ALLIANCE CITY SCHOOL S CULTURAL PLAYBOOK
CULTURE IN ALLIANCE CITY SCHOOLS
What is culture and why is it important?
Alliance City Schools culture is the foundation of our schools. It encompasses what we believe, how we behave, and the experience our behavior produces for others. It is the foundation on which we build trust and achieve results. This is why, as Aviators, we are intentional and very serious about it. Our cultural playbook provides clarity and direction to us as we work every day to ensure our actions contribute in a positive way and are in line with our core values.
We believe that if we develop and maintain the right learning culture nothing can stop us.
Likewise if we permit the wrong culture, nothing can help us. Leaders Culture Behavior
20 SQUARE FEET
Every student, employee, and volunteer in our district has a sphere of control, influence, and ownership that we refer to as their 20 square feet. Inside that 20 square feet, every Aviator has the responsibility and the control to develop their piece of our culture. The way each of us behaves - manages our 20 square feet - collectively shapes our culture.
Inside our 20 square feet, we have complete control. Outside our 20 square feet, we have great impact. There are no cultural neutral actions or attitudes.
How we control things within our 20 square feet - or don’t control them - impacts our culture and therefore our results.
ALIGNMENT
When our entire ACS team - students, staff, and parents - focuses its energy in the same direction and acts as leaders, a winning culture is created. Because the ACS culture impacts behavior, it is a major driver in reaching our vision of preparing all students for life, college, and careers. When we align around culture, we work toward high performance, leadership, and caring citizenship.
School districts that look like this often get “stuck” and end up with a disorganized and frustrated culture. People are working in different directions and therefore forward movement is limited or prevented.
School districts where staff, students and families have different values and beliefs that don’t align with the values and vision of the district often have their arrows pointing every which way.
We want to ensure that all staff, students and families have their arrows aligned in the same direction to ensure steady and forward movement.
THE ALLIANCE VBO CHART
(Reppin’ that A)
The Values, Behaviors, and Outcomes chart (“Reppin’ that A” chart) is a blueprint for our culture. It illustrates the concept that a district-wide commitment to our values drives the behaviors that we believe produce the outcomes our district and community want and need…students who are prepared for life, college, and careers. We do more than PROCLAIM our culture here at ACS. We CREATE our own culture through the behaviors we promote, practice, and permit.
Every Aviator, Every Day
“Reppin’ that A”
AVIATOR CORE VALUES
ALL STUDENTS CAN LEARN AT HIGH LEVELS
Teachers/Staff are leaders and designers of engaging work. All people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Our students are our primary clients.
HIGH PERFORMANCE
We teach and learn at high levels
LEADERSHIP
We are engaged in the learning process at all levels
• Teach and learn at high levels
• Collaborate and communicate
• Focus on continuous learning
• Engage in the learning process
• Be a risk taker
• Serve others with integrity and excellence
All students will graduate prepared for life, college, and careers
CARING CITIZENSHIP
We treat all people with respect and dignity
• Treat all people with dignity and respect
• Value our differences
• Seek first to understand
WE DEMONSTRATE OUR VALUES
BY CONTROLLING OUR “R”
We know that the key to producing the outcomes we want is not the events with which we are faced, but how we choose to respond to those events.
Better outcomes require better responses.
E + R = O Event + Response = Outcome
As Aviators we use the R-factor to make sure our behaviors are in alignment with the “Reppin’ That A” chart.
[E]vent + [R]esponse = [0]utcome
1 Press Pause
Before you respond, slow down and give yourself time to think. Focus on understanding the situation and what you are trying to accomplish. Get off of autopilot. Be exceptionally clear about the Event you are experiencing and the Outcome you are pursuing.
Pay attention to your inner Response. Get into a productive mindset by taking ownership of what you focus on and the story you tell yourself.
3 Step Up
2 Get Your Mind Right
Respond Above the Line. Engage in the best possible Response given the Outcome you want and the situation you are in. When circumstances call for it, elevate your Response. Response is most important when the Event is most difficult.
Get good at change. Life requires you to make changes whether you are ready or not. Success goes to those who are adaptable.
5 Make a Difference
4 Adjust & Adapt
Create great experiences for others. Your attitude and behavior are deeply personal but rarely private. What you do has a profound impact on the people around you. Your R is an E for others.
Be intentional about the habits you develop. Your behavior patterns have you on a path. Develop the habits and skills that will take you where you want to go.
6 Build Skills
OUR OUTCOME
What outcome do our actions create? We get students and graduates who Rep That A!
Communicators..
I will listen well and ask thoughtful questions.
I will clearly and concisely express my thoughts and ideas.
Collaborators..
I will work effectively with people of all personality types and backgrounds to reach a common goal.
I will compromise when necessary to achieve results benefiting the common goal.
Caring Citizens..
I will always treat others with dignity and respect and seek first to understand.
I will have a selfless attitude and strive to build stronger communities through civic pride, volunteerism and community involvement.
Leaders..
I will serve others with integrity and excellence.
I will strive to always make a positive difference.
Risk Takers..
I will not be afraid to take chances in order to accomplish something great or facilitate change.
I will always strive to take risks in the learning process to achieve my academic and personal goals.
Critical Thinkers..
I will analyze and assess complex problems and situations.
I will think logically about what responses are needed for desired outcomes.
High Performers..
I will strive to build skills to ensure I learn at high levels.
I will focus on continuous learning to ensure positive improvement at school and beyond.
Preparing Students for Life, College, and Careers.
THE ALLIANCE WAY
How does all this come together? We call it The Alliance Way. It’s how we, as leaders, create the culture that drives the way we behave and act every day. It’s how we build trust and achieve the results we want and need…Aviators who are prepared for life, college, and careers.
Connection
1. Care deeply
2. Listen actively (DISC)
3. Get to know others
4. Adjust appropriately
Competence
1. Know your “stuff”
2. Be a facilitator of learning, not just a giver of knowledge
3. Be a problem-solver
4. Tap into the knowledge and experience of others
5. Have a growth mindset
Character
1. Integrity
2. Energy
3. Humility
4. Self-awareness
5. Courage
Build Trust
Accountability
Achieve Results
Support
Clarity
Support
1. Believe in and encourage others
2. Listen actively
3. Seek to understand others’ perspectives
4. Adjust appropriately
5. Invest time and energy in others and coach them
6. Equip others and remove obstacles
7. Use E+R=O as a framework for coaching
Accountability
1. Measure progress not perfection
2. Observe and provide timely feedback
3. Affirm and reinforce the behavior you want
4. Challenge unwanted behavior
5. Escalate consequences as needed
Clarity
1. Know your audience and be authentic and sincere
2. Have a plan
3. Be patient and persistent
4. Be aware of what you’re saying and how you’re saying it
Blaming No Complaining No Defending
ALLIANCE
CITY SCHOOL S
Alliance City School District
Preparing Students for Life, College, and Careers
