What is the School Culture Triage?

• Are you striving for a positive school climate supported by a spirited staff?



• Is your school focused on teamwork and collegiality?



• Are all stakeholders involved in the process?



• Do you struggle to attain higher levels of student achievement year after year?

     Unfortunately, these noble goals are impossible to achieve without a healthy school culture. How do we know if our school culture is healthy? A school culture triage, a term often used in medical settings, is intended to assist schools in determining the current condition of their culture. Is there simply a need to monitor and maintain, or are we headed for intensive care?

     When time and resources are limited, it is not uncommon for medical personnel to make informed judgments on the extent and immediacy of the care they are about to render. Is this a critical condition case that requires immediate attention and all available resources? It may be a situation where care is necessary but not extensive or a priority. These decisions are made based on the vital signs of the patient.

The vital signs gathered in a School Culture Triage Survey include levels of professional collaboration, the presence of affiliative/collegial relationships, and the degree of self-determination
among school staff.

     With respect to school culture, the triage process involves the use of an initial questionnaire to determine the type and amount of care needed to better support student achievement. Does this school simply need to continuously diagnose school culture issues (monitor the current condition) or does the school need an in-depth analysis for the extensive development of a strong and healthy school culture (critical care)?

     Responses to the short, 17-item survey will assist a school in deciding the level of care needed. Does the school need to extensively delve into their professional collaboration, collegial relationships, and self-determination efforts or does the school just need to monitor their relationships and efficacy?

HOW TO OBTAIN THE SCHOOL CULTURE TRIAGE SURVEY CD: