This blog is part of our Unlocking Collective Leadership: 7 Conditions for Lasting Impact series, highlighting the conditions that help P20 systems move from individual effort to shared leadership. 

Building School Culture That Lasts

Team culture isn’t just a vibe. It’s the heartbeat of every school and district team. When staff relationships are strong and social norms are clear, collaboration becomes easier, trust builds faster, and leadership spreads further. But when norms are unclear or relationships are strained, progress stalls.

Want to build a team culture that supports, not stifles, leadership? Start with intentional relationships and inclusive norms.

What are Relationships and Social Norms?

As the fifth condition of collective leadership, Relationships and Social Norms form the foundation of a school’s culture. They influence how teams communicate, solve problems, and show up for one another in the daily work of improvement.

In collective leadership, this looks like:

  • Building trust across roles
  • Making space for honest dialogue
  • Co-creating behavioral expectations that support collaboration

When these elements are in place, schools see the difference: clearer communication, stronger team identity, and higher staff retention.

One school that’s seen this firsthand is J.C. Lynch Elementary, where relationships became the starting point for a bold shift in culture.

Relationships and Social Norms in Practice 

At J.C. Lynch, a Collective Leadership Initiative school, the team set out with a bold but essential goal: improve staff culture by strengthening trust and relationships across the building.

They started by listening. Staff were invited to share honest, anonymous feedback to name frustrations, surface ideas, and shape next steps together. The result was a shared commitment to shift the culture, not just through values, but through action.

Teacher and student advisory councils were created. An open-door policy between staff and administration took hold. Professional learning was redesigned to elevate teacher leadership.

“Besides us being leaders, students have their own [committees], and they feel comfortable enough to reach out to [the principal] and let him know what’s going wrong and what’s going well with the school,” said Sherena Brown, 4th Grade Math and Science teacher. That sense of shared voice and mutual respect became a cultural norm.

Three years in, the work is paying off: the school now holds a 92% staff retention rate, has expanded participation in leadership roles, and earned national recognition for student growth.

Reflecting on Relationships and Social Norms 

Culture will always factor into the decision-making process, whether positively or negatively. As you begin adopting collectively led practices, use these prompts with your team to reflect on current culture and identify opportunities for growth:

  • Are we a group of individuals or a unified team? What evidence supports your answer?
  • What defines our team identity—roles or shared purpose? What do our conversations and behaviors suggest?
  • Are our communication channels clear and inclusive? How do we support open, two-way communication?

Resources for Relationships and Social Norms 

Ready to align your team around shared communication norms? This tool guides small, cross-functional teams through a simple process to clarify expectations, create consistent communication protocols, and build stronger connections across staff.

Download this tool to foster deeper relationships and stronger social norms

Want help bringing collective leadership to life in your system? Learn more about Mira Education’s approach or reach out to start a conversation.