Shaping School Culture by Living

the Vision and Mission

Savannah Miller
Las Brisas Academy K-8

Mission Statement: Our mission is to ensure every student is college

and career ready by creating a positive environment filled with
memorable learning experiences and collaborative relationships.

Vision Statement: Our vision is to develop confident, caring students

who are creative, critical thinkers and life-long learners.
Strategy: Build traditions

Rationale: Building and sharing in traditions build a community around

our campus and set the stage for years to come, as well as serving our
mission and vision. (Dean, 2017)
Strategy: Establish and carry out yearly
theme

Rationale: Choosing a theme to exemplify our mission and vision will

not only unite and motivate the students but will also serve as an
inspiration for the whole staff and as a justification for the amazing
work we are doing. (Dean, 2016)
Strategy: Share leadership

Rationale: This campus is full of highly capable and driven teachers and
staff who are willing to take on leadership roles and will excel in them.

By sharing the responsibility we also get to share in the success of the

campus, foster more positive working relationships, and see a more
equitable distribution of opportunities.

A win for one means a win for all!

Strategy: Communicate high expectations
for all

Rationale: Focusing on changing teachers strategies and procedures is

more successful than trying to change beliefs. By changing procedures
and strategies positively, beliefs can also be changed. From their
expectations of students can change as well. (McDonald, 2014)
Strategy: Establish norms

Rationale: The “go to” expectations will save us valuable time in all
aspects of our job. As long as we value and uphold them we can create
and sustain a positive culture for years to come regardless of who
enters or exits this campus.

It is crucial we put student expectations and behaviors at the forefront

of what we do, and these norms will allow us the time and energy to do
so. (Dean, 2016)
Strategy: Enact high quality instruction in
all classrooms

Rationale: In utilizing all district/ state resources, curriculum and

standards as well as working to use evidence based strategies to
increase student discourse and higher level questioning, we can
increase the rigor and depth of our instruction across campus and
increase student outcome and achievement.

Using Kagan structures can allow more time for strategic student
discourse and will allow us to build a culture of collaboration among
students that is consistent from grade level to grade level.
(Bromley,1997)
Strategy: Increase admin time in
classrooms

Rationale: Not only will this allow a better scope of what is actually
happening in classrooms from my perspective it will help to minimize
behaviors and increase accountability to curriculum, resources and
standards
Strategy: Enact positive student behavior
program (Love and Logic)

Rationale: Negative student behaviors are leading to a higher number of

referrals and wasted student and teacher time. Using a behavior
modification program such as Love and Logic can give teachers back
the power while allowing student choice and voice in a reasonable way.
(Buttner, 2016) A complete shift is necessary to achieve the results we
want, which will also be helpful in “resetting” the way we handle
student behavior on campus.(Fay, 2016)
Strategies for Communication and
Implementation

● Professional Developments - this is an opportunity to reach all staff

at the same time and vet any errors or flaws
● Community engagement and feedback - include community on
decision making process and feedback for theme and traditions
● Website - the mission and vision will be displayed on website and all
school literature
References
● Bromley, K., & Modlo, M. (1997). Using cooperative learning to improve reading and
writing in language arts. Reading & Writing Quarterly, 13(1), 21.
https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/1057356970130103
● Buttner, C., & Fridley, W. L. (2007). WWJD--What Would Jim Do? A Comparison of James
Dobson’s and Jim Fay’s Philosophies of Parenting. Philosophical Studies in
Education, 38, 131–139.
● Deal, T. E., & Peterson, K. D. (2016). Shaping school culture (3rd ed.). San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, a Wiley brand.
● Fay, J., & Fay, C. (2016). Teaching with love and logic: taking control of the
classroom. Golden, CO: Love and Logic Institute, Inc.
● McDonald L, Flint A, Rubie-Davies CM, Peterson ER, Watson P, Garrett L. Teaching
high-expectation strategies to teachers through an intervention process.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN EDUCATION. 2016;42(2):290-307.
doi:10.1080/19415257.2014.980009.