The Heartbeat of the School: How to Create a Positive School Culture 

Think about the human body. The heart serves as the pump of our body. It circulates blood, carrying oxygen and nutrients to every cell. If the heart stops, the brain and organs lose oxygen quickly, and without intervention life cannot continue.

Culture is the heart of the school. A positive school culture is not just the feel when you walk through the doors—it’s the shared set of beliefs, practices, and behaviors that make people feel they belong. In a positive culture, students know they are valued, teachers know they are supported, and families trust that their children are in good hands.

In my book Instructional Change Agent (Drummond, 2018), I highlight four critical areas for school leadership, with “Drive School Culture” as the first domain. Why? Because culture determines whether any other initiative will take root. You can have strong instructional strategies or innovative technology, but if the culture is toxic, nothing sticks. Positive school culture is the fertile ground where everything else grows.

Benefits of a positive school culture

Building a positive school culture is not just a “feel-good” exercise; it creates measurable results. Here are five key benefits:

1. Higher student engagement: When students feel safe and respected, they are more likely to participate actively and take ownership of their learning.
2. Improved academic outcomes: Bryk et al. (2010) found that schools strong in at least three of the 5Essentials—including effective leadership and supportive environment—were ten times more likely to improve student outcomes.
3. Stronger teacher retention: Teachers who feel valued and part of a collaborative culture are more likely to stay, reducing costly turnover.
4. Increased family trust and involvement: Families engage more deeply when they see schools modeling transparency, respect, and partnership.
5. Greater resilience in times of change: A strong culture provides the stability needed to navigate transitions, policy shifts, or crises.

Examples of positive culture in schools

Positive culture comes to life in daily practices, not just mission statements. Consider these four examples:

• Student voice structures: Schools that invite student representatives to advisory councils demonstrate that learners’ perspectives shape decisions. These students are proportionally representative of every student group you have in your school.
• Teacher collaboration: Dedicated professional learning communities (PLCs) give teachers time to analyze data, set SMART goals, select strategies for the classroom, and monitor growth. Our data team process at Center for Model Schools helps anchor a strong culture of academic excellence through teacher collaboration.
• Celebration of diversity: Schools that honor cultural traditions, provide affinity spaces, and use inclusive curricula signal that every identity matters.
• Rituals and traditions: From weekly assemblies to senior send-offs, consistent traditions help students and staff feel connected to something larger.

7 steps for building a positive school culture

The most important part of building culture is being intentional. Culture doesn’t just happen; it is designed, nurtured, and sustained. Here are seven practical steps:

1. Establish a shared vision: Positive school culture begins with clarity of purpose. Leaders should co-create a vision statement with staff, students, and families. When the vision is shared, everyone owns it. Leaders should also create a mission statement and core values.
2. Model leadership behaviors: Michael Fullan (2014) reminds us that leadership is about modeling the behaviors you expect from others. Leaders set the tone; showing up with optimism, empathy, and accountability creates a ripple effect throughout the building.
3. Create consistent rituals and routines: Students and staff thrive on consistency. From morning greetings to schoolwide assemblies, intentional rituals communicate belonging. A culture of predictability reduces anxiety and builds trust.
4. Invest in relationships: Culture is built on connections. Encourage teachers to know their students beyond academics, create structures for peer collaboration, and ensure leaders engage directly with families. Every relationship counts.
5. Prioritize psychological safety: Research shows that innovation flourishes when people feel safe to take risks. Teachers must feel secure trying new strategies without fear of punishment, and students should know their voices are valued.
6. Provide recognition and celebrate growth: Recognition fuels motivation. Celebrate student milestones, highlight teacher achievements, and honor family contributions. Big or small, moments of recognition reinforce the values you want to spread.
7. Audit and adjust continuously: A positive school culture is not a one-time initiative; it’s an ongoing process. Leaders should regularly assess where culture is thriving and where it’s breaking down. In Instructional Change Agent, I stress the importance of intentional reflection—culture must be revisited, refined, and refreshed.

Call to action: Building together

Creating a positive school culture is about more than improving what exists—it’s about building something new, purposeful, and enduring. Schools that prioritize culture are not only better places to learn; they are better places to live, work, and grow. What are you doing this week to build on the culture every learner deserves?

References

• Bryk, A. S., Sebring, P. B., Allensworth, E., Luppescu, S., & Easton, J. Q. (2010). Organizing schools for improvement: Lessons from Chicago. University of Chicago Press.
• Drummond, A. D. (2018). Instructional change agent: 48 ways to be the leader your school needs. Routledge.
• Fullan, M. (2014). The principal: Three keys to maximizing impact. Jossey-Bass.
• Marzano, R. J. (2003). What works in schools: Translating research into action. ASCD.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.

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