A Bucket of Paint, A Bag of Mulch, and a Smile?

A bucket of paint 🎨, a bag of mulch 🌳, and a smile 😄 to improve a school?

I've been thinking about that phrase this week. I conducted an instructional review of a school's literacy program a few weeks ago, and I shared my observations and recommendations with them a few days ago.

As a consultant, it's my job to help people think about what they can do differently to improve learning outcomes. That can feel overwhelming, so I always try to start with the great things educators are doing before pivoting to instructional areas to work on. 

I told this particular team that they have a great school culture. You can tell right when you walk in the front door. The environment is warm. The hallways are colorful and decorated with student work. The kids open the door for you as a courtesy. The front office greets you with big smiles and makes you feel at home.

That's not true of every school. Some schools, when you walk up, you just want to turn and walk away. The planters are in disarray. It feels like a detention facility instead of a place of learning. The front office staff may be stern or heads-down. The building may feel old and worn. I've even been in schools where you can smell mold from old roof leaks — and I can guarantee many kids feel that same urge to leave.

It was in one of those schools that a colleague once said the place needed a bucket of paint and a bag of mulch to brighten things up. I agreed. Little things that aren't expensive — or that are free, like a smile — can go a long way in making school a brighter, friendlier place for kids and teachers to spend the majority of their waking hours. When kids want to be somewhere, it's so much easier for them to learn.

"School improvement through a bucket of paint, a bag of mulch, and a smile" has been with me for over a decade. Obviously, instruction must also be amazing — but a strong culture creates the conditions for academic success.

The school I spoke with  a few days ago has a fair bit to work on in terms of instruction. But with the culture and community pride they have, I'm confident they can move mountains for their kids. The way their positive culture manifests physically is indicative of their internal commitment to and belief in the children they serve.

If you're a leader struggling to improve learning outcomes, ask yourself:

Do I need to brighten things up around here — culturally and environmentally?

If so, maybe start with a bucket of paint, a bag of mulch, and a warm greeting for every student and adult who walks through your doors. 😊 

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About my image. I thought about using AI art, but it just doesn't capture the heart of what I'm trying to say. My image is an old school collage, but hopefully you get the idea. 😉