Core values are fundamental beliefs and guiding principles that shape an individual’s or organization’s behavior, decision-making, and overall approach. They represent what is most important and enduring, influencing actions, priorities, and interactions with others. In the context of school and classroom leadership, core values guide how you make decisions, build relationships, and create a positive and purposeful school culture.
A school’s core values are terms of practice that clearly define how everyone will work together to achieve the school’s vision and carry out its mission. Core values are not aspirations, and they are not self-congratulatory; they are practical. They tell a school staff, “This is how we need to behave, and this is what we need to do to live out our mission and achieve our vision.” (Robyn R. Jackson)
In an article titled, “How to Let Your Values Guide You as a School Leader” Damia Thomas offers four steps for connecting to the “WHY” behind one’s decisions. It’s easy to forget the “why” when immersed in day-to-day work. Reflection can help us be motivated and move forward, during challenging times. Reflecting on core values is critical to grow, evolve, and lead with confidence.
Thomas’ four steps are: List, Organize, Value, and Evaluate. (LOVE)
“List your core values, the ones closest to your heart and mind.”
Here’s a list of core values that ChatGPT offered that might be used as a starting point for sparking an exploration of key values behind teaching and leading in school.
Integrity: Upholding honesty, transparency, and strong moral principles in all actions.
Respect: Valuing and honoring the dignity of all individuals.
Equity: Committing to fairness and providing equal opportunities for all students and staff.
Compassion: Showing empathy, kindness, and concern for the well-being of others.
Collaboration: Fostering teamwork and partnership among students, staff, and the community.
Accountability: Taking responsibility for one’s actions and decisions and holding others to high standards.
Innovation: Encouraging creativity, forward-thinking, and the pursuit of new ideas.
Lifelong Learning: Valuing continuous growth, education, and improvement for both students and staff.
Diversity: Embracing and celebrating differences in backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
Inclusivity: Ensuring that everyone feels welcomed, valued, and heard within the school community.
Resilience: Demonstrating the ability to overcome challenges and adapt to change.
Student-Centeredness: Prioritizing the needs and well-being of students in all decisions.
Well-being: Focusing on the physical, emotional, and mental health of students and staff.
As a first step, decide on values you would add to this list. Are there any you would remove? Then select a top ten for you.
“Organize your values by theme. Ask the question why for each theme. Get to the root of why the core values are important. This may bring up some painful memories or possibly joyful ones. Understanding the why of your values is important.”
Here is an example of core values clustered in themes.
Student-Centeredness and Excellence
- Student-Centeredness: Prioritizing the needs and well-being of students in all decisions.
- Excellence: Striving for the highest standards in academic and personal achievement.
- Well-being: Focusing on the physical, emotional, and mental health of students and staff.
- Compassion: Showing empathy, kindness, and concern for the well-being of others.
Respect and Inclusivity
- Respect: Valuing and honoring the dignity of all individuals.
- Diversity: Embracing and celebrating differences in backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
- Inclusivity: Ensuring that everyone feels welcomed, valued, and heard within the school community.
- Equity: Committing to fairness and providing equal opportunities for all students and staff.
(Value) “After deep reflection and introspection, think about how those values can show up in leadership actions. You’ll want it to become an expectation and commitment to be transparent at all times.”
Values and actions provide a great opportunity to seek coaching from colleagues and for teachers, from students. We all slip-up and have times when our unconscious actions are incongruent with the values we want to model. It is powerful to be able to have those actions pointed out to us in a coaching message.
A too common example is the professional development workshop on differentiation and student empowerment being presented to ALL the teachers at the same time and in the same way. Many teachers get caught in the incongruity of describing and encouraging growth mindsets and then recording student grades on assignments and averaging grades across the quarter. Students see the incongruity and what’s important to the teacher.
“Evaluate how your value-led actions and decisions are aligned with core values. How does it feel when decisions or actions are made in opposition to values? Take note. Commit to actions that create self-awareness before taking action or making decisions.”
Here are some questions to guide your reflection on core values in action either individually or as a leadership team.
- What are some decisions I/we made that I’m most proud of? What values were at the heart of those decisions?
- How do our core values influence the way we prioritize goals and initiatives?
- What is an example of a time when our core values directly influenced a significant decision?
- How do we share and reinforce these values in our daily interactions and communications with staff, students, and the community?
Consider how you want to explore core values for yourself, your team, your school or your classroom.
