30: From Implementation to Culture: Building School Systems That Last
In this episode, the System Shifters hosts explore how schools and districts can move beyond simply implementing initiatives to integrating them into organizational culture. When systems are truly integrated, they become a “just how we do things here” mentality that is shared across roles, embedded in daily practice, and resilient through leadership changes, budget cuts, and crises.
The conversation highlights why integration depends on purpose, consistency, and collective ownership, not more programs. Listeners will hear practical strategies for embedding initiatives into culture, including redundancy, alignment to purpose, shared practice, visible artifacts, and distributed leadership.
The key takeaway: initiatives only last when they become part of a school’s identity. Culture, not compliance, protects the work and ensures systems continue to support students over time.
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