National Center for Urban School Transformation
Improving Climate &
Culture in Urban Schools
National Center for Urban School Transformation
San Diego State University
2011
http://www.ncust.org
National Center for Urban School Transformation
Dedicated to identifying, studying, and promoting the
best practices of America’s highest achieving urban
schools in a manner that supports urban districts in
transforming teaching and learning
http://www.ncust.org
Learn more at the Annual Symposium on High-Performing Urban
Schools in San Diego, CA – May 23-25, 2012
High-performing urban schools
have climates that nurture the
commitment and engagement of
teachers, parents, and students.
The Climate for Students in
High- Performing Schools
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Students are eager to attend school. They perceive that
adults in the school care sincerely about them and about
their success. Students feel a personal connection to the
adults at school.
Students feel safe physically and emotionally. They
know that the adults in the school do whatever is
necessary to create a safe and comfortable learning
environment.
Students believe they are likely to succeed academically.
Students believe that their hard work will result in both
short-term and long-term exciting opportunities.
The Climate for Teachers in
High-Performing Schools
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Teachers believe they are part of a team that is making a
powerful difference in the lives of students. They believe
their work has purpose.
Teachers are proud of their team of colleagues, and they
believe that their colleagues are proud of them. Everyone
contributes, shares, and learns. Disagreements are resolved
promptly and professionally.
Teachers believe their administrators care sincerely about
them and about their success. They see administrators as
sources of support and leadership who are skillful enough
and caring enough to help them achieve excellent learning
results.
The Climate for Parents in
High-Performing Schools
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Parents believe that educators care about their child.
Parents believe that educators perceive potential in their
child and are working to maximize that potential.
Parents feel welcome at school. They feel that educators
perceive them as strong, positive partners in the
education of their child. Parents feel that their concerns
and insights are appreciated.
Parents believe that educators appreciate whatever small
or large contributions they make to their child’s
education.
How Do High-Performing Schools
Build and Sustain A Great Climate?
1. Leaders establish high expectations for
everyone’s involvement.
Leaders expect everyone to behave in ways
that respect and value everyone else in the
organization. Expectations are high, yet
reasonable. Leaders model those
expectations daily. They fairly, assertively,
and respectfully address issues when
individuals fail to meet those expectations.
How Do High-Performing Schools
Build and Sustain A Great Climate?
2. Leaders value improvement and growth.
Teachers, parents, and students feel like they
can take risks and try to improve because
they know their efforts will be appreciated
and supported.
Professional development is not an event; it
is a culture that pervades the school.
People are constantly learning to improve
their contributions to student success.
How Do High-Performing Schools
Build and Sustain A Great Climate?
3. Leaders keep conversations constructive.
Leaders refuse to be passive when others
choose to be negative. Respectfully, but
clearly, administrators and teacher leaders
speak out when others claim that goals are
unattainable. Leaders use research and data
to focus on opportunities to improve, not on
reasons to blame.
How Do High-Performing Schools
Build and Sustain A Great Climate?
4. Leaders keep attention focused on the
impact of everyday efforts on students.
Leaders communicate frequently,
consistently, and in multiple formats to
convey the impact of everyday school
actions on student lives.
How Do Top Schools Build and
Sustain A Great Climate?
5. Leaders promote ambitious goals that
generate enthusiasm and build a sense of
mission.
Leaders push beyond compliance and
encourage everyone to embrace goals that
will make a difference in students lives.
People commit to goals they see as worth
their effort.
How Do Top Schools Build and
Sustain A Great Climate?
6. Leaders build hope.
Leaders give students, parents, teachers,
and support staff reasons to believe that
their efforts are worthwhile. College and
careers are constant topics of focus.
Policies are designed/implemented to
nurture, sustain, and rekindle hope.
How Do High-Performing Schools
Build and Sustain A Great Climate?
7. Leaders celebrate progress frequently.
Frequently, leaders celebrate
improvements (both formally and
informally). They find elements of success
worth celebrating in results others see as
failure. They are skillful at acknowledging
everyone who contributed to successes.
How Do High-Performing Schools
Build and Sustain A Great Climate?
8. Leaders build leaders.
Leaders create platforms for the leadership
of many others (teachers, parents, and
students) who want to influence school
improvement. Leaders maximize
opportunities for input from others and
distribute leadership opportunities in ways
that build the capacity of individuals to
contribute to the school’s success.
How Do High-Performing Schools
Build and Sustain A Great Climate?
9. Leaders continuously strive to increase the
degree to which everyone feels valued,
respected, and appreciated.
Leaders collect information (formally and
informally) that helps them know how to
improve relational issues. They identify and
resolve issues promptly and professionally.
They evidence great integrity and sincerity.