Post on 16-Dec-2015
Follow-Up to School CultureA Look at “From Good to Great”
Kenny MolesTitle I School Improvement Coordinator
Essential Question• How do we as administrators help shape our
school or district culture?– List two areas of school culture that you feel are
exceptional at your school– List two areas of concern– What is the district’s role in shaping culture
throughout the school or district?– How do your 4 areas lend themselves to hindering
or helping to improve the academic performance of the students you serve?
The Highly Successful Administrator
Characteristics of Highly Successful
Administrators
Builds Relationships
Exudes a Culture of Discipline
Confronts the Brutal Facts
Has Ambition for the Success of their
School
Has Unwavering Resolve
Has Compelling Modesty
Exhibits the Hedgehog Concept
Gets “First Who…Then What”
Exhibits Professional Will
and Personal Humility
Build Relationships
Highly-Successful Administrators
1. Are part of the family2. Are one of the leaders3. Are truly collaborative4. Build sound, enduring
human relationships
Comparison Administrators1. Are isolated and not a part
of the family2. Converse with a few,
specific set of teachers3. Allow barriers to
relationship building to remain in place
Exhibit Professional Will &
Personal HumilityHighly Successful Administrators
1. Are fearless2. Act as a buffer between
school and external forces3. Voice Priorities4. Are humble5. Are self-effacing6. Are quick to praise others
Comparison Administrators
1. Avoid confrontation2. Relinquish beliefs3. Are resigned to
helplessness4. Are easily & constantly
frustrated5. Are heavy-handed & brash
Compelling Modesty
Highly Successful Administrators
1. Accept blame2. Credit others3. Are charismatic- which is
to be “other-mindedness”4. Minimize themselves5. View personal success as
“luck”6. Establish leaders for the
sustainability of greatness
Comparison Administrators1. Place blame2. Secretly seeks to be
recognized as successful3. Demonstrate self-reliance
on all matters4. Look to others for
affirmation instead of formulation
Has Ambition for the Success of Their School
Highly Successful Administrators
1. Encourage Professionalism and Leadership
2. Value targeted and sustainable staff development
3. Strive to see the school be even greater after they’re gone
Comparison Administrators1. Make decisions in the best
of interest of themselves, not children
2. Promote staff development only as a time filler
3. Promote the accomplishments of their school for resume building purposes
Unwavering Resolve
Highly Successful Administrators
1. Are relentless in working towards the school’s mission and vision
2. Are continuously involved with the primary operations of the school
a) Classroom visitationsb) Committee workc) Grade-level meetings
3. Are persuasive4. Are results oriented and
communicate those results
Comparison Administrators1. Start out as seemingly
driven, but hurdles such as the teachers’ union admonish their drive
“First Who…Then What”
Highly Successful Administrators
1. Clarify their vision and expectations
2. Have difficult, yet professional conversations with “certain” staff members
3. Know that people alone are not the most important aspect, the “right” people are
Comparison Administrators1. Resign themselves to the
status quo2. Allow policies to restrain
their efforts3. Do not articulate or foster
a working climate that would set their school apart
Confront The Brutal Facts
Highly Successful Administrators
1. Study- everything about the school
2. Analyze and report on the data, the good and especially the bad
3. Work through sensitive challenges
4. Show that unwavering resolve to overcome the brutal facts
Comparison Administrators1. Limit thinking to a “inside
the box” mentality2. Fail to let go of the
uncontrollable as excuses3. Tend to stay within their
comfort zone4. Fail to push others outside
of their comfort zones
The Hedgehog Concept
Highly Successful Administrators
1. Know what the school does besto Know what your teachers do
best
2. Know what drives the “educational engine”o Reject programs that detract
from the engine
3. Exude passion for their school’s vision and missiono Model the way
Comparison Administrators1. Fail to stay true to their
passions2. Change directions rapidly
and often3. Fail to identify the best of
their respective schools
A Culture of Discipline
Highly Successful Administrators
1. Build a freedom & responsibility based cultureo Collaboration & Focus
2. Fill the culture with self-disciplined peopleo Establish clear expectationso Provide focused support
3. Adhere consistently to the hedgehog concepto Never forget the 3-circle rule
Comparison Administrators1. Express hope, not certainty2. Allows freedom as a way of
avoiding the brutal facts and not for professional will
3. Consistently stay in various stages of building their culture of disciplineo Changing directions