“Culture is shaped by the behaviours we encourage and the ones we tolerate.” – Adam Voigt In this episode, Meg chats with education leader and founder of Real Schools, Adam Voigt, for a practical and honest conversation about what school culture really is and how it’s created. Together, they explore the daily interactions, expectations and relationships that influence the way a school feels and functions. This is a grounded and hopeful conversation for educators and leaders who want to strengthen connection, trust and wellbeing in their school community. ---- Chapter Markers: 01:20 What school culture really means 06:45 Relationships as the first cultural indicator 12:10 The impact of COVID on engagement and respect 18:30 What has changed in schools over the last decade 23:40 Reflection as adjustment, not judgment 28:55 Positive reinforcement vs control-based models 35:20 Restorative Practice 2.0 41:10 Low-energy, high-return cultural shifts 47:00 The role of staff wellbeing 52:20 Final reflections ---- Deliberate Actions: Notice the everyday interactions as you walk through your school. These moments reveal the true culture more than any document or policy. Acknowledge positive behaviour from students and colleagues. Small moments of thanks build trust and reinforce what matters. Reflect for adjustment, not judgment. Ask yourself: “What’s one small shift I can make to support a healthier culture here?” ---- Episode 157 Shownotes - Click here. ---- Adam Voigt LinkedIn | Website | Books ---- Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe here Speaker Request - Complete the booking form to start the conversation. ---- ** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related