What does it really take to create a culture of safety in schools—one that doesn’t rely on fear, but instead builds on trust, empathy, and collective responsibility? In this conversation, school leaders explored how safety culture is shaped by the relationships, routines, and reinforcements that happen every day. From defining the difference between climate and culture to empowering teachers and students to play a meaningful role, the conversation emphasized the human-centered work of prevention.
Culture vs. Climate: Culture is the shared behavior and "doing"; climate is the perception or "feeling." Building culture leads to lasting change.
Everyone’s Responsibility: Safety isn't just the job of one person—it's a shared responsibility that includes teachers, staff, students, and families.
Behavioral Change Takes Intention: Culture grows through reinforcement—modeling, training, clear expectations, and positive feedback.
Teacher Superpower: Teachers know their students' baseline behaviors better than anyone. When empowered and supported, they’re a frontline asset in threat detection.
Communication is Prevention: Open communication between staff, students, and families builds trust and ensures concerns don’t go unheard.
Measure What Matters: Safety culture can—and should—be measured, but it starts with identifying what your community values.
Simple Systems Matter: Easy-to-use tools like student concern forms and clearly defined scripts make it easier for everyone to take action.
Leadership Sets the Tone: School and district leaders model the culture they want to see and must build systems that reflect that vision.
