Transforming School
Culture
By Zarina Ahmad
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Outcomes for Today!
• You will understand how
school culture operates from
a political, sociological and
belief perspective
• You will learn some practical
strategies to manipulate
school culture to
intentionally create a
positive atmosphere that
maximizes student learning
• You will identify and
effectively diagnose a school
culture condition that needs
to be transformed at your
site and design a strategic
plan of action.
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All About Me
• My background
• I was born and raised in Oakland
• I attended OUSD schools K-12th grades
• My experience
• I’ve been an educator for 28 years.
• I began teaching in small schools that focused
on African centered education
• I joined OUSD in 1993 and taught for 14
years before becoming an administrator in
2007 with New Leaders, Cohort 7
• My resident year was at Acorn-Woodland
• This is my 5th year as principal at Piedmont
Avenue Elementary
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My Family
• My husband
•
Mubarak
• My children
• 1 Daughter
• 3 Sons
• All children attended or
still attending OUSD
schools
Me and
My
Husband
Iminah
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Ayinde
23
Azeem
21
Akintunde
17
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Vital Signs for Reform
• U.S. Census Bureau reports in 2011 that
43% of African American youth live in
homes that have incomes below the
national poverty line.
• 65% of African American children live in
homes headed by single parents
• Of the over two million incarcerated
Americans, African American males
account for 900,000 of the inmates
• 84% of these inmates are functionally
illiterate.
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More Vital Signs
• The Latino population in the U.S. has
grown rapidly and they are now facing
many of the issues that have plagued
African Americans
• Poverty, and health issues such as
diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and
mental health.
• Regardless of race, students from poor
families experience the costs of a poor
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education
Identified Links Between High
School Graduation and the
Quality of Life
• African American and Latino students
graduate from high school at a rate slightly
above 50%
• Adults without a high school diploma are
twice as likely to be unemployed
• The life expectance of high school
dropouts is 9.2 years less graduates
• The average 65 year old graduate is in
better health than 45 year old dropout out7
In the words of the
Apollo 13 spacecraft:
“Houston,
we have
a
problem!”
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Why Are Our Kids
Dropping Out?
• Lack of a quality
education foundation
in the early yearsfailure in High School
• Lack of interest
• Violence
• Family responsibilities
• Becoming a parent
• Pushed Out
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Need for Positive School
Culture and Climate
• We have to make
school a place
where students
want to be
• It begins with the
adults taking an
honest look at our
beliefs, practices,
and behaviors
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Defining School Culture
• “School culture is
the set of norms,
values and
beliefs, rituals
and ceremonies,
symbols and
stories that make
up the ‘persona’
of the school.”
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Positive School Culture
Teachers’ Belief
• All children can learn
• All children will learn
because of what we do.
• This belief is passed on
to others in overt and
covert ways
Relationships
• Teachers work together
to support student and
teacher growth
• Share best practices
• Students and families feel
supported by teachers
and the school
• Positive attitudes
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Toxic
Teacher Complaints
• These kids don’t eat
breakfast
• The parent is in jail
• These kids don’t do their
homework
• No one in the home can
read
• These kids are too far
behind
Relationships
• Conflicts
• Staff does not believe in
the students ability to
learn
• Negative attitudes
• No desire to change or
make improvements
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My School
• SF Examiner ran
story due to a bullying
incident where a
student suffered a
skull fracture
• Labeled the most
violent school in
OUSD due to high
number of
suspensions for
violent behavior
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hurt feelings
Mediocre Teachers
No trust
No 5th Grade
promotion ceremony
Dark
Trash
Underperforming
African Americans
targets not met
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Transforming My School
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Three Big Rocks: Year One
1. Efficacy: Professional Development on Beliefs!
Motto:
Believe You Can! Work Hard! Get SMART!
The Future is NOW!
2. College Going Culture: All Classrooms named
after colleges and universities with the belief
that are students will get there.
3. Celebrations: Weekly Student Summits,
Awards for academic growth, Core Values,
Charms, Shining Stars, CARES, Principal
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Awards
Piedmont Avenue
Student Behavior Management
Handbook
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Smaller Rocks
• Began Professional Learning
Communities-Cycle of Inquiry, Best
Practices
• Established a Teacher Leadership Team
• Exposed teachers to other schools that
were getting results (Dropping seeds for
academic changes for year two)
• Kept an open door, visible, smiling,
participate
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Traits of Leadership
Character to Build Trust
• Do not make promises that cannot be
kept.
• Back your people when it counts
• Take responsibility and be publicly selfreflective when times are tough
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Year Two: Academics
• Introduced and adopted Si Swun Math for
all grade levels. Provided training and
support.
• Introduced and adopted “Read, THINK,
Apply”, reading comprehension program
for all grade levels. Provided training and
support.
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Year Three
• Change Prep from Art and Dance to
Science/Art
• District Support
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• Growth
Math
ELA
Science
70
Percentage
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
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Piedmont Avenue
Proficient and Advanced
• Math 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
51%
67%
61%
73% (+12%)
• ELA 2008-09 2009-10
44%
49%
• API
744
795 (+51)
2010-11 2011-12
49%
55% (+6%)
780
817!
Living in Dialogue
Dyad Protocol
• Describe a school culture dilemma at your
site and the possible root causes
•
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Leadership Matters
• Lead teachers in the process of learning. Expose them
to knowledge that enlightens their practice and gives
them a new context to believe in student growth.
• Familiarize yourself with the history of the school and
community, and articulate a vision that will inspire others
to think in new ways.
• Continue to improve your skills and credentials. Nothing
says competence like a person who exhibits the quality
of lifelong learning.
• Be the change you want to see.
• Belief you can do it!
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YOU CAN Transform School
Culture!
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