The Grass is Greener Where You Water It

By: Matthew X. Joseph, Ed.D.
Website: https://mxjedu.net/
Twitter: @MatthewXJoseph

I read a Neil Barrington Quote this week while researching enhancing school culture, and it hit me. It read "The Grass is Greener Where You Water It."
For someone passionate about collaboration and school culture, it hit me that to build a strong community, you have to value and take care of the people IN THE COMMUNITY. 

When a school creates a positive school culture, it enhances the presence of opportunities for shared leadership, educator ownership, and sharing of instructional and pedagogical ideas. This article provides strategies to move to a collaborative culture.

When a school creates a positive culture, it enhances opportunities for shared leadership, educator ownership, and collaboration on instructional and pedagogical ideas. However, when the word "collaboration" is spoken in a school, it is not always welcomed with open arms. Educators or leaders who have had success or are comfortable working solo may feel they are being infringed upon or that their ideas are being trespassed. However, when your school community respects each other and acknowledges individual skills and participation, all staff can move forward in a positive environment while also becoming learners. In addition, effective collaboration provides teachers opportunities for improved practices through increased leadership opportunities and a feeling of being valued in a school environment.

Have a great fall, and keep striving to create a welcoming and healthy school community. The grass is NOT greener on the "other side"; it is greener where you take care of it. Building a collaborative culture will have a lasting positive effect on your school or district of learners and leaders.