Tired of school improvement efforts that fall flat? Discover why focusing on perceptual data—not just acronyms like MTSS and PBIS—is the game-changer for real academic success. Learn how to use culture insights to create the conditions for collective efficacy and drive true student achievement. Ready to break the cycle?

Leaders reaching out to CEE are surprised to learn that “neutrality”, that soft, fluffy aggregation of “Meh?”, is actually a lurking threat. How big of a threat? Leaders want to neutralize all threats to a healthy organizational culture, but simply don’t have all the data they need.

CEE’s survey data and visualizations make the hidden threats visible and actionable. Read on to learn how leaders tackle the challenge of fluffy neutrality. 

So how does one measure culture? Contrary to the prevailing beliefs of some, culture can be quantified. The Center for Educational Effectiveness (CEE) implements staff culture surveys and measures what we refer to as the “I vs. They” gap. This gap represents the difference in what a person believes about themselves (positive for most individual teachers) and what they perceive about their colleagues’ behavior (less positive). We judge ourselves by our intent and others by our perceptions of their behavior.

In this 2nd article of our Know Better, Do Better series, you will gain insights from our deep work with schools and districts and learn why - "Minding the Gap Is Where It's At"

Tired of the same old school improvement plans, activities, and initiatives? Does your school’s improvement trajectory feel like yo-yo dieting? Armed with the knowledge, evidence, and techniques necessary to measure and improve your school culture will lead to that school transformation you and your school deserves this year. Read this series to arm yourself and your school with the critical “how-tos” necessary to do this work.

Screener data, by itself, will not result in improved outcomes for systems or the students they serve. Screener data that is actionable requires professionals to take action. While this seems patently obvious, it warranted being addressed by Romer et al (2020): “There is an ethical responsibility to enact meaningful decisions on said data (i.e., “screen to intervene”). It is unethical to collect data that requires the use of school time and/ or resources, without utilizing the data to inform service delivery.”

This means that even if districts understand the research-backed rationale for using a SEB screener, and remove barriers to commitment, and follow a best-practice roadmap to implementation, nothing will have changed if action is not taken to change what students see, hear, and experience as a result.

In this 3rd of our 4-part series, we will turn our attention to creating the roadmap for and indicators of a successful multi-faceted SEB screener implementation.

Setting the Stage for SEB Screenings

The journey toward implementing Social Emotional Behavioral (SEB) screenings is rooted in a deep-seated recognition of their intrinsic value: these screenings are a pivotal element in sculpting an educational environment that not only nurtures academic prowess but also fortifies the mental and emotional resilience of students. It is a proactive stance, one that underlines the commitment of educational leaders to embrace the multifaceted nature of student growth and well-being. By instituting SEB screenings, schools lay a strong foundation for a support system that is attuned to the holistic needs of students, recognizing that academic success is inextricably linked to social and emotional health.

Embracing SEB screenings is, therefore, a strategic and research-informed decision that can lead to a transformative educational culture—one where every student can thrive in a supportive and nurturing environment. The following items provided are the road markers districts need to be aware of to determine whether they are on the road to a quality implementation of a screener or veering off course.

In this 2nd of our 4-part series, we will focus on recognizing and overcoming the most common challenges to making a Social Emotional Behavioral (SEB) Screener a reality.

SEB Screeners Reflect a Standard of Care

District leaders, who bear the weighty responsibility of ensuring the success and well-being of their students, often find themselves at the crossroads of innovation and pragmatism. The implementation of Social Emotional Behavioral (SEB) screenings is a case in point—a transformative initiative that promises to redefine the educational landscape yet presents a tapestry of challenges.

At the core of deciding whether to adopt a universal SEB screening tool is the organization's dedication to a standard of care. This standard of care refers to how thoroughly and professionally the organization addresses all educational and developmental requirements of its students. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) sets the academic baseline that public schools are expected to meet.

