Culture beats strategy. Strategy is important but it is your culture that will determine whether your strategy is successful.

Good teachers are gracious with their students. Good principals are gracious with their teachers. The world is a better place when we are all gracious with one another.

Teachers... I know you go to work for the students… but never underestimate the impact you have on your colleagues. Your attitude and your energy can inspire the adults around you to be better than they are. So you can make a difference for kids that you don’t even teach!

Today, Florida Prepaid, presenting sponsor of the #FL Teacher of the Year program, provided Krista Stanley Krista Stanley w/ a 2yr FL College Plan Scholarship to award to a student of her choice. Congratulations to Mykah Stotler, a freshman at Okeechobee Freshman Campus!

Stuff I’ve learned as a principal... steelethoughts.com/2016/12/stuff-…

Every Student. Every Teacher. Every Day. Whatever It Takes. Jimmy Casas Danny Steele #Culturize #LiveYourExcellence

The expression, “they don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”, is not just about teachers and students. It applies to administrators and teachers as well.

Good school culture is never a fluke. It results from educators who love their job and make decisions based on the best interests of kids!

If you want to evaluate a school’s culture, don’t read the mission statement on the wall; listen to the teachers talk in the hallway.

I hope I retire before I lose my passion for kids. Education is too important not to be all in.

School administrators can’t build culture by themselves… but they can certainly set the right tone. And that tone is: 1) The administration supports the teachers. 2) The teachers collaborate to support the students. 3) We’re all gonna have fun doing it.

You can transform your school’s culture for FREE. It doesn’t cost anything to focus on the kids. It doesn’t cost anything to collaborate. And it doesn’t cost anything to keep a positive attitude.

Teaching without relationships is sort of like cookies without the chocolate chips. It’s possible—it’s just not nearly as good.

Poor grades do not motivate struggling students. Poor grades just makes students hate school even more. What is motivating? Patience, Reteaching, Adults that Care, Second chances, Relationships. #edchat #education

I’m thankful that our teachers do good work. I know we talk about teaching being a “passion” and a “calling.” I get all that. But make no mistake about it… it’s also a job. And our teachers do it well. I am grateful… as are our students and parents.

It doesn’t take much to make kids feel special. Look them in the eye. Smile at them. Talk to them individually. Be curious about THEM. Be sincere.

Everyone needs teammates. Kids. Adults. Everyone.

It’s good when central office peeps remember what it’s like to work in the school building. It’s good when school administrators remember what’s it’s like to teach in the classroom. And it’s good when teachers remember what it’s like to be a kid.

If I have a concern about something at my kid’s school… I should: A. Post about it on social media OR B. Contact someone at the school who can actually do something about it (I’m gonna go with B!)

There was a lot of talk the last 2 years about protocols. This year… here are some protocols for students who are struggling: Like them, take an interest in them, support them, encourage them, engage their parents, be curious about their experiences.