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The Schools Our Students Deserve
A Comprehensive Framework for Shaping Exceptional School Culture
Drive change by leveraging your school culture with this research-driven guide. It lays the foundation for an effective culture, helping educators explore school vision, behavior, climate, and instructional practices—and offering actionable strategies to enhance learning and foster lasting community engagement.
A practitioner’s guide to developing an effective school culture
Author Mario I. Acosta emphasizes the critical importance of school culture in enhancing student learning and optimizing teacher efficacy. In this guide, he defines and examines the foundations of an effective school culture and how it influences the school’s vision, values, climate, and community and family involvement. With research-backed strategies, real-world examples, and practitioner-driven insights, he provides actionable steps for implementing meaningful culture change that ensures lasting community impact.
K–12 teachers, leaders, and administrators can use this book to:
- Establish balanced cultural values of strong academic integrity and mutual respect
- Craft common working goals based on a vision of what their school culture should be
- Identify and adopt positive behaviors that support culture change
- Evaluate and strengthen the school’s climate to ensure educators feel safe and supported
- Build support with students’ families and the community to reinforce school culture values
