Principal Colleen Jones takes a selfie with students in the gym at Central Middle School in Carrollton, GA. PHOTOS COURTESY OF COLLEEN JONES

It’s 7:00 a.m. at Central Middle School in Carrollton, GA, on a Monday in December. The students have yet to arrive, but faculty members are beginning to surface, and their attention turns to what they hear coming from the center atrium. There, emanating from a boombox on top of “the Woot Woot Wagon” (a decorated cart with treats for teachers), blasts the sounds of House of Pain’s 1992 hit, “Jump Around.”

A teacher interrupts the walk to his classroom to join the laughter and dancing with the song’s early morning DJ, Principal Colleen Jones. Minutes earlier, Jones had been posting on the school’s social media account, “slinging some hard dopamine,” as she put it. One of the teachers at Central, Mrs. Salvador, commented on the post with laughing emojis. A student also posted, “I love it, you go Mrs. Jones.”

Check out Central Middle School on social media, and you’ll see what a great school climate looks like, a few seconds at a time. You’ll find videos of Jones and her team celebrating Mondays, custodians, athletics, and the band. Veterans Day, Spirit Week, Underground Spirit Week (a dress-up day for faculty). Cafeteria workers, cross country runners, and a Renaissance Fair. I dare you to watch clips from the school and not want to go there.

Jones helps foster a positive and welcoming climate in Central Middle because she loves her job and isn’t afraid to show it. Previously, she led Ithica Elementary School, also in Carroll County Schools. Ithica was known for the same things: its optimism, fun, and a climate where everyone wanted to teach and learn. When she moved to the middle school three years ago, she initially faced pushback from some veteran teachers who didn’t think Jones’ brand of school celebration applied to middle school. At first, that sentiment discouraged Jones, as she knew that how students feel about school influences how hard they try every day. When she felt like giving in, she took a deep breath, doubled down on building a positive school climate and culture, and attracted enough adults to join her until she assembled a critical mass.

Environment influences behavior, and when the adults are trying their hardest, the students are more likely to join.

Since then, their work has been transformational. Students and teachers at the school have embraced Jones and her joie de vivre. They are working harder and having fun doing it.

Making the Effort

How do you account for variances in performance between students at one school and students at another? How do you account for those variances inside the same school or even the same classroom? There are many possibilities but at least one seems transcendent: effort, the degree to which one engages or tries hard.

Environment influences behavior, and when the adults are trying their hardest, the students are more likely to join. At the head of it all is the principal, being vulnerable, humble, and genuine. “Learning is fun!” comes across differently from a leader like Colleen Jones than one who doesn’t seem quite as excited to be there.

What are some things school leaders can do to create a space for effort and excitement among the adults and the students? The following can help you get started:

  • Vision Casting. Invite a few students to join you for a listening session. Include a representative group of your student body. Lead them in an exercise to capture their vision of the kind of school they would enjoy attending. Hold a similar session with a group of teachers. Then, bring the groups back together to discuss working together to build the best school in the universe.
  • School Climate Calendar. You have a testing calendar, right? How about a school climate calendar, too? In the summer, when you have time, plan your calendar for the entire school year, locking in dates when you’ll do things to bring energy and excitement to your faculty and students. Developing a broad strategy and committing it to your calendar gives you and your team the space and time to be ready for climate-energizing events, rather than figuring them out as you go along.
  • The Opening Scene. You decide in the first five minutes of a movie whether you are going to stick with it or resume your search through the streaming catalogue, right? Beginnings are significant. The first day of school sets the tone for the entire year. Every Monday? A chance at renewal and an opportunity to ignite the flames of learning. The beginning of each day? Starting off with energy and optimism sets the tone for a good one.
  • Starring as Principal…You! You are always best when you’re being yourself. Except, when you’re playing a different role. Serving as principal is like being the mayor of your city. When photos are taken at celebrations, you’re in the middle of the picture because of your role. This role requires that you lead others in doing their best. That means you need to be enthusiastic, energetic, and sometimes, if necessary, silly. Embrace the part you were meant to play.
  • Challenge Everyone to New Heights. Climate and culture aren’t only about fun. Schools are places of learning; joyfully engage your teachers and your students in the pursuit of learning, demonstrated by their creation of quality work. Celebrate accomplishments. Challenge people every day. Open the world up to them through experiences
    and exposures.
  • Mean It. Leadership is an inside-out operation. Before you go about leading others in these educational expeditions, first work on yourself. Pretending to be joyful about learning doesn’t work; students can pick out a phony from a mile away.
    Be joyful.

Finally, the best advice I can give to school leaders: Always be learning, and not just for work. Learn something that challenges you, something you aren’t good at. The best learners are curious and vulnerable, which makes learning equal parts exhilarating and nerve-racking. Remembering what a learner needs (encouragement, guidance, energy, and feedback) by being a learner will help you focus on providing them with the climate and structures to be successful. A place of meaningful learning in a joyous environment—what you can lead your school to become.

Mark Wilson, EdD, is a leadership coach and the 2009 NASSP High School Principal of the Year.