ABSTRACT
The organizational culture in independent private schools is pivotal in developing strategies to encourage collaboration among teachers. It allows teachers to have input into the decision-making process, opportunities for professional development and greater autonomy in curriculum and instructional practices. The principal, through her leadership, plays a major role in shaping the organizational culture by: creating an environment that allows teachers to participate in activities that improve their teaching; establishing a social system supportive of observation and discussion to facilitate student achievement; and providing funds for professional growth that is relevant to teachers’ needs. Principals also encourage an interactive relationship between teachers and parents, which creates cultural linkage to the school’s mission. Environments that are collegial and supportive benefit students by providing a sense of program coherence and faculty cohesiveness that students detect as meaningful as well as consistent.
