Leading Change in School Culture

Abstract

It is my belief that nothing is more important about a school than its culture. In this paper, I will demonstrate that no one occupies a more influential position from which to influence a school’s culture than its principal. Every successful school leader knows that culture influences all aspects of the school’s operations. As a school leader, one needs to know: What is the culture of the school now? What are the history, values and traditions? Are the school cultures healthy or toxic? How does the school culture affect the teachers and students? What can the principals do if they find the school culture is not very good? What can be done to strengthen aspects of the culture that already fit the principal’s vision for the school? What can be done to change or reshape the culture when seeing a need for a new direction? As a school leader, one needs to lead the school culture in a healthy direction. One needs to know the school culture and what the key problems of the school are. What do teachers wish for? What are the non-discussables of the school? How many non-discussables does the school have? What are the reasons? How does the school culture affect the teachers and the students’ behaviours and values?