The Principal's Role in Shaping School Culture: Mission: Developing

THE PRINCIPAL'S ROLE IN SHAPING SCHOOL CULTURE

Mission Statement: Developing and/or Identifying Your Mission

Step 1

Decide whether you want to develop, identify or modify an existing mission statement.

Step 2

Share with your staff the criteria of an effective mission statement.

Persistent over-time.
Believable.
Understandable.
Attainable.
Unique (in that it defines why the school exists).
Limited to a reasonable number of words so it can be remembered (this is not a philosophy statement).
Have strong verb(s), e.g., create, promote, enrich.

Step 3

Share examples of the following statements and have participants apply the criteria—discussion follows.

Educate all for life-long learning.
So students do well on achievement tests.
To increase our market share.
To inspire excellence in staff, provide a quality curriculum, and develop competent, self-directed students.
To avoid merging with other schools.
To provide a quality educational system that develops the skills and talents of all students.

Step 4

Participants now individually jot notes on why their school exists. Note: Mission statements can also be developed with content areas, sports, fine arts, etc., using a similar process.

Step 4a
Once sufficient time is given (5-8 minutes) have all the participants get in pairs:
- each share information,
- discuss, and
- agree on a combined statement.
Step 4b
Next have two or three pairs do the same as above and agree on a combined statement.
Step 4c
Next have a spokesperson selected that will represent each group in a similar sharing and agreeing process. This now expands to three or four groups of six such as:

Three groups of six as a group (total of 18 people)

Note: The spokesperson for each group can call for a two-minute caucus whenever needed to visit with their group of six to see where they agree/disagree.

Step 4d
When you have similar agreement on 18-24 participants—you get a spokesperson for each group of 18-24 to speak to another representative of 18-24 participants.

Note: This writer has worked with 12 to 150 people at a time to develop the draft.

Step 4e
A small writing team now takes the draft and 'word smiths' it. They essentially include the essence of draft content but may modify it slightly so it has parallel structure and generally determine if it reads coherently. They refer to the criteria in Step 2 as they finish it. Subsequently it is sent out to staff for review and discussion, it may be slightly modified before there is general agreement and it meets aforementioned criteria.
Step 4f
Adopted, published and acted on.

Once agreement is achieved it must be acted on. Missioning of the mission has to occur. It must be part of daily operations and it helps guide decisions and practices throughout the system.

The Principal's Role in Shaping School Culture