2012Summer Institute

Can Do Climate Implementation Goals, Resistance and Roadblocks

Araminta Sorrell, Phd, Director, School-wide Climate, Talent Development Secondary, Johns Hopkins University

Patti Aldaz-Carrasco, Associate Director, Talent Development Team, Communities In Schools National

2012Summer Institute

Session Objectives

• Define the Can Do Culture and Climate Program

• Explore and understand the Can Do Climate implementation goals

• Identify and overcome resistance and roadblocks

• Demonstrate successful “Can Do” Climate strategies

2012Summer Institute

Consider These Questions…..1. How do you define school-wide climate?

2. What is the climate like at the last school you worked in?

3. How do you define school culture?

4. What type of culture does the last school where you work perpetuate?

5. How is school climate measured?

2012Summer Institute

School Climate

Diplomas Now A comprehensive, confident approach that views climate as structures and habits of mind that are infused throughout the school.

2012Summer Institute

School Climate

Teacher Teams and

Small Learning

Communities

Curriculum, Instruction

and Professional Development

Tiered Student

Supports

Can-Do Culture and

Climate

All four pillars work together………..

……..to create a supportive climate!

2012Summer Institute

Responsibilities Under Can-do Climate

1. Positive behavior expectations

2. Budget for climate initiatives

3. Attendance

4. Grading policies

5. Behavior interventions

6. Climate initiatives

7. Staff events and professional development 

8. Data analysis and report generation

The interdisciplinary team’s responsibilities include the following:

2012Summer Institute

Positive Behavior Expectations1. 3 – 5 behavior expectations posted in

classroom and common areas

2. School foyer, bulletin boards, hallways, and display cases provide positive reinforcement

3. Bulletin boards – include students and staff

4. Charts – attendance, honor roll, others

5. Display cases – academics, art, and athletics

2012Summer Institute

Budget For Climate Initiatives

$2,000 – 2,500 for 500 – 800 students

Certificates, t-shirts, dances, field days, field trips, prizes

2012Summer Institute

ATTENDANCE• Encourage on-time, daily

attendance by setting policies

• Interact with late/absent students and their parents.

• Help parents and students understand the academic consequences of being late or absent

• Help them figure out a way to support daily student attendance.

2012Summer Institute

Grading Policies

District Policy

School Policy

Team Policy

PROMOTION OF UNITY AND SUCCESS

2012Summer Institute

Behavior Intervention

Such as:Check-in Check-outDaily Progress ReportsClassroom MeetingsBehavior contractsTime out RoomsPeer Mediation

ALTERNATIVES TO SUSPENSIONS

Team: • Meet weekly • Monitor results of interventions• Address serious offenders• Have goal of extinguishing disruptive behaviors

A continuum

of responses to inappropriate behaviors

2012Summer Institute

Climate Initiatives

• School-wide celebrations• Incentive initiatives• Teaching of pro-social behaviors• Consistency should rule• Identify in the summer or ASAP

• Sponsors

• Times

• Days

• Resources needed

IDENTIFICATION AND REINFORCEMENT OF

APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS

2012Summer Institute

Staff Events And Professional Development

Staff AppreciationAt least quarterly

Climate/culture Professional DevelopmentSuch as: • De-escalation Techniques• Bully Prevention Strategies• Time-out Room Procedures• Check-in Check-out Procedures• Peer Mediation Procedures

2012Summer Institute

DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORT GENERATIONOBSERVATIONS, INTERVIEWS, AND RECORD DATA

Daily/Weekly/Annually?

1. Referrals by student, type of infraction, time of day, average number of referrals per day, and location.

2. Student and Staff Attendance3. Surveys from students, staff, and parents about

what they think and feel about school4. Suspensions by grade, section, gender, age,

reg/sped, ELL

2012Summer Institute

I used to think….Now I……

I Used to think…

Now I………..

How do you define school-wide climate?

What is the climate like at the last school you worked in?

How do you define school culture ?

What type of culture does the last school where you work perpetuate?

How is school climate measured?