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LM September 2019
We have also completed a staff climate and culture
survey that we implement in the fall of each year. We
have received over 95 percent agree or strongly agree
in each category for teacher leadership, ownership,
communication, collaboration, trust and organizational
health.
Q
:
Howlongdoes it taketoplan
something likethis?
It is no different than a regular institute day planning
for professional development. Two to three months of
details, agenda and preparation is needed. We put a lot of thought
into how it’s going to make people feel, and we run with it. People
want to be fed, so we plan meals. They want to feel welcome, so
the leadership team and I greet them at the door. We have a fun
décor too. There’s opportunity to reconnect with colleagues from
the summer and other buildings and grade levels
Q
:
Whatadvicedoyouhavefor
superintendents interested inpursuing
anactivity likethis?
Maya Angelou famously said, “I’ve learned that people will forget
what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will
never forget how you made them feel.”
As superintendents, we sometimes get caught up in all of the
things we think we need to get done for the different stakeholder
groups. Yet, we need to prioritize making a great impression at
the start of the school year, getting teachers excited, energized
and inspired to start the school year. The party is not inexpensive,
but we budget for it. We have communicated the benefits to the
BOE so they support and want us to use resources to make
people feel good, safe and welcome—not only at the start of the
year, but throughout the whole year. So if superintendents are
interested in creating a socially and emotionally healthy climate
for their staff and teams, they need to work with their BOEs and
leadership teams and start early and plan what their next back-to-
school theme should be.
We are big on sparkle and bling in Diamond Lake SD #76, so
everything usually has that theme and flair. People love it. It
makes them feel special and good. Who doesn’t like a little
sparkle and bling?