Culture and climate are not synonyms. Gruenert and Whitaker (2023) stated, “Cultivating a healthier school culture involves shifting both attitude (climate) and personality (culture).” In their recent article, these author distinguish the difference between school climate and school culture. It is important for school leaders to understand the difference and importance of both. When implementing professional learning communities (PLCs), the focus is on building a positive school culture. A school’s culture is based on it’s values and beliefs. The culture is who you are as a learning organization and determines if school improvement is even possible. Culture takes time to build but is essential for high performing teams to lead the work of PLCs. According to Ward (2015), examples of a healthy culture include:

• Each person understands how their work contributes to the mission, vision, and beliefs of the school.
• Leadership is cohesive.
• Each person has meaning and purpose in their work.
• Rules and expectations are clear and apply to everyone.
• Clear communication is valued a prioritized.

Differences Between Culture and Climate

Culture	Climate
Is the group’s personality Provides a limited way of thinking Takes years to evolve Is based on values and beliefs Can’t be felt Is part of us Is “the way we do things” Determines whether improvement is possible Learned over time Involves emotional and cognitive processes Powerfully shapes the school’s behavior Foundation for meaningful change	Is the group’s attitude Creates a state of mind Is easy to change Is based on perceptions Can be felt when you enter a room Surrounds us Is “the way we feel” Is the first that improves when positive change is made Behavior oriented Does not have power to create lasting change Can offer positive health benefits, but does not address holistic well-being

Check out this resource from Solution Tree to assess your culture.