Policy Review Part 4: Role of Culture in School Improvement

Excerpt from CGR Report

As the media tell the story, a war over education policy is being waged between anti-teacher, test-loving, business-minded crusaders and pro-union, anti-testing defenders of children.  The film Waiting for Superman, the Los Angeles Times release of test scores by teacher, and policy changes spurred by Race to the Top have fueled the conflict.

This education “culture war” forms the context in which Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard came to RCSD.

In many ways, culture change is the work of district reform.  And it is difficult to achieve.  An attack on organizational culture is personal for everyone involved, thus is more politically charged and more likely to ignite an emotional reaction.   It’s why winning hearts and minds of staff is so important.

Download report: Policy Review # 4 – Role of Culture in School Improvement

There are days when CGR gets my best. And days when it doesn’t. I care about our work and I’m committed to my colleagues, our trustees, our donors and our clients. But there are days when other priorities intrude. “Family comes first” is socially acceptable. But there are days when I can’t hide behind that. There are days, frankly, when I come first. That doesn’t make me evil. It just makes me human.

Teachers are human, too. They bring the same jumble of motivations to the classroom that I bring to CGR. There are days when the well-being of their students means everything to them. And there are other days when the challenges of work life and the frustrations of home life are simply too much—that’s the day for a movie or a guest speaker! The interests of teachers and students are related, but they are not the same.

Read the rest of this entry »