Article 5 Ways School Culture Can Shine During the Hiring and Onboarding Process
Paula Jablonski, M.Ed
Culture and climate don’t announce themselves with a megaphone or a giant fireworks display. They’re not the “Heroes work here!” banner on the front of the building, or the fancy welcome doormats. Culture and climate can be felt by anyone walking through a school’s hall. They live in the way our team members talk about who they are and what they do. They grow with each interaction with students, with visitors, and with each other. Positive and supportive school culture is built slowly and carefully. It needs to be cultivated and nurtured—and it starts long before a new teammate walks into their first day of school. With carefully crafted interviews and purposeful onboarding strategies, we can ensure that our newest teammates will both embrace and enhance our school’s culture. #1: The Questions We Ask, Part 1: Interview show and tell Interviews are as much about helping candidates envision their place in our schools as they are about finding the right person for the position. By tailoring the 37
