ASKED Answered
If you could share one best practice for creating a good school climate,
what is it and why do you think it is valuable?
Three education leaders share their thoughts about creating a positive school climate.
Get off your computer! Hang up the phone! Get
Ron Thomas
Assistant Principal, Oak Ridge
High School, El Dorado UHSD
out of your office!
Interpersonal relationships are the foundation for learning and
human development. As an educational leader I have worked
in both urban and suburban school sites. Although my meth-
ods may change depending on the environment, the one piece
that remains the same is the time I spend trying to create a
good school climate by developing, improving and investing
in relationships.
A few months ago I attended an event in which a panel of stu-
dent leaders from across the state were asked to give admin-
istrators advice on how to improve school climate. A common
response was stronger teacher-student relationships – and
for administrators to be more visible.
Once students develop strong relationships with adults on
I think the one best practice to creating a
good school climate is a shared vision of what the culture for
learning will look and feel like for all stakeholders. A posi-
tive school climate is created by those who work inside the
school, i.e. students, teachers, administrators and other staff
members, as well as those outside the school, i.e. parents,
community members and district leaders. To create a posi-
tive school climate, the stakeholders must use observational,
achievement and survey data to make decisions.
Positive relationships involve the freedom for students and
adults to share their thoughts and learn from each other. Cre-
ating a culture for learning embraces developing positive rela-
tionships. A good school climate is one in which students feel
safe physically, socially and emotionally, which allows them
to engage academically. A positive school climate is valuable
because it has better outcomes. Schools that value relation-
ships where educators collaborate and feel supported by all
stakeholders tend to have better academic and behavioral
outcomes. Teachers in schools that have a good climate, have
a tendency to have a higher job satisfaction, which leads to
teacher retention.
The role of a good administrator is to promote a culture for
learning by including all stakeholders. Although, there is no
one way to ensure a good school climate, it is necessary in
order for students to strive academically, socially-emotion-
ally, and physically. n
A foundational component of a good school
Derrick Lawson
Principal, Indio High School,
Desert Sands USD
#LeadershipMatters
campus it makes it much easier for all stakeholders to begin to
educate the whole child. Rita Pierson mentioned in her power-
ful “Every Kid Needs A Champion,” TED talk, “Kids can’t learn
from teachers they don’t like.” I’ll add that faculty and staff
won’t follow a leader that they don’t trust. With that in mind,
I model ways to build relationships and trust every day. I en-
gage in genuine conversations with all members of my learn-
ing community. I laugh with students. I DJ dances and per-
form in pep rallies. I serve as a guest teacher in classrooms,
provide and attend professional development with teachers,
and sit side-by-side with staff members during weddings and
funerals.
I am able to do all of this because I got off my computer, hung
up the phone, and got out of my office! n
climate rests on the strength of the interpersonal relationships
on campus with both students and staff. The age-old quote,
“Students do not care how much you know, until they know
how much you care” truly is the same for all stakeholders.
One practice that has been most valuable to me has been to
start every meeting with a “Kudos moment” and allow staff to
give a verbal pat on the back or shout out to someone for their
positive contribution to the school or for a shining personal
moment. I bring Kudos bars for them to hand to the person
they are recognizing. We also have print kudos at the end of
every weekly staff bulletin. The boost in motivation, commit-
Kimberly Hendricks-Brown
Principal, Columbia
Elementary, Fresno USD
ment and productivity are noticeable and in turn has begun to
disseminate into classroom practices!
We do the same for students with the use of “Just wanted
you to know…” postcards that any staff member can send
home for students for individual, team or club achieveme