“Assessing The Health of your School Culture”

Dr. M. Edward KrensonRandolph School President and Head of School

“Assessing The Health of your School Culture”

Dr. M. Edward KrensonRandolph School President and Head of School

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

• What is culture?

• What is the relationship between school culture and institutional effectiveness?

• How to assess the health of your school culture

• What is culture?

• What is the relationship between school culture and institutional effectiveness?

• How to assess the health of your school culture

“Culture is the approximation of the two ways, feeling and mind, of two worlds, sensitivity and thought. Culture is therefore the collective attitudes, beliefs, assumptions, expectations and approaches that are considered by the individual or the group to be normal and appropriate.”

“Culture is the approximation of the two ways, feeling and mind, of two worlds, sensitivity and thought. Culture is therefore the collective attitudes, beliefs, assumptions, expectations and approaches that are considered by the individual or the group to be normal and appropriate.”

What is Culture?What is Culture?

“The great law of culture is: Let each become all that he was created capable of being” Thomas Carlyle

“The great law of culture is: Let each become all that he was created capable of being” Thomas Carlyle

ISM’s “Model Schools Project” Study on Effective Private / Independent Schools

 

“Identified quality of faculty culture as the core predictor of sustained student and faculty excellence in private independent schools”.

ISM’s “Model Schools Project” Study on Effective Private / Independent Schools

 

“Identified quality of faculty culture as the core predictor of sustained student and faculty excellence in private independent schools”.

“The nature of the relationship among the adults at the school has more to do with the school's quality, its character, and the achievement of its students than any other factor.”

Roland Barth

“The nature of the relationship among the adults at the school has more to do with the school's quality, its character, and the achievement of its students than any other factor.”

Roland Barth

Randolph School MissionRandolph School Mission

Randolph School promotes high academic standards and challenges all students to develop the knowledge, skills, and character to become self-confident, reflective, and productive adults.

Randolph School promotes high academic standards and challenges all students to develop the knowledge, skills, and character to become self-confident, reflective, and productive adults.

Randolph School Principles Randolph School believes that: Randolph School Principles Randolph School believes that: • Students achieve their full potential when the

school challenges and supports each child's interests and aptitudes.

• In a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, students master essential skills and information, develop intellectual curiosity and creativity, and acquire the ability and desire to continue learning throughout their lives.

• Students achieve their full potential when the school challenges and supports each child's interests and aptitudes.

• In a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, students master essential skills and information, develop intellectual curiosity and creativity, and acquire the ability and desire to continue learning throughout their lives.

Randolph School Principles Randolph School believes that: Randolph School Principles Randolph School believes that: • Students should have the opportunity to

mature as well-rounded individuals through participation and competition in a broad range of extracurricular activities.

• Clear and consistent expectations for behavior create an environment in which young people develop integrity, compassion, and respect for others.

• Students should have the opportunity to mature as well-rounded individuals through participation and competition in a broad range of extracurricular activities.

• Clear and consistent expectations for behavior create an environment in which young people develop integrity, compassion, and respect for others.

Randolph School Principles Randolph School believes that: Randolph School Principles Randolph School believes that:

• Students and faculty from diverse backgrounds create a stimulating intellectual environment and foster respect and appreciation for differences.

• Parents and teachers must work as partners to educate children effectively.

• Students and faculty from diverse backgrounds create a stimulating intellectual environment and foster respect and appreciation for differences.

• Parents and teachers must work as partners to educate children effectively.

Morale, Culture and Characterby Douglas Heath (1999)Morale, Culture and Characterby Douglas Heath (1999)“We must view schools more systemically, not just as collections of academic disciplines. We must search for principles of assessment and standards for evaluating the quality of schools’ learning environment. We must assess achievement of their school-wide goals, typically attributes of character”.

“We must view schools more systemically, not just as collections of academic disciplines. We must search for principles of assessment and standards for evaluating the quality of schools’ learning environment. We must assess achievement of their school-wide goals, typically attributes of character”.

