West Virginia Department of Education ASSESSING SCHOOL CULTURE David Price Coordinator Office of Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership

Culture in Action “A life devoid of ritual and ceremony would be one without richness and zest.” - Peterson and Deal

Rituals Processes or daily routines that are infused with deeper meaning.

R ITUALS  Help Transform common experience into uncommon events.  Examples: Greeting Rituals Students Parents New Staff Members These rituals communicate how a school values various groups.

GREETING RITUALS  How are new teachers acknowledged in faculty meetings?  How are new students and their parents or guardians greeted? What are they told about the school? What are they given to help them connect and adjust?

TRANSITION RITUALS Transition rituals provide staff member with a way to move from one role, program, or approach to another or to end an era symbolically. Without transition rituals, the sense of loss can increase and cause problems.

TRANSITION RITUALS What significant Rituals does your school have during the year? As school begins End of Grading Period End of Semester End of Year

TESTING PREPARATION RITUALS Before Testing End of Testing Results of Testing

CLOSING AND ENDING RITUALS How does the school bring closure to events or programs Students “graduate” Staff members retire or leave

TRADITIONS Events or actions that occur from year to year These events build a sense of continuity, reinforce values and build community.

TRADITIONS What are your school’s traditions, and what meaning do they have for faculty, students and community.

IDENTIFY CORE TRADITIONS AND CEREMONIES Opening Day Ceremonies Recognition Ceremonies Homecoming Ceremonies Memorial Ceremonies

C EREMONIES AND TRADITIONS  What are all the Ceremonies in your school.  What message do the ceremonies communicate and reinforce?

TRADITIONS AND CEREMONIES  ACTIVITY:  Write down the large and small traditions and ceremonies over the year in your school then construct a timeline.  Note any periods of time that have few of these important events.  ANY WEAK OR DEAD ONES? DROP OR RESUSCITATE THEM.

ASSESSING AND TRANSFORMING NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF CULTURE Identify Toxic Subcultures Who are the members of the negative group? What is the focus of the negativity? What is the possible historical source of the negativity? What are some ways to work with the group to address their concerns?

TOXIC ELEMENTS 1. Lack of Share Purpose  Revisit the vision, mission and core beliefs of the school.  Who owns the vision, mission and core beliefs?

T OXIC ELEMENTS 2. Viewing the Past as a story of defeat and failure. Openly address the problems of the past and the focus on current successes, NO MATTER HOW SMALL! And make clear plans to avoid the errors of the past.

T OXIC E LEMENTS 3. Little sense of Community Increase opportunities for staff members to celebrate their own and other’s contributions. Increase the number of “quality and informal” interactions among staff members. (potluck dinners, time to share personal and professional ideas.)

Framework Overview

Correlates of Effective Schools

Vicarious Field Trip