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Building “TEAM” Culture

Without Teams

By Jim Brown, Principal, Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools

“It is the culture you create valued the commonalities of team sports culture that has resulted in a more
that is going to determine and culture and student learning and spirited school climate and positive
school culture. The positive team culture
team community.
whether your players that brings athletes together inside the
perform and execute.” locker room and builds sports teams into House Program
winning programs is no different than
― Jon Gordon a culture that can be created inside a In sports we often hear coaches and
players refer to the term “pride.” Hav-
The word “players” in the above quote school community. ing pride in yourself, your teammates,
by Jon Gordon can easily be replaced Many middle schools, like mine, may and team can make the difference
with “students” because culture in not have school sponsored sports, so between winning and losing. Studies
schools is a major contributor to how the “team” or “school spirit” athletics show students who have pride in their
well our students “perform and execute.” can bring to the culture of a school school and are involved in various
Whether during my time as a coach, has to be created elsewhere. Through school activities exhibit improved
classroom teacher, or in my current role programs such as House Days and academic performance, develop bet-
as a middle school principal, I always Advisory, our school has built a team ter relationships with their peers, and
have a more positive attitude towards

Educational Viewpoints -30- Spring 2018