Culturize: Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes.

by Jimmy Casas

Leaders Build Capacity

Just because you are not the building principal doesn’t mean

you don’t have the skills to lead others, whether they be students, colleagues, or in some instances, the administration.

These teachers stand outside their doorway and greet students, they contact parents on a regular basis, sit toward the

front at faculty meetings, stop by the main office to thank the secretaries, and support their colleagues by sharing their best lessons.

Embrace your vulnerability.

Don’t wait for others to do what needs to be done; do it yourself.

Take time to enjoy what you do! Sometimes we forget to take notice

If you want people to be less anxious, provide more clarity.

You are the difference between today and tomorrow.

It’s true that hope is not a plan, but it is a beginning.

Stay the course.

Experience is still the best teacher.

Build a résumé of failures.

We must be prepared to face the challenges, accept failures, honor successes, and take time to recognize that no single success or misstep is a final destination.

Leaders Aren’t Afraid to Say No

Despite the natural fear of disappointing people or dealing with negative reactions, saying no is unavoidable in the role of any leader.

1. Pay attention to how you say no and what you do afterward.

2. Power and “rightness” aren’t the same.

3. Accept that dealing with stressful situations is a part of saying no.

4. Sometimes a no is the beginning of a deeper relationship.

So, I selected the first for my one word: forgiveness.

Leaders Don’t Shy Away from Push Back

Being a classroom, school, or district leader today requires a great deal of fortitude, especially for those who aim to influence the status quo. Push back is to be expected, which means that having the courage to see things through is necessary in the work you do, especially when you see it through the eyes of your students.

leader’s resolve might be tested: 1. Hiring.

2. Teacher Changes.

Teacher changes should only be granted after attempts to resolve the concerns with the student, parent, teacher, and

administrator have been unsuccessful.

Suspen...

4. Technology/Social Media.

Internal Candidates.

decision. 6.

New Initiatives.

Leaders Value Communication

1. Timely communication is vital.

2. If there is a concern or issue that needs to be addressed, it is best to have the conversation in person rather than via email.

3. If you are concerned about the way something was communicated or don’t agree with a decision that was made, go to the source of the information/communication and clarify or question the decision.

4. There is no excuse for not contacting a parent whose student is failing a class.

5. If you know of a student that is struggling who has typically been successful in school, take time to seek out that student and ask what you can do to help them be successful and then follow

up with a phone call to a parent.

6. Avoid sarcasm and defensiveness. Never ask a student to repeat an inappropriate comment you clearly heard the first time because you are upset and want to use it as ammunition to punish the offender.

7. If you are having difficulty contacting a parent or you are unable to reach a parent altogether due to a non-working number, seek the assistance of an administrator immediately and ask them to help you make contact.

8. If you are dealing with student behavior issues, stay out in front of it

by communicating early on.

9. If you are a director or coach who has decided that a student who has previously taken a starring or starting role in events or games will not perform or play (or take a lead or starting position), take time to sit down face-to-face and explain to the student why the decision was made and what it means for his or her role moving forward.

10. If you are a witness to a good deed, be sure to make it a priority to validate that person’s good work in person or through a personal note.

Leaders Own Their Morale

When it comes to culturizing a school or district, the first step is ensuring staff members look forward to coming to work each day.

As leaders, we must be willing to describe and communicate in a positive way our own feelings about morale while modeling vulnerability, honesty, and personal responsibility. Here are five ways to help you address classroom, building, and/or district morale issues:

Communication. Communication