"Unlocking Excellence: 6 Leadership Keys to Building a Thriving School Culture and Climate"

Format

Individual Presentation

Format

Individual Presentation

Presenters

Lamar Thomas, Delta Innovative SchoolFollow

First Presenter's Institution

Delta Innovative School/Brooks County

First Presenter’s Email Address

lthomas@brooks.k12.ga.us

First Presenter's Brief Biography

Lamar Thomas Principal, Delta Innovative School Vice-President, Georgia Association of Alternative Education Certified with the John Maxwell Leadership Team Lamar Thomas is the Principal of Delta Innovative School, a non-traditional school in Brooks County, Georgia. Under his leadership, Delta Innovative School has thrived, earning the Georgia Association of Alternative Education's Administrator of the Year award twice and the School Spotlight of the Year award twice. The school has also maintained a graduation rate of 75% or higher for the past six years, with a notable rate of 88.7% in 2023. Delta Innovative School has produced two Teachers of the Year, reflecting its commitment to excellence. With 22 years of experience in education, Lamar has served in various roles, including teacher, coach, transition coach, graduation coach, school counselor, and principal. He has also coached football, basketball, and track for Brooks County Schools, contributing to the 2021 State Champion Brooks County Trojan Football team. As the current Vice-President of the Georgia Association of Alternative Education and a certified member of the John Maxwell Leadership Team, Lamar continues to advocate for and implement the six structures that create an environment of hope and success. His influence extends beyond the school, fostering community success and inspiring many with his "expect to win" mentality. Delta Innovative School specializes in providing non-traditional students with opportunities to succeed. Lamar’s vision is to develop the school into a model institution that cultivates leaders in both the classroom and the community. Despite numerous accolades, Lamar remains focused on positively impacting the lives of his students every day.

Location

Vernon

Strand #1

Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership

Strand #2

Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership

Relevance

In "Unlocking Excellence: 6 Leadership Keys to Building a Thriving School Culture and Climate," Lamar Thomas will provide educational leaders with a comprehensive framework to enhance their school's culture and climate. This proposal directly relates to the selected strands in several specific ways:

Leadership and School Improvement

This presentation focuses on equipping leaders with actionable strategies to drive school improvement. By addressing key leadership principles such as time management, confidence building, and fostering connections, Lamar emphasizes the role of effective leadership in creating a positive and productive school environment. Attendees will gain practical tools to enhance their leadership capabilities, thereby facilitating continuous school improvement. Creating a thriving school culture and climate is at the heart of this proposal. The six leadership keys—Time, Confidence, Connection, Celebrate, Energy, and Empathy—are foundational elements that contribute to a supportive and dynamic school atmosphere. Lamar will demonstrate how these principles can be applied to foster an inclusive, motivating, and compassionate environment that benefits all students and staff. Using person-first language, he will illustrate how to celebrate individual achievements and cultivate empathy, ensuring that every person feels valued and supported.

Brief Program Description

Unlocking Excellence: 6 Leadership Keys to Building a Thriving School Culture and Climate

Discover how to enhance your school's culture and climate with six essential leadership keys: Time, Confidence, Connection, Celebrate, Energy, and Empathy. Lamar Thomas will provide practical strategies and insights to empower educational leaders, fostering an environment where every person can thrive and achieve excellence.

Summary

In today's dynamic educational landscape, fostering a thriving school culture and climate is essential for the success and well-being of both students and staff. This presentation, "Unlocking Excellence: 6 Leadership Keys to Building a Thriving School Culture and Climate," provides educational leaders with a practical framework to transform their schools into vibrant learning communities.

The presentation focuses on six critical leadership keys:

1. Time: Effective time management is vital for school leaders. Participants will learn strategies to prioritize tasks, allocate resources efficiently, and ensure that time is used productively to support school improvement initiatives.

2. Confidence: Building confidence in both educators and students is fundamental to a positive school culture. This session will explore methods to boost self-assurance and foster a growth mindset, enabling individuals to embrace challenges and pursue excellence.

3. Connection: Strong connections within the school community are essential for a supportive and collaborative environment. Attendees will discover techniques to strengthen relationships among staff, students, and parents, creating a sense of belonging and mutual support.

4. Celebrate: Recognizing and celebrating achievements is crucial for motivation and morale. This presentation will highlight ways to acknowledge both individual and collective successes, reinforcing the value of effort and accomplishment.

5. Energy: Maintaining high energy levels and a positive attitude is key to sustaining enthusiasm and drive in the school setting. Participants will gain insights into strategies for keeping the school community energized and engaged.

6. Empathy: Empathy is a cornerstone of effective leadership. By understanding and addressing the needs and experiences of others, leaders can create a compassionate and nurturing school environment.

Through engaging discussions, real-world examples, and actionable advice, this presentation offers participants practical tools and strategies that they can immediately implement in their schools. Attendees will leave equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their leadership practices and build a thriving school culture and climate, ensuring that every person feels valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their best.

Evidence

Research, References, and Resources

The effectiveness of the six leadership keys proposed in "Unlocking Excellence: 6 Leadership Keys to Building a Thriving School Culture and Climate" is supported by extensive research in educational leadership, organizational behavior, and positive psychology. Below are some key references and resources that underpin each aspect of the proposal:

1. Time Management:

• Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Simon & Schuster.

• Marzano, R. J., Waters, T., & McNulty, B. A. (2005). School Leadership That Works: From Research to Results. ASCD.

• Effective time management practices are shown to improve productivity and reduce stress among school leaders, thereby enhancing overall school performance.

2. Confidence:

• Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.

• Bandura, A. (1997). Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. W.H. Freeman.

• Maxwell, J. C. (2012). The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential. Center Street.

• Research highlights that fostering a growth mindset and self-efficacy in students and staff leads to higher academic achievement and personal development.

3. Connection:

• Bryk, A. S., & Schneider, B. (2002). Trust in Schools: A Core Resource for Improvement. Russell Sage Foundation.

• Fullan, M. (2001). Leading in a Culture of Change. Jossey-Bass.

• Maxwell, J. C. (2010). Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently. Thomas Nelson.

• Building trust and strong relationships within the school community is critical for creating a collaborative and supportive environment.

4. Celebrate:

• Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being. Atria Books.

• Kohn, A. (1999). Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

• Recognizing and celebrating achievements enhances motivation, morale, and overall school climate.

5. Energy:

• Lencioni, P. M. (2002). The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable. Jossey-Bass.

• Loehr, J., & Schwartz, T. (2003). The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal. Free Press.

• Sustaining high energy and positivity in school leaders and staff leads to increased engagement and productivity.

6. Empathy:

• Goleman, D. (2006). Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships. Bantam Books.

• Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. Gotham Books.

• Empathy in leadership fosters a compassionate school culture, improving student and staff well-being and enhancing learning outcomes.

Learning Objective 1

Participants will be able to effectively manage and prioritize their time to enhance productivity and support school improvement initiatives.

Learning Objective 2

Participants will be able to build strong, meaningful connections within the school community to create a supportive and collaborative environment.

Learning Objective 3

Participants will be able to understand the impact of effective leadership on school culture and climate.

Keyword Descriptors

Leadership, School Culture, School Climate, Educational Improvement, Time Management, Confidence Building, Connection, Celebration, Energy, Empathy

Presentation Year

2025

Start Date

3-5-2025 11:15 AM

Recommended Citation

Thomas, Lamar, ""Unlocking Excellence: 6 Leadership Keys to Building a Thriving School Culture and Climate"" (2025). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 80.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2025/2025/80