Champions Culture

When the vibes aren’t vibing

A principal texted me recently with a simple message: “The vibes are OFF today.” The comment made me chuckle a little not because the situation was funny, but because 1) it showed our age difference, and 2) it was such a real, human way of describing a truth every school leader knows. The culture can sometimes feel “off”, the energy dips, the mood shifts. What once felt seamless might suddenly need our attention. The comment wasn’t about an emerging crisis - it was about the subtle, daily reality of leadership: even in the strongest most joyful communities, culture requires constant attention, care, and intentional renewal.

Scholars have long affirmed that culture is the heartbeat of a school. Deal and Peterson describe it as the “invisible but powerful force” that shapes how people think, feel, and act (2016). It is not a static achievement or a checklist item; it is a feeling, shaped and reshaped through daily practices, shared rituals, and for Remick Leaders, consistent choices aligned with the Gospel.

Greeting students by name at the door transforms an ordinary arrival into an encounter with belonging. Daily assemblies centered on prayer, joy, and core values give shape to a shared identity. Student-led celebrations and long-standing traditions weave together a sense of community and continuity. These intentional practices communicate to every child: You are seen. You are loved. You are a child of God.

Championing culture also means being attuned to the signs, like a day when “the vibes aren’t vibing,” and responding with wisdom and care. By calibrating decisions and actions to reflect the school’s deepest beliefs, leaders safeguard a culture that is joyful, inclusive, and rooted in Christ. In doing so, they ensure that every child encounters not just a school, but a community that reflects God’s love.

 
McKenna Corrigan
National Faculty, the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program
Assistant Superintendent, Diocese of Cleveland