as an Educator and 43 Ways to Be Less Lame with Talent Acquisition and has plans for another book about school finance. When he is not leading his school district or making people laugh, in his spare time, he enjoys being a professional beard judge and a world-class jump roper. Don is the first to admit that he is flawed and unfinished.