Teaching / Working Environment

“Faculty Culture”

Instructional Environment

“Student / Parent Culture”

Peer Relationships

Student - Teacher Relationships

Administrative EnvironmentMission / Vision / Values

“Leadership Culture”

Administrative Relationships

TeacherService to

Constituents

Teacher Collegiality

Whole School Culture

Institutional Effectiveness Assessment Model

TeacherProfessionalism

School Sub-Culture ComponentsSchool Sub-Culture Components

Leadership CultureMission / Vision / Values

Trustees Administration

Department HeadsAdministrative Staff

Constituent CultureInstructional Environment

Student RelationshipsStudent AchievementParent Relationships

Faculty / Staff CultureTeaching / Working

Environment Empowerment

Collegiality

Administrative Environment Administrative Environment • Assessed generally in each of the individual

survey instruments.• Individual assessments conducted for selected

administrators• Survey results tracked longitudinally• Individual assessments conducted in May • Feedback shared in one on one meetings

related to the survey results• Findings used for professional growth plan

• Assessed generally in each of the individual survey instruments.

• Individual assessments conducted for selected administrators

• Survey results tracked longitudinally• Individual assessments conducted in May • Feedback shared in one on one meetings

related to the survey results• Findings used for professional growth plan

ISM’s Faculty Culture Profile ISM’s Faculty Culture Profile

• Standard 13 question questionnaire

• Tracked longitudinally

• Departmental / individual assessment

• Opportunity for comments

• Assessment in April

• Broken down divisionally

• Communicate results to board

• Standard 13 question questionnaire

• Tracked longitudinally

• Departmental / individual assessment

• Opportunity for comments

• Assessment in April

• Broken down divisionally

• Communicate results to board

Randolph School Faculty Culture Report Whole School Part I

2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

2000 3.80 4.10 4.20 4.30 4.00 3.70 3.50 3.80 3.90 4.00 4.40 4.30 4.20

2001 4.13 4.39 4.25 4.38 4.32 4.07 4.03 4.21 4.48 4.60 4.21 4.60 4.59

2002 4.11 4.45 4.37 4.57 4.19 3.92 4.07 4.16 4.35 4.43 4.73 4.66 4.59

2003 4.28 4.48 4.40 4.44 4.49 4.26 4.17 4.25 4.46 4.59 4.70 4.65 4.43

2004 4.34 4.57 4.41 4.35 4.35 4.23 4.20 4.30 4.56 4.55 4.81 4.74 4.51

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Randolph School Faculty Culture SurveyWhole School Part II

2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Results

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

2000 4.10 4.50 4.60 3.10 2.60 4.70 3.70 3.80 3.70 4.60 4.20 4.10 4.00 4.60 4.40 3.90 3.40 3.50 4.20 4.30 4.40 4.20 4.60 3.90 3.80

2001 4.40 4.80 4.80 3.30 3.10 4.50 4.00 4.10 3.80 4.80 4.40 4.60 4.30 4.70 4.30 4.00 3.60 3.60 4.50 4.30 4.50 4.50 4.60 4.10 4.10 4.90 4.00 4.50

2002 4.17 4.63 4.67 3.64 3.50 4.57 4.60 4.40 3.72 4.83 4.42 4.61 4.31 4.80 4.46 4.34 3.67 3.92 4.48 4.47 4.55 4.51 4.82 4.61 4.55 4.68 4.53 4.58

2003 4.29 4.71 4.81 3.89 3.59 4.59 4.25 4.34 3.78 4.77 4.50 4.58 4.07 4.64 4.53 4.50 4.01 3.94 4.59 4.47 4.64 4.59 4.83 4.69 4.51 4.55 4.46 4.34 4.85

2004 4.49 4.72 4.80 4.12 3.81 4.65 4.45 4.37 4.06 4.78 4.47 4.72 4.35 4.74 4.61 4.55 3.86 3.43 4.54 4.39 4.67 4.64 4.84 4.72 4.39 4.64 4.57 4.47 4.53

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Parent Culture SurveyParent Culture Survey

• Standard 20 question questionnaire• Tracked longitudinally• Admissions priorities• Division specific questions (3 – 5)• Developed collaboratively with RPA• Opportunity for comments• Assessment in February / March• Parent meeting / communicate results• Broken down divisionally

