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

by Jimmy Casas

Students are people who bring us their wants, and it is our job to handle them as expeditiously as possible. Take care of t...

Many schools today have a can’t-do culture. If adults buy into the mindset that kids can’t, then how can we complain when kids won’t?

strive to culturize a school where students are encouraged to do what’s not allowed by giving them permission to do what was previously seen as not possible based on policy or regulations. By being intentional in our interactions with students and learning to understand and appreciate their goals and aspirations, we will come to recognize the accomplishments of students who have overcome adversity and personal challenges to reach their full potential in school—in academics, attendance, behavior, or overall citizenship.

behind every student success story is a staff member who championed for that student.

By taking time to actively engage our students in conversation, we are opening up treasure chests filled with testimonials from students who have persevered through difficult family situations, overcome personal tragedies, suffered through times of poor performance in school or struggled with severe learning disabilities.

All these students demonstrate a certain degree of resiliency with the courage to keep fighting. Their stories inspire us and allow us, as educators, to remember that our work matters—that connecting with and championing for students matters more than we may ever know. In a culture of excellence, every student has at least one adult to whom he or she can go for encouragement or support in their time of need.

Within the heart of every caring educator is the core belief that students are worth the time and energy it takes to establish relationships with them.

Recognize What’s Going Well—

take a moment to reflect on the work you do with students.

Please share a strategy you use to illuminate a culture of learning in your classroom and share your belief in why it matters.

Change Student Behavior by Changing Adult Behavior

We get what w...

the first step toward making significant improvements in student behavior is to recognize that the adults in your organization are the silver bullet.

if you want to improve student behavior in your school, you must change the way the adults in your school interact with students and with each other.

“How many of the referrals that were written by staff members originated with a comment, response, interaction, behavior, or in some cases, a lack of response that, rather than de-escalate a situation, actually served to provoke a student, resulting in a behavioral referral to the office?

We allow a student to push our buttons and then we respond in a way that is out of character for us. Why? Because we care so darn much.

flip your mindset and view the interaction as an opportunity to cultivate a relationship with a student who needs you in their corner.

Reach Out and Call Someone

Devote time regularly to contacting families whose students are strug...

meet and share the results of those conversations with one another.

students who have a history of poor attendance also do poorly in school, are disconnected, and ultimately are highly at risk for dropping out of school. Personal phone calls, letters, home visits, delegating local resources, such as school counselors, nurses, social workers, school resource officers, etc.—if done with the intention of better understanding the struggles your students and their families are facing—can make a significant impact on a student’s desire to attend school.

reach out and say, “We care, and we are here to support yo...

the more serious situations, we can reach out to...

keep trying and never give up on a child or a family, to commit to doing whatever it takes to create a plan that ensures any child can and will be successful. Believing is half the battle, but believing must be followed up with actions to complete the other half.

when it comes to building positive relationships with others, how they respond is their choice.

Culture builders understand that the promise of expectations left unfulfilled can sometimes leave them feeling drained and defeated, resulting in disappointment and heartache; however, they never lose hope.

some kids just take longer to demonstrate learning, just like some adults.

Behind every child’s face is a story that needs to be heard, appreciated, respected, valued, and in some cases, shared. Educators who champion for students have a sincere desire to create positive experiences for their students and others that will motivate and inspire them to be the change our schools and communities need!

By consistently interacting and connecting in a purposeful manner with your students, you can reawaken their spirit and influence them in meaningful ways that will instill a sense of belonging and a belief that they have something positive to contribute.

A leader’s most powerful ally is his or her own example.

Expecting excellence, our second core principle, is essential when it comes to fostering a culture in which one’s best effort is the standard, and everyone in the school community is a leader.

“Harold, you don’t need to wear a patch on your arm to have honor.”

You don’t have to have a leadership title to be a leader. You just have to lead.

we must invest every fiber of our belief and energy to help those we serve develop confidence and skills so they can realize that leaders don’t need a patch, badge, title, or nameplate to be considered a model teacher or a leader. It’s the way we manage ourselves every day that allows us the privilege of leadership in whatever position we hold.

Everyone in an organization has the fundamental capacity to lead.

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.

Talented teachers take it upon themselves to do all they can to see that each of their students, as well as the school in general, experiences success.

They genuinely want to help others around them move forward and experience their own successes.

You are a leader because of your ability to inspire others, to build their confidence, to influence their thinking and, more importantly, their behavior. And as you do so, you develop new leaders. In fact, helping others increase their capacity and develop their leadership skills—at the student, teacher, building, and district level—is our fundamental responsibility as educators. Building a community of leaders is how we create school cultures where everyone, from the youngest student to the most seasoned educator, believes they have an obligation to be a culturizer with the power to impact the school in a positive way.

The most effective leaders are always learning and are willing to share their expertise in hopes that someone will benefit in some way. They have figured out that leadership was not meant to be a committee of one, exercised in isolation. No one person was ever meant to lead a classroom, school, or district all alone, not if they want to propel the work that needs to be done to a maximum level of efficiency and to sustain a high quality of work over a long period of time.

An organization that is always seeking permission has not generated the capacity or developed the leadership skills that empower everyone to work toward the common goal of excellence using their unique skills, traits, and talents.

creating a framework based on a clearly defined set of core values or a belief system. Those values will drive the decisions and behaviors of those in your organization, and the framework will give others appropriate responsibilities and empower them to develop their own leadership skills.

by investing time and energy in others, even through the simplest of interactions, we can play a part in helping them become better. And at the same time, we become better.

Embrace your vulnerability.

Are you asking your students to do something that you are not willing to do?

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

Take initiative and be the change you so desire to see happen. T...

Take time to enjoy wh...

Celebrate your successes! When we focus our energy on giving of ourselves to others (and we take time to enjoy the process and the outcome), others notice the magnitude of our joy and p...

If you want people to be less anxious, provid...