Social, Culture and Legal Context, Part 4

Question 1: Discuss communication that can encourage a positive response from staff members.

Answer 1: When an administrator is an effective communicator, he or she creates a more positive, encouraging environment throughout the school. If administrators open a meeting by stating their true feelings or reactions to the situation at hand, then they can establish a secure environment from the onset because staff members will be at ease when they perceive that they are meeting in a safe atmosphere in which they can freely speak their minds. Because an administrator can control the attitude of the group he or she is addressing, chances are that the group will be more positive if the administrator enters into the meeting with a positive attitude about a situation. It is crucial that an administrator talk to the staff in a non-threatening manner; nothing will cause a person to become defensive faster than feeling that they are being personally attacked. An administrator must also learn how to become open to and accepting of others’ personalities, opinions, approaches to issues, and methods of communicating.

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Question 2: Discuss why it important for an administrator to clearly state his or her values and ideals for a school.

Answer 2: Administrators must stay true to what their school’s values and ideals are because without vision and focus, creating policies to move the school in a positive direction will be much more difficult. Having a clear mission about what the school seeks to accomplish will help the instructional focus of teachers, which ultimately influences student learning. Administrators play the biggest role in developing a school’s goals; however, they alone should not decide what these goals are. Instead, establishing a school’s mission and goals should be the result of a group effort in order to best reflect what both the district and the community expect the school to achieve. An administrator is responsible for motivating teachers, students, and parents to be involved in upholding the school’s values and reaching its ideals. Administrators are extremely busy and can easily get caught up in the everyday duties of managing a school; however, as role models for staff, parents, and students, it is essential for them to remain focused on the goals of their schools.

Question 3: Explain how an administrator can shape a school’s culture through his or her choice of staff members.

Answer 3: After an administrator has developed a clear vision and has established goals for his or her school, he or she must staff the school with individuals who share that same vision. With the power to hire, promote, and demote staff members, an administrator must remember that every time he or she fills a position, whoever is hired for that position has the potential to change the school’s culture. While it would be impossible to find someone who shares the exact same vision as the person who vacated that position, an administrator should strongly emphasize the school’s values and goals during the hiring process. Because a school culture can take years to develop, a newly-hired staff member must understand what the school seeks to accomplish and be committed to doing whatever he or she can to contribute to the school’s purpose.

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