Transform Schools Team Culture by Michael Ramirez

Tribes

2024-10-17 22:19:49 UTC

I have a small but mighty tribe that I can go to where I feel safe and can process challenges on the transform team.

there is a desire to be a strong team. folks do not give up on this and keep naming it as a goal.

2024-10-17 22:20:12 UTC

Brilliance

2024-10-17 22:20:28 UTC

There are brilliant people everywhere and have so much knowledge/skills we can tap into when needed.

Overall sense of mission and purpose is evident with our interactions with each other and schools.

2024-10-17 22:20:29 UTC

Talent

2024-10-17 22:21:11 UTC

We are a highly talented team. We can create the culture we want. We all crave a strong, positive, supportive culture. We are confronting the brutal facts. We are making time for culture work.

I do not feel trusted.

2024-10-17 22:21:20 UTC

2024-10-17 22:21:28 UTC

We have overcome executive transitions in this team and feels like we are ready to create a new culture

Team Purpose

2024-10-17 22:21:32 UTC

Still feel unclear of what is the purpose of our team coming together as TS instead of Level or Functional teams.

Mission Alignment

2024-10-17 22:21:32 UTC

Folks on the team are clear that we do the work of school transformation in historically underserved/underresourced communities

I need to do a better job of deeply seeing others.

2024-10-17 22:21:47 UTC

Student Centered

2024-10-17 22:21:59 UTC

We share a deep commitment to leading school transformation and keep students and staff at the center of all initiatives.

Silenced

2024-10-17 22:22:29 UTC

Constantly shot down or silenced in spaces where I attempt to contribute to the conversation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

2024-10-17 22:22:54 UTC

If we don't know what other people's priorities are, or even their regular workstreams, we are missing opportunities to collaborate and build on each others' work.

Competition

2024-10-17 22:23:11 UTC

When working together, there is a culture of people competing with one another versus embracing the mixed expertise in the space.

I do not feel aligned in vision and mission. While we have written statements, I am unclear if we all have an aligned understanding of what our statements look like in our schools and communities.

2024-10-17 22:23:18 UTC

Belonging

2024-10-17 22:23:28 UTC

It is clear that not everyone feels a sense of belonging. Not everyone feels valued and seen yet. We are not yet one tribe.

2024-10-17 22:23:32 UTC

it feels like the work I do doesnt matter in this space

Connected to: "Tribes"

2024-10-17 22:23:38 UTC

It has taken time to develop friendships that can be my go-to people when I have challenges. We do not have structures and spaces that are unstructured that allow for that relationship building. it is currently the job of the individual (amidst the busy-ness) to seek those relationships out and that doesn't lend itself to all personality types.

Raising Concerns

2024-10-17 22:23:45 UTC

When larger organizational concerns are brought up, they are often just disregarded in this space.

2024-10-17 22:23:47 UTC

Cross collaboration across teams.

Listening

2024-10-17 22:24:01 UTC

We have a culture where people interrupt each other and make assumptions.

Alignment

2024-10-17 22:24:06 UTC

We have a clear purpose on the team and org, where we are not clear is on the levers for school transformation, the how of implementation, and the order of operations.

Strategic deployment of resources, and initiatives comes to mind.

I often times feel like I am not heard. I do not feel seen or acknowledged.

2024-10-17 22:24:33 UTC

2024-10-17 22:24:34 UTC

it feels hard to contribute in this space bc feedback is not taken into account, acknowledged or implemented

Clique

2024-10-17 22:24:36 UTC

Are you "in" the clique? If so, lots of joy and connection. If you are not, you know right away. It is silent and awkward AF.

Meet in the Middle

2024-10-17 22:25:07 UTC

We all have opinions, but have a hard time making compromises or meeting in the middle.

2024-10-17 22:26:04 UTC

Certain team's work is valued over others. It's not just a TS Team issue, but organizational. It's evident in how budget decisions are made, what work shows up in the CTA, level school plans, etc.

2024-10-17 22:26:06 UTC

this space feels like compliance and not purposeful

2024-10-17 22:26:41 UTC

It would be helpful to have a better understanding of individual's professional background and expertise so that they can be trusted to do the work.

Preferential Treatment

2024-10-17 22:27:17 UTC

There are some team members who are allowed to behave inappropriately or unprofessionally and their behaviors continue without accountability.

2024-11-22 21:58:50 UTC

I know most folks and feel comfortable sharing my ideas for the most part.

2024-11-22 22:00:21 UTC

Ensuring that the team time feels valuable for all members.
Building relationships amongst team members so more folks feel comfortable with each other.
Engaging in clear action oriented cycles (PDSA) so we can ensure our work is having an impact at school sites.

Most people have a person

2024-11-22 22:01:47 UTC

In the space, most people have someone they can go to in order to help ground them.

We have the people power

2024-11-22 22:03:57 UTC

We have grown form a team of 30 total members in the organization to a team of over 60+ people just on Transforms. We have enough mission-driven people to do amazing things.