In today's educational climate, the mental and social-emotional health and behavioral patterns of students have come to the forefront of district-level discussions. Superintendents and the departments that implement student support services are now tasked with integrating strategies that address the complexity of student wellness beyond only academic performance. Social Emotional Behavioral (SEB) screenings are pivotal in this holistic educational approach, where the focus expands from academic achievement to encompass the entire student well-being spectrum. To meet this need in districts, CEE researched and designed the Student Universal Wellness Screener (SUWS).

Today’s blog provides insight into the driving force for the NLL Courses being developed and in particular the first course on effectively marketing your educational organization.

In this blog, Ready, Set, Grow! Back-to-School Resources for Busy Educational Professionals, we provide a guide to the most important content about transforming your system to positively impact the work that you are so passionate about.

Begin with empathy, and you will accelerate the effectiveness and efficiency of your efforts. Today’s blog provides a rationale and examples of how empathy leads to lasting and powerful learning experiences fostered by innovation.

The principle of taking time to “sharpen the saw” as Stephen Covey recommended sounds great but for busy administrators it is easy to get lost in the sawdust. Today’s blog will provide a rationale for why professional mentors and coaches are vital relationships designed to help you stay sharp.

In this series titled “Administrator Self-Care and Resilience by Design,” we will focus on actionable strategies that directly impact administrators and, as a result, positively impact the work of all others in their care.

We’re ending the Whole Child Series with a strategy that turns students who are disruptive into school or classroom leaders. Think about the students who give any teacher, veteran or not, a run for their money at every turn. The students that drain every ounce of discretionary energy from you or touch the last nerve that is keeping you upright. They are also the students who, through their force field, get other kids to go along with their shenanigans.

Children test limits, forget their good behavior, and simply misbehave. It is vital that we learn about the goal of a child’s behavior. All behavior is purposeful. We can use an intervention to meet student needs if we understand what that behavior is saying. Along with this, it is imperative we maintain a safe and welcoming environment where our students feel like they belong and can flourish as learners. Our emotions matter a lot as well. When we are interacting with students, we can sometimes feel upset, angry, challenged or provoked. Students observe our behavior and react to us.

Nonverbals, along with our words and the tone we use when we speak, are integral to our communication. It only takes a few moments to see nonverbals in action in our schools. When students arrive in the morning, are they smiling and making eye contact or heads down and shuffling along the hallway? If you have implemented Warm Greetings, the nonverbals may be noticeably different.

Building on the 2 x 10 strategy from this blog series, there is another super strategy you and your school staff can implement tomorrow .

The 4 x 4 strategy, or Warm Welcomes, promotes a sense of acceptance and belonging. Learn more about how the community of Tacoma, WA implemented warm greetings.

As we begin another school year, 2022-23 has the potential to be “normal” for the first time since 2018-19. Even prior to the Pandemic, student mental health and well-being was a concern. And for good reason: estimates suggest one in five children struggle with mental illness, with many undiagnosed. Of those who receive a diagnosis, according to the CDC, only about 20% receive care from a specialized provider. Recent data recognizes the large role public schools play in the delivery of services to students in need.

The questions we asked before embarking on this series were: “What should I be prepared for as an educator when students return on day one?” AND “What super strategies can we provide to lighten an educator’s load knowing our students are suffering and many are unlikely to receive help outside of the schoolhouse?”

Culture is still king. Perhaps even more in times of trouble. Culture is the function, the element, the muscle that ensures a healthy, effective learning environment.

Over what turned out to be our six-part blog series on culture, Sean Slade and I, along with guest blog contributors, Victoria Rodrigue and Maria Garcia explored the gamut as it relates to culture. Some of the most salient insights include:

• Culture is king and the school leader is the curator

• Maintaining and improving culture is a daily practice, and coaching helps

There is no substitute, and no shortcut, for one-on-one conversations with staff members. As a relationship-focused principal, I have always leaned on individual in-person conversations. However, I used this tool in a targeted way to move my school forward through a sticky spot I didn’t know it was in