School Culture & Climate Course: Building a Positive and Inclusive Learning Environment K-12
Trainer: Engy Hammam
Duration: 12 Hours
Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
1. Define and differentiate between school culture and climate.
2. Analyze the current state of their school’s culture and climate using data and observations.
3. Identify the key elements that shape a positive and inclusive school culture.
4. Recognize the role of leadership in influencing school climate and setting the tone.
5. Develop strategies for building trust, collaboration, and shared values among staff, students, and families.
6. Address and reduce negative factors such as bullying, low morale, and exclusion.
7. Design an action plan to enhance their own school’s culture and climate.
Outline
Module 1: Understanding School Culture vs. School Climate
• Definitions: What is school culture? What is school climate?
• Key differences and why both matter
• Indicators of positive and negative culture and climate
• Case study comparisons of schools with different climates
• Reflection: Assessing your current school environment
Module 2: The Administrator’s Role in Shaping Culture and Climate
• Leadership as a cultural driver
• Modeling values, behaviors, and expectations
• Creating psychological safety and trust
• Shared leadership and distributed responsibility
• Leading by example: visibility, communication, responsiveness
Module 3: Building Positive Relationships and Community
• Fostering staff morale and a supportive professional culture
• Encouraging student voice and agency
• Engaging parents and the broader community
• Strategies for improving communication and collaboration
• Building equity and inclusion into relationships
Module 4: Safe, Supportive, and Inclusive Environments
• Anti-bullying and pro-safety practices
• Social-emotional learning (SEL) integration
• Culturally responsive practices and equity awareness
• Promoting respect, belonging, and empathy
• Addressing exclusionary practices or unconscious bias
Module 5: Data-Driven Climate Improvement
• Tools to measure school climate (surveys, observations, incident data)
• Analyzing staff, student, and parent feedback
• Identifying trends and root causes of negative climate
• Setting measurable goals for improvement
• Using data to inform ongoing practices
Module 6: Action Planning and Sustainability
• Crafting a School Culture & Climate Action Plan
• Embedding practices into school structures (PLCs, PD, discipline systems)
• Monitoring progress and continuous improvement
• Celebrating successes and reinforcing positive changes
• Peer review and presentation of draft action plans
Assessment & Follow-Up
• Self-assessment and reflection journal
• Group sharing and collaborative problem-solving
• Final presentation of a School Climate Improvement Plan
• Optional follow-up coaching session (post-PD)