Positive Culture

 

Culture is a system of shared assumptions, values and beliefs that govern how people behave within an organization. Culture is difficult to change as it’s embedded in the behavior of individuals and can best be described as the personality of your organization. Climate, on the other hand, is how employees within your organization experience that Culture - think of Climate as the mood of your organization.

A study published in the Review of Educational Research suggested school climate should be a top priority for both educators, leaders, and communities. According to a report published in Teachers College Record, research indicates that positive school climate is associated with, and can be predictive of, academic achievement, effective violence prevention, students’ healthy development, and teacher retention. The quality and character of school life as it relates to norms and values, interpersonal relations and social interactions, and organizational processes and structures establishes a tone for all teaching and learning that is done in the school.

I want to share with you that I have had several people outside of our building comment on the climate at Houlton, and how even in this extremely challenging start to the year, our staff has remained positive, hard working, and focused on doing the job. This speaks so highly of our Houlton staff, and their dedication to our Houlton students. I think it is something I have come to take for granted, and I wanted to let you know that I am extremely appreciative of everything you do, even more so this fall. I am always impressed with how people in our building just step up and do what needs to be done. I am so proud of what the Houlton staff has always done, and continues to do every day!