The Vault presents prior posts from Teach & Serve.
Climate Control
I will not buy another house that does not have air conditioning. This is a first world demand, to be sure, but it is a very real one for me. After living in homes with air conditioning and without when the family next moves we will have air conditioning as one of our primary requirements in a new home. We have grown used to it. We feel it necessary. We do not wish to do without it.
We are more comfortable being about to set out temperature where we want it. We are more productive when we feel comfortable. We want some control over this and the technology exists. We will continue to avail ourselves of it, for sure.
Climate control in a school is just as important as it is in a home.
We do better work as a staff when the school climate is not too hot, not too cold. We do better work when climate is predictable, when it is managed, when it does not vary wildly. We do better work when we can count on our environment.
Clearly, I am not simply writing about the physical temperature of our buildings. I am writing about how we feel when we are there. Do we primarily feel comfortable? Do we primarily feel safe? Do we primarily feel things are in control?
Leaders who wish to help those they serve feel comfortable and safe must attend to climate control. It is very much the responsibility of the leader to ensure the climate is acceptable and right for the community.
Leaders who are successful create welcoming environments both physically in terms of keeping their schools clean and painted and fresh. They also create welcoming environments by establishing what is acceptable in terms of conversation and behavior and what is not. They build their teams based upon respect and knowledge of the individual. They serve their staffs by valuing them.
They create healthy climates.
People do their best work in climates that are intentionally managed, that are not left to chance. Good leaders know that climate control is another part of the job and a very important one at that.