I’m a parent of a middle schooler and a high schooler,
a teacher, and the president of my district’s teachers’
union. I’m one “hat” short of an identity crisis, but it
does give me an interesting perspective. In all these
circles, I hear the phrase “school culture,” so here’s
my attempt to share what I see when donning each of
these hats!
Parent
I want my school district to communicate with me in a
friendly way, assuming my best intentions, and acting
as a partner in my child’s education. I want to believe
that my child feels valued, and I want to know that
decisions are being made that are best for families. I mostly want to feel welcome. Culture to me
means an atmosphere where my input is valued and
respected, and I have a relationship with those who
are a part of my child’s life.
Teacher
want my school district to have a vision that reflects
a desire for all students to learn, a plan to help those
who are struggling, and the courage to take the
necessary steps for that to happen. I want to feel
free to speak my mind without fear, and I want to be
treated like the professional that I am. I want to be
free to take educational risks because that is a part
of growing, and it is in those lessons that real change occurs. I mostly want to feel valued. Culture to me
means an atmosphere where my input is valued and
respected, and I have a relationship with those who
are a part of my work life.
President of the Teacher’s Union
I want my school district—everyone who works within
it—to know and understand the expectations. I want
administrators to know that a little appreciation and
praise goes a really long way in an often thankless
profession. I want teachers to know that many times
administrators are in a tough spot themselves, and
they can’t do what they’d like to do. I want to come
to the bargaining table with the belief that we are
all there for the same reason: students. I mostly
want to feel like a partner. Culture to me means an
atmosphere where my input is valued and respected,
and I have a relationship with those who are the
decision makers.
What strikes me about “school culture,” as I am
experiencing it, is that it is free. It isn’t programs
(though they could help), and it isn’t money (though
that could be nice), and it isn’t time consuming (though
we’d all do better to go the extra mile sometimes).
School culture really is about being in community with
one another, forming relationships that are at the heart
of what we do, and recognizing that we all play an
integral role in the success of our students.
Amber Chandler is the coordinator of alternative
education and interventions for Frontier Central School
District in Hamburg, New York. She is a National Board
Certified ELA teacher, the 2018 AMLE Educator of the Year,
and a member of the AMLE Board of Trustees. Amber is
author of The Flexible SEL Classroom: Practical Ways to
Build Social Emotional Learning in Grades 4-8.
amberrainchandler@gmail.com
@msamberchandler
amberrainchandler.com
Published in
AMLE Magazine, April 2020.