Vanessa L.

Peak
January 6, 2016
DLP: Assignment 3.1: Collaboratively Assess Cultural Leadership Your
School
Based on the NCSSE Standard 3, and in consultation with my mentor
principal I obtained three teachers on staff. We together discussed the
Cultural Leadership within the building. With discussion the CLAT team
and I decided to use a survey instrument to gain a consensus
concerning the level of agreement of the ten items identified in the
research and literature as important to high performance learning
cultures.
The established Survey Monkey was the instrument used to gain
consensus from teachers. The following are questions derived to
complete the consensus.
1. Creates a collaborative work environment predicated on site-based
management that supports the team as the basic unit of learning
and decision making within the school and promotes cohesion and
cooperation among staff.
2. Communicates strong ideals and beliefs about schooling, teaching, and
professional learning communities with teachers, staff, parents, and
students and operates from those beliefs.
3. Influences the evolution of the culture to support the continuous
improvement of the school is outlined in the School Improvement Plan.
4. Systematically develops and use shared values, beliefs and a shared
vision to establish a school identity that emphasizes a sense of
community and cooperation to guide the disciplined thought and
action of all staff and students.
5. Systematically and fairly acknowledge failures and celebrates
accomplishments of the school and staff.
6. Visibly supp0rts the positive, culturally responsive traditions of the
school community.
7. Promotes a sense of well-being among staff, students and parents.
8. Builds a sense of efficacy and empowerment among staff that result in
a can do attitude when faced with challenges.
9. Empowers staff to recommend creative, 21st century concepts for
school improvement.
10.Exemplifies the integrity of the leader within the culture of the building
community.

Survey Results
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3

Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly disagree

2
1
0

The following information from the above graph was derived from
Survey Monkey. This is a component used to gain information from
Hollister Elementary teachers about NCSSE Standard 3, which is
Cultural Leadership within the school.
Total Score 40-50 the staffs actions demonstrate a Culture ofDistinction. Practices needing revised are listed below:
From the results the Cultural Leadership Team formulated plausible
recommendations of actions of those areas to improve upon from the
areas rating less than a 4.

1. Creates a collaborative work environment predicated on site-based

management that supports the team as the basic unit of learning
and decision-making within the school and promotes cohesion and
cooperation among staff.

The CLAT team and I came to the agreement that there are some
instances where decision will be made and though you may have the
best intentions as a building leader to insure the faculty is abreast
there will be times where you must make the decision based on the
current information you have.
2.

Influences the evolution of the culture to support the continuous

improvement of the school is outlined in the School Improvement Plan.

The CLAT team and I came to the agreement that we could do more in
this area to foster the culture as outlined in the School Improvement
Plan. Therefore, we would ensure to use the words created to create
the vision statement for the school and ensure this is done throughout
the school.
3. Promotes a sense of well being among staff, students and parents.

The CLAT team and I thought in this area perhaps more recognition of
the great work staff, students and parents to help make our school
successful is needed.
4. Empowers staff to recommend creative, 21st century concepts for
school improvement.

The CLAT team and I in reviewing the various things teachers are doing
within the classroom that they have in fact embraced this; however
perhaps more individualized conversations would be helpful.
5.

Exemplifies the integrity of the leader within the culture of the building
community.

The CLAT team and I delved a little deeper with this question and
decided that perhaps more open conversations with community stake
holders will better continue to enhance the relationship between
community and school.
The CLAT team and I concluded that overall there are great examples
of a culture of Distinction within the building. The building leader is
vested into providing the greatest opportunities to enhance instruction
and for both faculty and students.

Vanessa L. Peak
DLP: 3.1
Cultural Leadership Practice
January 6, 2016
Cultural leadership through the lens of my mentor is very interesting.
When taking on the task of this assignment I thought about my mentor
who has been in her building for now the third year. In many
discussions we talked about what its like to be in a place where you
yourself have gone to the school and know most of the students,
parents and grand parents. The expectations of this in my option could
be overwhelming. The reasons for this are because many related
families make up a great number of students who currently attend the
school.
Another aspect of this is having demographics, which consist of over
fifty percent native American and an influx of teachers from a different
country. Talk about a culture of diverse dynamics! When continuously
reviewing the culture of this building you may as I have questioned the
differences as it relates to the emotional aspect. Westerners are
perceived as less sensitive. The consciousness of the expectation of
another culture could seem frustrating in my opinion, because you
would always have to ensure you are aware of their emotional balance.
How is the perception of what you may consider a crisis the same in
which that teacher may view as it relates to the given student? Here is
what the dynamics of the building look like.

Ethnic Breakdown of School

African American
Native American
White
Other

As a school leader I would like to think that I would exemplify the

acceptance of others. In any case, the realities of a globalized work
place means its unwise for leaders to get too settled in their cultural
comfort zone. A multicultural team in this day and age is a reality.
Therefore I would focus on a shared Vision Statement. I would ensure
the atmosphere is set for a cultural within the building that embraces
differences. I would note that that I am a work in progress and as long
as I complete self-awareness check daily and prepared to learn.
Understanding meaningful and genuine conversation and actions that
are clear is most important to sustain a successful building.