School Culture

School culture is the way in which a school is viewed, it is the quality and character displayed by leaders, teachers and students within the institution. A successful school will include respect among the students and the teachers and also ensure a safe environment that will help produce a thriving environment socially and academically. One main factor that increases the success of a school is student engagement. Student engagement produces multiple opportunities for social development which gives students the experience they need to achieve goals.

The making of a positive school system is not based on socioeconomics or the configuration of the institution but rather on the passion and professionalism of the teachers of that institution. Good schools provide students with a strong professional staff, a broad curriculum and a school climate that is conducive to learning. Administrators help their teachers develop instructional ways to encourage teamwork. They also communicate with the parents of students to keep the parents involved in the achievements of their children.

The leadership role in a school is held by the school principle, these individuals have many different roles to play throughout the school. Principles manage, discipline and instruct faculty and staff to provide guidance and set a positive example. School leaders have the duty of supporting teachers and assist in locating resources to help them be more effective in the classroom. As school leaders, principles influence the culture of an institution in many ways. One way these leaders influence school culture is by working with teachers, students and the community to uphold common values.

A leader has the ability to inspire, motivate and gain respect while still achieving a certain goal. The first leadership trait I will discuss is self- awareness. I think self- awareness is important in establishing a positive educational environment. A leader that has self- awareness knows their values, strengths and weaknesses and is also able to admit mistakes and learn from those mistakes. Being able to exploit your strengths and identify your weaknesses is key as a leader. This allows you to teach and lead others by using your strengths and bring attention to your weaknesses to work on improving them. Having self- awareness helps leaders identify gaps in their leadership style, this will assist in skill development. Self- awareness gives you a sense of who you are and also creates a vision and a plan for professional improvement. Once you have mastered self- awareness you will be able to motivate and lead others more effectively.

Another trait I found to be important to the success of an institution is adaptability. This calls for a leader to be flexible and to respond to changing situations. Being an adaptable leader involves adjusting to changing environments and circumstances. Adaptable leaders accept change and thrive in times of uncertainty.