Case Study: Santa Fe Public Schools
Building Healthy Organizations
Santa Fe Public Schools
Overview
Like other school districts around the country, Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS) struggle to both ensure safe and positive learning environments in their schools while maintaining a culture that embraces the values of community, respect, acceptance, joy and love. “Chaos is the norm at any school, said Laura, an elementary school principal. “You’ve got hundreds of kids running about with a range of needs, parents trying to manage their many responsibilities, substitute teachers to orient, and an overflowing toilet in the boy’s bathroom. How can I keep a calm and friendly demeanor with all of this going on?” The leaders of SFPS needed ways to assess and understand these dynamics to create and sustain positive and productive schools.
Solution
The Kahakulei Institute provided an initial training to 60 SFPS administrators and principals. Each received one-on-one consultation and coaching on their Five Elements Leadership profile. Subsequently, we worked with several school sites over the year to integrate The Five Elements into teaching teams (e.g. the second-grade teachers) to allow for a more tailored set of recommendations.
Outcome
SFPS and school sites adopted several practices (e.g. Where do you Stand? Warming Hands, Quarterly team assessments) introduced by the Kahakulei Institute, creating a common language and framework across the district. School sites integrated The Five Elements to assist their weekly learning plans.
“When Kevin taught our teams how to balance each other’s leadership styles using The Five Elements, it resulted in our best year of collaboration. We communicate better and meet our team goals with less stress for all.”