The culture within companies is widely accepted as a critical element to success, but what is the culture within a school? Dustin Odham and Phill Boyte discuss the possibilities that open up when a school caters to a welcoming environment for students and staff. According to Boyte, connecting students fosters a healthy environment. The team has more influence, and students' success extends beyond the results of tests.

Odham believes the critical takeaway from the conversation can be distilled down into “people first, professionals second.” It means that schools need to create cultures with genuine connections and investments in each other’s lives. “The work I have always done is about connection,” said Boyte. His work comes down to connecting students with staff and students with students. “I have been a connector my entire life,” said Boyte.

Boyte was inspired to work in education as early as his senior year of high school. As a senior student council member, he spent a day at a lecture series, where he was inspired to approach education nontraditionally. He believes he's been a connector from early on in his life. After a school shooting in 1993, Boyte was inspired to write his book ‘School Culture by Design’ to reconnect with the students and help them feel safe again.

“People want to feel safe with each other,” said Boyte. His program gives kids a structure to discover their commonalities. Through commonalities, people find connections. They feel a sense of community when they realize they are more alike than different. The link makes it a safer environment.

When schools create a culture, students “relax, [have] higher level of trust, engagement,” said Boyte. School culture is unique and essential to individuals. Advantages to people in education living and working this way. Student achievement and measurables over the individual. Achievement matters. We want our students to be prepared to compete in the world. Relationships lead to students wanting to be in their classrooms.