Creating a Positive School Culture: How Principals and Teachers Can Solve Problems Together
Principals and teachers have very different perspectives, pressures, and struggles. As a result, problems of negativity, isolation, or censure often develop among staff members. This may cause principals and teachers to spend a tremendous amount of energy addressing these issues instead of focusing on their primary goal—improved student achievement.

Creating a Positive School Culture provides strategies for understanding and solving staff problems, preventing conflicts, and enriching school climates. By combining therapeutic knowledge with day-to-day educational experience, the authors offer innovative solutions for overcoming many energy- and morale-sapping problems, including gossip, cliques, negativity, and competition.

To help engage and inspire readers, this volume includes:

- Teacher and principal interview excerpts
- Concise case examples of school culture problems
- Step-by-step guidance for school culture interventions
- Best practices culled from the authors’ extensive research
- Ready-to-use tools, including school culture surveys and staff development exercises

Based on more than 200 surveys and interviews with principals and teachers, this practical guidebook clearly explains how administrators, teachers, parents, and staff can all work together to solve problems and build a culture of caring and respect.
1120316301
Creating a Positive School Culture: How Principals and Teachers Can Solve Problems Together
Principals and teachers have very different perspectives, pressures, and struggles. As a result, problems of negativity, isolation, or censure often develop among staff members. This may cause principals and teachers to spend a tremendous amount of energy addressing these issues instead of focusing on their primary goal—improved student achievement.

Creating a Positive School Culture provides strategies for understanding and solving staff problems, preventing conflicts, and enriching school climates. By combining therapeutic knowledge with day-to-day educational experience, the authors offer innovative solutions for overcoming many energy- and morale-sapping problems, including gossip, cliques, negativity, and competition.

To help engage and inspire readers, this volume includes:

- Teacher and principal interview excerpts
- Concise case examples of school culture problems
- Step-by-step guidance for school culture interventions
- Best practices culled from the authors’ extensive research
- Ready-to-use tools, including school culture surveys and staff development exercises

Based on more than 200 surveys and interviews with principals and teachers, this practical guidebook clearly explains how administrators, teachers, parents, and staff can all work together to solve problems and build a culture of caring and respect.
10.49 In Stock
Creating a Positive School Culture: How Principals and Teachers Can Solve Problems Together

Creating a Positive School Culture: How Principals and Teachers Can Solve Problems Together

by Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin, Maureen Taylor
Creating a Positive School Culture: How Principals and Teachers Can Solve Problems Together

Creating a Positive School Culture: How Principals and Teachers Can Solve Problems Together

by Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin, Maureen Taylor

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Overview

Principals and teachers have very different perspectives, pressures, and struggles. As a result, problems of negativity, isolation, or censure often develop among staff members. This may cause principals and teachers to spend a tremendous amount of energy addressing these issues instead of focusing on their primary goal—improved student achievement.

Creating a Positive School Culture provides strategies for understanding and solving staff problems, preventing conflicts, and enriching school climates. By combining therapeutic knowledge with day-to-day educational experience, the authors offer innovative solutions for overcoming many energy- and morale-sapping problems, including gossip, cliques, negativity, and competition.

To help engage and inspire readers, this volume includes:

- Teacher and principal interview excerpts
- Concise case examples of school culture problems
- Step-by-step guidance for school culture interventions
- Best practices culled from the authors’ extensive research
- Ready-to-use tools, including school culture surveys and staff development exercises

Based on more than 200 surveys and interviews with principals and teachers, this practical guidebook clearly explains how administrators, teachers, parents, and staff can all work together to solve problems and build a culture of caring and respect.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781632209719
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Publication date: 06/23/2015
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 224
File size: 2 MB

About the Author

Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin: Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin, Ph.D. is the Training Director of the Narrative Therapy program at Bay Area Family Therapy Training Associates (BAFTTA) where she supervises the counseling of doctoral interns in schools from three school districts in Silicon Valley, California. She has published numerous professional articles, has been featured in several magazines such as the California Educator and Educational Leadership, and is known internationally for her entertaining, thought provoking, and inspiring workshops. She lives in Silicon Valley, CA.
Maureen Taylor: Maureen Taylor is an educator in Northern California. Her background includes teaching preschool through sixth grade and being an environ­mental educator. Her main interests lie in teaching science and writing, two subjects that gently unfold for the learner. Taylor is currently devel­oping a program for children blending art, environmental education, and social issues.

Table of Contents

Prefacevii
About the Authorsxiii
1Understanding the Different Experiences of Teachers and Principals1
Principals4
Teachers15
Conclusion32
2Creating an Environment for Change37
Exercise: Externalization39
Comparing Deficit-Focused Versus Conceptualized Understanding: Summary of the 4 "C's" of Helpful Conversation44
Summary of the Practice of Externalizing and Restorying57
3Typical School Culture Problems and Their Effects61
Gossip62
Problem-Saturated Conversation65
Cliques68
The Us-Them Attitude70
Resentment and Negativity72
Community Disrespect76
The Rushed Feeling and Scarcity of Time78
Hierarchy81
Competition82
4When Serious Problems Divide the Staff87
The Scenario88
Applying a Narrative Metaphor90
5Changing Staff Habits Without Conflict101
Process of Change101
Step-by-Step Example of the Thinking Behind a Constructive Process of Change103
6Preventing Problems and Creating a Climate of Support113
Connection114
Collaboration119
The Many Faces of Appreciation121
Self-Reflection128
Dealing With the System: Testing and Unions130
Leadership132
7Practices That Support a Caring School Culture139
8Working With Parents and Volunteers147
Problem Stories of Parents and Bats147
Parent Involvement: From Problem Story to Collaboration151
When Conflicts Arise156
More Ideas for Your School Community160
World Wide Web Resources160
Yard Duty Volunteers161
Strategies for Challenging Situations164
Conclusion: Questions and Answers167
Resource AGlossary175
Resource BStaff Development Activities179
Resource CSummary of School Culture Problems and the Practices That Prevent Them185
Resource DJob Satisfaction Survey189
Resource ETeacher Survey193
Resource FPrincipal Interview Protocol197
References203
Index205
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