Blackaby (2015) reminds us that a positive school culture begins with a service-oriented mindset. Leaders must build a clear vision of the kind of school environment they want to cultivate for teachers, students, and families. Building a strong team and a positive school culture requires shared leadership, collaboration, and a focus on teacher well-being.
School leaders must be present and care enough to listen and enter the difficult conversation(s). Joy must be modeled by the school leader in both word and action…it is synergistic and transformative for a school team and a school campus/community. At the heart of teacher retention lies a simple but profound truth—joy!
As educational leaders, we must be builders and distributors of joy, creating school cultures where educators are not just sustained but inspired. Joy is not just an outcome of a thriving school environment, it is the very foundation upon which leadership, professional learning, culture, and a positive school team interconnect and strengthen one another.
When leaders cultivate environments where teachers feel valued, when professional learning is meaningful and collaborative, when school culture is intentionally shaped with positivity and respect, and when teams work together with a shared purpose, joy emerges.
The discussion on teacher retention was important pre-COVID and is essential post the pandemic when many teachers are still struggling. Teachers need to pause and take the time to reflect and acknowledge the work it took to walk through that period, celebrate the amazing things that occurred due to their hard work and service to others, so they can close the chapter and get back to the joy of education that attracted them to the profession in the first place.
The conversation on teacher retention and the importance of school leadership and a positive school culture continues…
May we continue to seek knowledge in all things,
Denise
Unlock the Teacher 
Such an inspiring post! Teacher retention is such a critical issue, and it’s refreshing to see how joy and positive school culture can be powerful tools for change. Leadership that listens, values educators, and fosters collaboration can make all the difference in not only retaining teachers but also boosting morale and creating a thriving learning environment. The focus on joy as the foundation of a positive school culture is truly transformative. Here’s to building schools where educators are inspired, supported, and equipped to thrive!