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10 Questions You Must Ask to Build a Better Culture

Proven strategies to strengthen engagement, boost innovation, and create a culture where everyone thrives.

AuthorAuthor

Dan Watt & Danny Bauer
March 17, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

The secret to better schools isn’t in another survey—it’s in real conversations with families.

Ruckus Makers are flipping the script, using design thinking to turn passive input into active partnership.

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INSPIRATION STATION

It’s okay to steal — Feel free to share any of these links and how we write about them and drop ‘em right into your staff newsletter this week.

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THE RUCKUS MAKER MONTHLY THEME: CULTURE

10 Questions You Must Ask To Build a Better Culture

Culture isn't a poster on the wall.

It’s not a list of values written in a handbook.

It’s the lived experience of every student, teacher, and staff member in your school. And as a school leader, you’re either shaping that culture intentionally, or letting it happen by default.

Before you start making changes, ask yourself (and your team) these 10 critical questions:

  1. What behaviors are we currently rewarding? Whether intentional or not, the actions we celebrate define our culture. Are we rewarding compliance, creativity, or something else?

  2. Who are our culture carriers? Every school has them, those who embody what the school stands for. Are they reinforcing the culture you want?

  3. What stories do people tell about our school? The stories circulating in hallways and parent groups say more about your culture than any mission statement ever could.

  4. Where do we want to be in three years? Culture isn’t built overnight. Define the vision before taking action.

  5. What traditions need to die? Not all traditions serve your vision. Which ones are holding your school back?

  6. What traditions should we create? The best school cultures have rituals that bring people together. What new traditions could inspire and unify?

  7. What’s our stance on innovation vs. compliance? Are you building a culture where people feel safe to try new things, or one where rule-following is the priority?

  8. How do we handle failure? Your response to setbacks will define how students and staff approach challenges.

  9. What are our non-negotiables? Clear boundaries provide the structure needed for a thriving culture.

  10. How will we measure culture change? If you can’t track progress, you won’t know what’s working.

Culture is built one decision at a time.

Make them count and create a thriving culture.

Which culture-building question do you plan on asking this week?

❝

"People make choices and choices make culture.”

John Amaechi Obe in The Promises of Giants

LEADERSHIP EDGE

  • 🤼 Our annual summer event is happening in Sacramento this July 9-11. The best time to buy a ticket is before April 20th. More info here.

  • 💡 The essence of effective leadership is stopping doing good things, so we have more time to spend on even better things - Dylan Wiliam on X

  • 🚀 Check out the launch of I’m Determined, from state project to Center at James Madison University, building support for self-determination, providing tools for educators and parents…and they’re hiring!

  • 👌 How to create compelling, interactive stories with your data

MONDAY VIBES

WEEKLY CHALLENGE

Reimagining Parent Partnerships: A Fresh Approach

This week, I’m riffing on an idea Danny shared recently about tapping into your audience (If you missed it you can check it out here; see “This Week’s Lesson: Are you talking to your audience?”).

As school leaders, we often think of students or teachers as our primary audiences.

What would it be like if we focused on parents as our primary partners? Rather than the usual feedback forms, imagine a school where parent voices actively shape the learning environment.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Flip the Script on Feedback

  • Host a parent innovation lab where families brainstorm alongside teachers

  • Try reverse office hours, and invite parents to meet in a local cafe to chat informally

  • Launch a family wisdom wall in your school, showcasing parents' expertise and ideas

2. Embrace the Unexpected

  • Organise a community classroom day where parents teach mini-lessons

  • Host a podcast episode featuring a diverse voice highlighting a family-school connection or experience

  • Experiment with lunch and learn sessions inviting parents and staff to problem-solve together

3. Break Down Barriers

  • Offer mobile meetings that bring school discussions to community centers or parks

  • Implement a language buddy system pairing multilingual families for mutual support

  • Design a family feedback app with fun, quick ways to share thoughts on-the-go

These are just a few ideas off the top of my head. I’d be stoked to hear feedback on what you use and how it goes!

Hit “reply” if you’d like to share a reflection, or to discuss your insights and next steps! Your innovative idea might spark an unimagined future for students everywhere! 😀

Keep Making a Ruckus,

PS … Did you know there is a premium edition of this newsletter? This week we shared 3mastermind secrets that will lead to campus transformation.

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