The routines you implement on your campus—be they daily, weekly, monthly, or annually—require a clear outline. Without these structures, your vision loses significance, as there is no way to foster it. Similarly, your culture cannot thrive without a systematic approach to maintain it, and your philosophies and values regarding behavior hold no weight if the systems to uphold them are absent.
If you’re an administrator in a school that struggles with systems, where should you begin? Which system should come first? On a recent episode of TEPSA Talk, principal and co-host of the Modern Principal podcast, Dr. Christy Lamb, shared why systems are the foundation for building and sustaining your school culture starting with effective staff meetings.
According to Dr. Lamb, before any of your ideas or initiatives can succeed, four essential components must be established. One of these core elements is ensuring that meetings are effective. Dr. Lamb emphasized this is crucial “Because every single thing that happens in our building as an adult collective happens through a meeting—whether it’s a staff meeting, professional development, PLC or a parent meeting.”
When you consider every meeting on your campus with this perspective, it becomes clear why systems must be implemented to make these gatherings meaningful. While establishing these systems is crucial and streamlines processes over time, it does require dedication and patience to develop and sustain them. Remember, you are not alone in this journey! By fostering shared leadership and incorporating staff feedback, you can turn meetings into collaborative opportunities where meaningful progress is made toward achieving the team’s objectives.
Learn practical tips to make meetings efficient, reflect your values, and serve as the backbone of systemic change in “Systems That Convert Meetings into School Culture Builders” with Christy Lamb. Start at 3:29 for key insights! Tune in to TEPSA Talk on Spotify, Apple or YouTube –
