The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field | Episode 5
There is so much good happening within our Catholic schools, and one of the greatest privileges of my work is having the opportunity to share it! On this Thankful Thursday, I am especially grateful for three wonderful educators from School of the Incarnation in the Archdiocese of Baltimore who joined me for Episode 5 of The Middle School Culture Blueprint: Reflections from the Field.
Dr. Nancy Baker, Principal; Christine Hinton, Assistant Principal; and George Milan, Middle School Teacher, generously shared their experiences and perspectives on a topic that is increasingly important to our profession: sustaining the JOY, formation, and purpose of the educators who serve our students and families. What an inspiring conversation!
Protecting JOY Is a Leadership Responsibility
One of the most meaningful takeaways from our conversation was Dr. Baker’s reminder that school leaders must intentionally support balance among their faculty and staff. Think about that for a moment. Our educators enter the school year with enthusiasm, carefully developed plans, professional goals, and a genuine commitment to their students. Yet, even the most prepared teams will encounter unexpected challenges, competing priorities, and the inevitable demands of school life. If we want educators to sustain their JOY throughout the school year, we must recognize their need for balance and renewal.
Supporting educator well-being cannot be reduced to an occasional celebration or another initiative. It requires leaders to pay attention to the daily experiences of the people entrusted to their care. Are we protecting their time? Are we recognizing their contributions? Are we providing opportunities for renewal? Are we creating an environment where they can continue to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually? These are important leadership questions.
Our educators give so much of themselves to their students and families. We must be equally intentional about creating the conditions that sustain them.
Trust Is the Foundation of a Strong Team
Christine Hinton brought another essential perspective to our conversation: the importance of establishing and maintaining trust. I appreciated her emphasis on this fundamental element of school culture. Trust is not established through a single conversation, meeting, or professional development experience, but it is developed through our everyday interactions, the consistency of our actions, and our willingness to support one another. School leaders have countless opportunities to strengthen trust through their daily presence, communication, and relationships, and the small moments matter!
Checking in with a teacher after a challenging day, listening before responding, providing clarity during uncertainty, and recognizing the professional expertise of our colleagues are all meaningful ways to strengthen the adult culture of our schools. Trust allows teams to collaborate, navigate challenges, and remain focused on their shared mission. It also reminds us that our teachers need to experience the same sense of belonging that we work so intentionally to create for our students.
Never Underestimate the Power of Humor!
…and then there is George Milan! As a veteran middle school teacher, George reminded us of something I absolutely love, and that is the importance of humor in the classroom.
Middle school is a wonderfully unique developmental season. Our students are growing academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Every day presents opportunities to build relationships, navigate unexpected moments, and celebrate the remarkable young people entrusted to our care. Sometimes, laughter is exactly what we need! Try that on today…
Humor can create connection, strengthen relationships, and help us navigate the unexpected moments that are inevitably part of teaching middle school students. I appreciate this reminder because JOY does not mean every day will be easy. It means we can find moments of gratitude, connection, and purpose even when the work becomes challenging. Imagine the impact on students when they experience classrooms where educators genuinely enjoy teaching and learning alongside them. Our adult culture matters because students experience it every single day.
Connecting the Conversation to The Middle School Culture Blueprint
As Dr. LaTonya White and I continue developing The Middle School Culture Blueprint for publication with the National Catholic Educational Association, conversations like this reinforce the importance of our four interconnected pillars:
Belonging: Educators need to know they are seen, valued, respected, and supported as members of their school community.
Clarity: Clear expectations, meaningful communication, and a shared understanding of priorities help educators navigate the demands of their work.
Coherence: When leadership practices, professional learning, and schoolwide priorities are aligned, educators can devote more energy to the work that matters most.
Formation: Our teachers deserve opportunities to continue growing professionally, personally, relationally, and spiritually throughout their careers.
These pillars are not exclusively about students. They are equally important to the adults responsible for creating and sustaining a positive school culture.
If we want our middle school students to thrive, we must also create school cultures where our educators can thrive.
A Thankful Thursday Reflection
As we settle into the rhythm of another school year, I encourage school leaders to consider a few important questions. Are we paying attention to the well-being of our faculty and staff? Are we intentionally building trust among our teams? Are we creating opportunities for laughter, celebration, and meaningful connection? And perhaps most importantly, are we ensuring that our educators know how much we value their service?
Our educators are highly educated professionals who have chosen a meaningful vocation. Their knowledge, experience, commitment, and daily sacrifices deserve our recognition and respect.
We need to SEE them, RESPECT them, SUPPORT them, and THANK them.
I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Nancy Baker, Christine Hinton, and George Milan for freely giving their time to participate in this conversation and contribute their reflections from the field. Their willingness to share their experiences is a gift to our profession.
There is tremendous power in educators learning from educators. On this Thankful Thursday, may we remember that protecting JOY is not an additional task on our already full schedules. It is an essential part of creating and sustaining the school cultures we desire for our students, families, and colleagues.
Let’s continue to see the good, share the good, and create school cultures where everyone can flourish!
I choose JOY!
Denise
Watch Episode 5: Joy, Formation, and Purpose
https://rss.com/podcasts/sharing-the-good-with-dr-denise-ball/3199282
The Middle School Culture Blueprint, coauthored by Dr. Denise M. Ball and Dr. LaTonya White, is forthcoming from the National Catholic Educational Association in spring 2027.
