1. Climate and Culture

2. Climate and Culture Organizational climate: An atmosphere
Tends to be temporary – shifting in emotions
“in a bad mood”- could last for months or for one hour
Caused by internal or external factors
Easier to change than change culture
Ex: reduction in force = stressful atmosphere until decisions are announced

3. Climate and Culture cont’d
Culture - An organizational personality
“… the way we do things around here”
The social footprint
“… what’s really going on”
Invisible force field
Behaviors that seem strange to new employees
Unwritten rules that permeate everything
Manifested through traditions, rituals, norms, myths, institutional memories, heroes, ceremonies, and symbols

4. Culture cont’d No universal definition
Key factor in determining whether improvement is possible
Typologies or characteristics of cultures:
Toxic
Fragmented
Contrived
Balkanized
Stuck
Organic
Collaborative
Moving
Wandering
(Deal & Peterson, 1999)

5. Reflection… One thing I like best about my school’s culture is…
One thing I would like to change about my school’s culture is…

6. Enrichment Activity #2: Culture Change
As a new leader in your building, you inherit a
climate and culture of division and unrest with the
current system in place of teacher coaches,
teacher mentors, and master teachers.
For a variety of reasons, your teachers view these
positions as punitive in nature and not to be
trusted. They perceive these positions as "easy
jobs" and resent all the release time allotted to
those in the positions.

7. What would you do your first semester as building leader to begin to change the climate and eventually the culture to address this issue?
Make a list of actions you would take as the leader. Limit to five and prioritize them.
Perception is reality. Even if a small percentage of faculty felt this way, should the school leader address it? Why or why not? How do you determine which hills to defend?

8. “Leading from the Parking Lot”
What is critical to improve student learning in my school?
Where and how can I exert influence in my school?
Opportunities
My role
What challenges might I face if I exerted influence to make changes?