Refining a Toxic Culture

Whispers. Snickering. Finger-pointing. Sarcasm. Add fear of taking risk, and you have the perfect description of a toxic culture in action. When toxicity poisons a school, teachers focus on self-preservation. Kids feel the consequences, missing out on high-level instruction and a shared culture devoted to their success. New principals must step carefully, but with fairness and equity, they can transform a toxic building into a thriving school environment.