Belonging Starts With Us: Designing Meetings to Build a Strong School Culture
This is a 2.5hr Deep Dive Workshop
Belonging is not just a feeling, it is a shared responsibility rooted in the daily practices and culture of our schools. As leaders, we have a unique role in setting the tone for environments where everyone feels valued, supported, and connected. This session invites you to reflect on how your leadership, especially through how you design and lead meetings, can foster a strong sense of belonging and well-being among staff.
Rooted in Adaptive Schools principles, we will explore how to strengthen the collective identity and capacity of school teams to work together more effectively, support student learning, and build a positive and collaborative school culture. This includes applying strategies that enhance self-awareness, promote adult social and emotional learning, and intentionally shape interactions that build trust and connection.
Since so much of our leadership happens in meetings, we’ll focus on how to use these gatherings as opportunities to meet both the practical and relational needs of our teams.
By the end of the session, you’ll leave with a meeting agenda that not only accomplishes your objectives, but also supports the emotional well-being and growth of your staff, ultimately creating the conditions for everyone in your school community to thrive.
Key Takeaways:
- Leadership meetings aren’t just for logistics—they’re key opportunities to foster belonging, connection, and emotional well-being among staff.
- Applying Adaptive Schools principles helps leaders shape interactions that build trust, enhance collaboration, and strengthen a team’s collective identity.
- Creating a strong school culture starts with leaders who are self-aware and intentional about meeting both the practical and relational needs of their teams.