• Standard 20 question questionnaire• Tracked longitudinally• Admissions priorities• Division specific questions (3 – 5)• Developed collaboratively with RPA• Opportunity for comments• Assessment in February / March• Parent meeting / communicate results• Broken down divisionally

Whole School Parent Survey Results2001 (48%) vs 2002 (47%) vs 2003 (39%) vs 2004 (47%)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

2001 4.03 4.14 4.22 3.99 4.01 3.94 4.13 3.75 4.06 4.13 3.03 4.15 4.07 4.27 4.38 4.28 3.70 3.87 3.76 3.79

2002 4.21 4.24 4.37 4.33 4.23 3.97 4.14 3.74 4.20 4.37 3.29 4.38 4.26 4.30 4.40 4.35 3.79 3.91 3.95 4.16

2003 4.28 4.41 4.45 4.16 4.27 4.01 4.29 3.77 4.25 4.33 3.15 4.39 4.32 4.40 4.40 4.40 3.88 4.12 3.98 4.29

2004 4.27 4.35 4.45 4.25 4.10 4.07 4.32 3.95 4.32 4.32 3.05 4.42 4.22 3.87 4.42 4.45 3.85 4.02 4.00 4.15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Whole School Questions 21-262001, 2002, 2003, 2004

47% Participation

0

1

2

3

4

5

2001 4.63 4.46 2.85 3.35 4.15 4.56

2002 4.81 4.58 2.58 3.45 4.23 4.67

2003 4.84 4.62 2.42 3.41 4.34 4.66

2004 4.82 4.67 2.51 3.50 3.87 4.70

1 2 3 4 5 6

Upper School Division Specific Questions2002, 2003, 2004

2.8

2.9

3

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

2002 3.22

2003 3.69 3.48

2004 3.74 3.54 3.16

1 2 3

Student Culture SurveyStudent Culture Survey

• Standard 21 question questionnaire

• Tracked longitudinally

• Opportunity for comments

• Broken down divisionally

• Assessment in November

• Communicate results to student / faculty / parents / board

• Standard 21 question questionnaire

• Tracked longitudinally

• Opportunity for comments

• Broken down divisionally

• Assessment in November

• Communicate results to student / faculty / parents / board

2004 Whole School Student Survey

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Grades 4-12 4.083.483.343.944.443.843.983.614.674.543.393.322.944.413.234.273.163.483.463.593.923.50

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

2004 Student Culture Survey TotalsUpper Elementary, Middle and Upper School

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Upper Elementary 4.26 3.45 3.51 4.30 4.49 3.98 4.45 3.95 4.86 4.79 3.68 3.61 3.26 4.40 3.34 4.39 3.27 3.50 3.70 3.66 4.25 3.42

Middle School 4.12 3.38 3.21 3.80 4.45 3.76 3.89 3.41 4.59 4.45 3.17 3.18 2.81 4.42 3.01 4.24 2.90 3.43 3.25 3.43 3.79 3.41

Upper School 3.87 3.62 3.30 3.72 4.39 3.78 3.60 3.46 4.57 4.37 3.31 3.18 2.76 4.41 3.34 4.17 3.30 3.51 3.43 3.68 3.71 3.68

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

2004 Whole School Student Survey

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Total 2.94 3.16 3.34 3.39 3.46 3.48 3.48 3.50 3.59 3.94 4.27 3.23 3.32 3.61 3.84 3.92 3.98 4.08 4.41 4.44 4.54 4.67

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Resonance Symbol Resonance Symbol

• Symbolism of Three Circles

• Triangle

• Butterfly– Metamorphosis– Butterfly Effect

• Seeing more than is obvious• Seeing how everything is connected• Small actions lead to significant results

• Symbolism of Three Circles

• Triangle

• Butterfly– Metamorphosis– Butterfly Effect

• Seeing more than is obvious• Seeing how everything is connected• Small actions lead to significant results

“A school community that challenges both the head and the heart is a community with the capacity to inspire greatness”

Eddie Krenson Ed.D.

“A school community that challenges both the head and the heart is a community with the capacity to inspire greatness”

Eddie Krenson Ed.D.