An effective leader creates a culture that fosters mutual accountability; it becomes the responsibility of all staff to make sure that all students are successful. An effective leader advocates, nurtures, and sustains a school culture and instructional program that is welcoming, that is built on mutual trust, and that promotes student learning and staff professional growth.
Key Questions for Reflection
- What are you doing to build a shared mission and vision with your school community?
- How are you creating leadership opportunities that foster shared ownership?
- What systems support collaboration among staff and students in your school?
- How are you celebrating and affirming the diverse identities within your community?
- In what ways do your actions reflect the values you expect of others?
Quick Wins
- Start meetings with a 30-second “mission/vision in action” reflection from a staff member or student.
- Create “Culture Check” walk-throughs where staff give feedback on bulletin boards, signage, and shared spaces.
- Establish rotating staff leadership roles in PD or school-wide initiatives.
- Host a student panel or listening circle to gather feedback on belonging and engagement.
- Recognize staff and students monthly who exemplify your mission and values.
AI Prompts
Message Drafts
Help me draft a message for staff that reinforces our school’s mission of inclusivity and collaboration.
Reflection
Give me three reflective questions I can ask at our next leadership team meeting about our school culture.
Templates
Help me create a staff shoutout template that highlights contributions aligned with our core values.
Building
What are five ways I can build a positive staff culture during a tough month like November?
Tech Tips
- Create a Google Form to collect anonymous student input on school culture, then ask AI to summarize common themes.
- Use Canva or Adobe Express + AI copy tools to co-create a visual version of your school’s mission/vision with student input.
- Translate communication using AI tools to ensure multilingual access for families and staff.
- AI-powered survey analysis (e.g., from Google Forms or Poll Everywhere): Use ChatGPT to summarize open-ended responses from a culture feedback survey.
- Create a collaborative Padlet or Jamboard titled “What Our Culture Looks Like in Action.” Staff can post pictures, quotes, or examples from classrooms, hallways, or events.
Examples of Proficient Behaviors
A proficient leader creates a strong, inclusive school culture by modeling core values, building trust, and distributing leadership.
In practice, they:
- Start meetings by linking work to the mission and vision.
- Delegate leadership roles to staff and students regularly.
- Use surveys and walk-throughs to gather feedback on culture.
- Recognize staff and students who exemplify shared values.
- Host listening sessions to elevate student and staff voice.
- Invite students to co-lead events or school initiatives.
Possible Evidence to Collect
To demonstrate growth in this area, consider gathering:
- Team norms or collaboration protocols developed by staff.
- Results or summaries from staff or student culture surveys.
- Notes or artifacts from leadership team meetings or roles.
- Photos, quotes, or reflections that show shared voice in action.
- Staff communications or agendas referencing mission/vision.
- Examples of identity-affirming practices or inclusive displays.
- Documentation of how leadership roles are distributed or rotated.
Continued Learning
The AWSP Learning Lab is our online learning platform with various courses, live and asynchronous options. Check out what is available to support you learning.
- Culturally Responsive School Leadership – Muhammad Khalifa
Guides school leaders in disrupting systemic inequities and building identity-safe, inclusive schools where all students thrive. - The Art of Gathering – Priya Parker
A human-centered approach to gathering that will help everyone create meaningful, memorable experiences, large and small, for work and for play. - The Art of Coaching – Elena Aguilar
Provides powerful tools for supporting teacher growth, fostering trust, and building instructional leadership capacity. - Beyond the Bake Sale – Anne T. Henderson, Karen L. Mapp, Vivian R. Johnson & Don Davies
Reframes family engagement as a true partnership, with practical approaches to connect with families from all backgrounds. - Belonging through a Culture of Dignity – Floyd Cobb & John Krownapple
Reveals how belonging and dignity unlock real equity. - We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be – Cornelius Minor
Identifies tools, attributes, and strategies that can augment our listening, allowing us to make powerful moves toward equity.