The Power of Teachers in Changing the Narrative of School Culture

As educational leaders, we hold the pen that writes the story of our schools. But too often, the narrative centers on test scores, policies, and procedures, leaving the most essential contributors—our teachers—written into the margins. If we want to lead ridiculously amazing schools, we must shift our focus to the heart of our organizations: the teachers. By empowering them, we create the foundation for a thriving school culture. The teachers at your school are its most valuable asset. Yes, the children are what we all work for–but it’s your teachers who serve the children and who, therefore, need your utmost concern. (Kleba & O'Hara, 2020).

A Culture Rooted in Relationships

At the core of every exceptional school is a web of strong relationships. Leadership isn't about mandates or procedures; it’s about building trust, fostering significance, and creating a sense of belonging. These three pillars—trust, significance, and belonging—don’t just sustain teachers; they inspire them. A school where teachers feel trusted and valued is one where innovation flourishes, risks are taken, and students thrive.

In my own leadership journey, I’ve seen how relationships transform school culture. When teachers know they are seen and appreciated, their confidence grows, and that confidence ripples outward to students. Education is a deeply relational profession, and strong connections among adults create a powerful environment for learning.

I've worked for leaders that encouraged me to thrive through a culture of trust, significance and belonging. I have also worked for leaders who have stripped me of my significance and removed the trust. In the latter environment I questioned if education was even for me. The power of trust and significance can change your life directions in a snap. Luckily, I am no longer a part of that environment and my impact can continue, but not everyone is that lucky. Just as Tracey Smith and Jeff Waller, in Ridiculously Amazing Schools says, "people often leave their jobs because they don’t feel appreciated; however, they’ll put up with much and put forth extraordinary effort when they feel like a part of a caring community" (Smith & Waller, Chapter 2, 2020).

Teachers: The Heroes of Our Story

Too often, the incredible work of teachers goes unnoticed. The late nights grading, the extra hours mentoring a struggling student, the energy poured into creating engaging lessons—these moments define the culture of a school more than any policy ever could. Yet, teachers frequently feel unappreciated or isolated. The result? Disengagement, burnout, and even leaving the profession.

As leaders, our role is to change this narrative. We must celebrate teachers as the heroes they are. When a teacher feels empowered, supported, and significant, they not only stay but also inspire others. This is how we create a culture of excellence—through teachers who believe in their work because we believe in them.

As leaders we prioritize creating an environment for students in which they can feel safe and supported. We can't always control what happens outside of our walls but we can control what happens inside. When you are inside this building, we are going to feed you, we are going to love you, we are going to teach you, and we are going to change the trajectory of your life. We can’t control what goes on out there, but we sure can control what happens when you walk through our doors. (Smith and Waller, 2020).

Shouldn't this also be true for our teachers? Shouldn't we also seek to provide that same environment for our staff when they walk in our doors? As leaders we have to remember that if we can provide this culture for our teachers, imagine what they can provide for our students? They are the difference makers that make the most direct impact. Let's equip them to do the work that they are excellent at!

Redefining School Leadership

Leadership is not about fixing problems alone; it's about cultivating a thriving ecosystem. As one teacher shared with me, “When I know my principal has my back, I can take risks and try new things.” This is the essence of leadership—creating an environment where teachers feel safe to innovate and grow.

Changing the culture starts with us. We must redefine what success looks like, shifting from data-driven metrics to relationship-driven impact. This doesn’t mean we abandon accountability; it means we balance it with humanity. A thriving culture is one where everyone feels a shared sense of purpose.

Redefining School Leadership

Part of the challenge we face as leaders is addressing the gaps left by teacher preparation programs. If you look at the typical course load in education colleges around the country, you’ll find a curriculum focused mainly on instructional strategies, lesson planning, student teaching, and educational theory. But rarely do these programs focus on building relationships with colleagues or creating effective teams. In graduate school, the focus often shifts to budgets, laws, and hiring practices, leaving relational leadership underemphasized. This leaves teachers unprepared for the realities of navigating team dynamics or building collaborative cultures. Policies, procedures, and new pedagogies can only go so far. If we keep piling on new initiatives without supporting our teams relationally, we risk burnout and disengagement. As leaders, we must prioritize connections that empower teachers to function at higher levels individually and collectively, fostering a culture where they feel supported, inspired, and ready to inspire others.

Knowing this, what are you doing as a school leader to overcome it? What are you doing to build connection in your school? We can't continue to increase the workload of our teachers and not expect them to break at some point. We know the realities aren't going to change of expectations placed on teachers, so what can we do to shift the culture to overcome it? By building a school culture around trust and connection, our teachers can know when they take risks they are safe and supported. Education is a lonely profession. Even though we are constantly surrounded by people, we can very easily feel as if we are placed on an island. As the leader in the building you can not let this happen.

Writing a New Chapter

Here’s how we can start writing a better narrative for our schools:

1. Focus on Relationships: Spend time connecting with your teachers. Learn their stories, their passions, and their challenges. Trust and collaboration will follow.

2. Celebrate the Heroes: Highlight teacher successes publicly and often. Let them know they are the stars of your school’s story.

3. Empower Through Belief: When teachers feel you believe in their potential, they’ll start believing in themselves. Growth and transformation are inevitable.

4. Create a Shared Vision: Encourage every team member to craft their own “sentence” that aligns with the school’s mission. What do they want to be remembered for this year? When everyone’s story connects to the broader vision, culture becomes intentional and inspiring.

   
   

The Lead Storyteller's Role

As a lead storyteller, my job is to ensure that our teachers' stories are not just told but celebrated. By nurturing our educators and creating a community of trust and belonging, we can write a school narrative that focuses on what truly matters. Schools are not about the walls or the data; they are about the people. And at the heart of those people are the teachers, the ones who change lives every single day.

So, let’s pick up the pen. Let’s write stories of courage, connection, and transformation. Let’s be the leaders who empower teachers to be their best selves, because when they thrive, so do our students—and our schools.

References:

Kleba, M. & O’Hara, R. (2020). Otherful: How to change the world (and your school) through other people.

Smith, T. & Waller, J. (2020). Ridiculously amazing schools: creating a culture where everyone thrives. Publish Your Purpose Press.