Building positive relationships - Lexington Public Schools

Building positive relationshipsJune 5, 2012

LPS core purposesAcademic excellence

LPS core purposesCaring & respectful relationships

LPS core purposesContinuous Improvement

Influences on moraleMultiple causal factors:External - economic, political, policypressures (state and federal)Internal - district history, personnelchanges, shifting goals, changes inworking relationships

For the full Wellman reportLPS Web Site

3 Themes, 14 RecommendationsA culture of high expectations (5)Collaboration for success (5)Leadership capacities (4)

Next StepsSteering Committee focus (LEA & Administration)District focusSchool focus

Next Steps(LEA & Administration steering committee)• Clarify the district vision• Prioritize projects• Clarify key terms

Next Steps(Steering Committee focus)• Improve K-12 meetings (specialeducation)• Enhance skills to manage difficultconversations• Expand leadership skills for all staffmembers

Next Steps (District focus)More visibility by K-12 administratorsImprove K-12 special education meetingsClarify the district’s long-range vision andleverage short-term goalsModel caring and respectful relationships atall times

Major themes identified by the schoolsCommunication (open and honest, increasedlistening, refining work with difficultconversations/managing conflict)Celebration (ways that people can be seen andrecognized)Concentration (prioritize high leverage goals)

Major themes identified by the schoolsClarification (what is mandatory versus voluntary,roles/responsibilities, decision-making processes, key terms)Climate (caring and respectful relationships)Continuous improvement (a culturereflection, conversation and collaboration)

Next steps (school focus)establish priorities through high leverage goals)allocate sufficient time and resources to addressprioritiesexamine ways to build trust and a caring atmosphereincrease opportunities for meaningful involvementthrough improved communicationclarify roles, responsibilities, decision-making