There is a reason that “creating a culture” is the number one goal area of the AWSP Leadership Framework— because culture is everything. How our schools and our people interact, the relationships they have with each other and the community, and most importantly, the relationship our people (adults, students, community members, etc.) have with our school, every aspect of it is woven around one word: Culture.
Every day, a favorite in my life is when my entire family makes it back home from work. Stories, smiles, laughter, and the occasional wrestle by the 5- and 6-year-old boys. I admire their attitude over the last two years. Just going with the flow, finding joy in the little things, and I stopped tonight to say, “You are the reason.”
Today we are seeing shifts in demographics, technology, globalization, and ideologies in general, all at the same time. With things evolving so quickly, it's normal to experience anxiety, uncertainty, fear, and even helplessness. Many teachers, administrators, principals, and other school staff don't quite feel equipped to lead in the face of such rapid changes and polarizing social landscapes. It's hard to know where to turn when we're all busy trying to create new norms, policies, and processes in our way as we go. It seems that any energy spent is getting through the day, with limited capacity to address larger, more systemic issues that we see in our schools and communities.
The Association of Washington Student Leaders is a division of the Washington School Principals’ Education Foundation
Sponsored by the Association of Washington School Principals
