Culture Happens in Places with People

I can appreciate the fourth Term workload – reporting season, end of year celebrations, class configuration for 2024 and staffing. Similar to a football game - the ins and outs.

Attraction and retention of staff is such a difficult equation to balance, and it boils down to school culture. Culture happens in places with people.

Here are five places that you can reflect on to test the level of your positive school culture:

1. The Staffroom. A meeting place for educators that has a sense of happiness and support balanced between laughter and professional conversations.

2. The Collaborative Meeting. An effective and efficient use of time where educators contribute to the needs of the students discussing planning, teaching and assessing which is reflected in the minutes.

3. The Staff Meeting. A place where all educators are safe to voice their opinion without judgement, accept the final decision and feel heard and valued.

4. The Staff Carpark. A place where educators get the final word about their day and the running of the school which is more about what we did well and less about what we should be doing instead.

5. The Classroom. A place where students are happy because of engaging lessons, a safe environment and an educator modelling the best version of themselves more often.

What do you see and feel when you are part of these places? Is this a place that would attract or repel educators? If the latter, then what part of your 2024 will be devoted to creating a positive school culture that addresses the most important places in your school?