Important Dates
March
- March 4...Dozier Elementary Audit
- March 4-5...Hayes K-8
- March 6-7...Hemphill Elementary audit
- March 11...Brown Elementary
- March 11...Highland Gardens Elementary audit
- March 12...J.F. Shields audit
- March 18...Faine Elementary
- Collaborative Walkthrough Schedule
- OSI Principal Calendar (make a copy and personalize your calendar)
April
- April 29...Principal Turnaround Academy...J.E. Hobbs Elementary
The Power of Intentionality: Building a Positive School Culture
The bell rang, echoing down the crowded hallway as students shuffled to their next class. Ms. Johnson stood at her door, greeting each student by name with a smile and a fist bump. “I see you, Marcus! Ready to crush that math test today?” she called out. Marcus’s shoulders straightened, and his face lit up with a grin. In that moment, he felt seen, valued, and ready to succeed.
In schools where challenges are many and resources are few, moments like these are powerful. They are the building blocks of a positive school culture—a culture that nurtures belonging, motivation, and resilience. For educators working in Turnaround Schools, building such a culture is not just important; it is essential for student success.
Why Intentionality Matters
Building a positive school culture isn’t about chance—it’s about choice. When we are intentional, we transform challenges into opportunities and create a place where every student feels seen, valued, and inspired to succeed. In schools facing the greatest challenges, intentionality is key to shifting mindsets, rebuilding trust, and creating an environment where students and staff can thrive. Below are three key areas we need to be intentional about improving.
1. Creating a Community Focused on Learning
According to Domain Four of the Four Domains of Rapid School Improvement, establishing systems that support focused collaborative work is essential for building a strong community centered on student learning. This involves setting up structures, policies, and routines that promote teamwork and open communication among staff, students, and families. When collaboration is purposeful and aligned with the goal of enhancing student outcomes, it contributes to a culture of shared responsibility and continuous improvement.
2. Celebrating Success and Effort
Recognition is a powerful tool in building a positive culture. By celebrating both student effort and academic mastery, schools can create an environment that values growth and achievement. This can be done through school rituals such as morning announcements, awards assemblies, and hallway displays that highlight successes. Recognizing staff achievements is equally important, as it fosters a sense of community and belonging, reinforcing the idea that every contribution matters.
3. Transparent Communication and Stakeholder Involvement
A positive culture thrives on transparency and inclusivity. Schools must engage in two-way communication with all stakeholders, including students, staff, and families. Gathering input through surveys, forums, and face-to-face interactions ensures that everyone's voice is heard and valued. Moreover, openly discussing data on school progress builds trust and keeps the community focused on common goals.
A Culture of Possibility
Intentionality in building a positive school culture transforms challenges into opportunities. When schools create systems that encourage collaboration, celebrate successes, and communicate transparently, they cultivate an environment where students and staff can thrive. By making culture a priority, educational leaders set the stage for sustained success and continuous growth.
For educators in Turnaround Schools, the work is challenging, but the rewards are profound. By intentionally shaping a positive school culture, we can make every student feel like Marcus—seen, valued, and inspired to reach their full potential.
Leading Attendance: A Toolkit for Principals
Leading Attendance: A Toolkit for Principals from Attendance Works—is a valuable resource designed to support Turnaround School educators in tackling chronic absenteeism. The toolkit emphasizes the critical role principals play in fostering a culture where daily attendance is the norm, not the exception. Research shows that chronic absence as early as kindergarten can impact literacy development and, by middle school, becomes a key predictor of high school dropout.
This resource outlines actionable strategies for school leaders, including building a welcoming school environment, using data to support at-risk students, developing staff capacity, and advocating for attendance-friendly policies. Featuring inspiring examples from principals nationwide, the toolkit provides practical guidance to inspire positive attendance habits that lead to academic success.
Explore how you can leverage these insights to motivate students, engage families, and strengthen your school’s attendance culture. For the full toolkit and additional resources, visit Attendance Works.
Virtual Literacy Labs
Join our OSI Literacy Specialists on Wednesday afternoons this year for quick, informative, and FUN Literacy Labs! Each session will focus on enhancing literacy instruction across all grade levels by helping teachers deepen their understanding of literacy strategies. These sessions are virtual and open to EVERYONE! You don't want to miss out on this fun!
Click HERE to register.
SES Professional Learning Series
Purpose: SES Shorts seeks to provide teachers and administrators working with students with exceptionalities professional development focused on improving student outcomes. Goal: Deliver just-in-time professional development that is collaborative, data-driven, and implements evidence-based practices. Length: 60-minute sessions (45-minute professional development with a 15-minute question-and-answer opportunity) Scheduling: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 9:00 AM -10:00 AM 11:30 PM - 12:30 PM, and/or 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
MEGA Conference
This year’s conference is a week-long, in-person event that provides attendees with opportunities to engage in meaningful discussions, participate in in-depth training sessions, and learn from leading experts across the education spectrum.
MEGA CONFERENCE 2025
July 14 - 18 at the Mobile Convention Center
Register Now for BEST RATE!
- Early Bird Fee $200 - Deadline March 1, 2025
- Pre-Registration - $225 (March 2 - May 31, 2025)
- Late Registration/Onsite $250 (June 1 and through conference)
For conference information as it becomes available, please visit http://mega-alabama.com/
PREP (Preparing Relief Educators Program)
The PREP Program is designed to provide high-quality resources to emergency-certificate teachers, long-term substitutes, and early service teachers, empowering them to excel in their roles and make a positive, long-lasting difference in the lives of their students.
If you have any teachers that fall in one of these categories I encourage you to make this resource available to them. A list of topics and supporting resources can be found HERE.
OSI - Leadership Coach
Email: tim.solley@alsde.edu
Website: ALSDE Office of Student Learning
Twitter: @Tim_Solley