Red Lake Schools, MN
When Dustin Hinckley, Director of Special Services at Red Lake School District #38, reached out to NSCC in late 2023, he already knew that he wanted a comprehensive approach to understanding their school climate. The district was making school climate a major priority, and he was hoping to gather wide-ranging data to help inform their journey. Red Lake is a district with nearly 1,500 students and 4 schools located on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Northern Minnesota, with 95% of its population identifying as Native American. The district administered NSCC’s school climate survey, the Comprehensive School Climate Inventory (CSCI) in Spring, 2024, and Dustin and another colleague took part in the School Climate Leadership Certification in Fall, 2024. They will administer the CSCI again in Spring, 2025 with the goal of looking at areas of growth and challenges.
In a time when schools are increasingly recognizing the importance of fostering positive climates for both staff and students, Red Lake Public Schools provides a powerful example of how a district can leverage the CSCI to guide strategic planning and continuous improvement.
We asked Dustin to reflect on his experience, and to guide us through their district’s process for school climate improvement. He shared strategies for intentional planning, a data-driven approach, and a commitment to long-term sustainability, offering valuable lessons for other districts aiming to achieve similar goals.
Here is what Dustin shared in conversation with Amanda Weitzel, NSCC Director of Survey Operations:
1. Consider school climate in strategic plans: “Sustainability is key—the CSCI helps inform our multi-year strategic planning and continuous improvement cycle.”
Red Lake Public Schools is integrating the CSCI into their 5-year strategic plan. They adopted a modified version of the Lippitt-Knoster framework for managing complex change, emphasizing two critical elements: action planning and assessment. The district recognized that sustainable change required measurable goals supported by consistent data collection to identify trends and evaluate progress.
- Why CSCI? After a thorough exploration of measurement tools, Red Lake chose the CSCI for its comprehensive scope and ability to highlight staff-student relationships.
- Pro Tip: Choose tools that align with your district’s goals and values to ensure their data provides actionable insights.
2. Preparation is key: “Ongoing data collection is essential: plan, do, study, act, and adjust to ensure long-term school climate improvement.”
Key Takeaway: A thoughtful preparation phase can make or break your first year of implementation.
The district’s preparation included a detailed exploration of survey tools, timing, and rollout strategies. However, their first administration was rushed due to tight timelines, resulting in some missed opportunities to engage community members.
- Challenges: Limited time for widespread buy-in and insufficient community participation.
- Improvements: For the second administration, the district plans a robust communication strategy, including social media campaigns, email updates, and short videos for students.
- Pro Tip: Prioritize clear communication and community member education before administering surveys to build trust and maximize participation.
3. Building Leadership Capacity through Certification: “Spring 2024 provided our baseline data—we’re now aligning different data collection systems before bringing in the instructional leadership team.”
Key Takeaway: Having “champions” within the district is essential for sustainable change.
Red Lake identified leadership as a core component of their framework for managing complex change. By enrolling two district leaders in the School Climate Leadership Certification (SCLC) program, the district ensured they had knowledgeable advocates to guide initiatives.
- Benefits: These leaders now integrate school climate considerations into all district initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
- Pro Tip: Invest in professional development to create leaders who can effectively champion key initiatives.
4. Timing Can Contribute to Better CSCI Data: “We will integrate the CSCI into our late-winter data review, using it alongside other tools to shape building- and district-level improvement goals.”
Key Takeaway: Strategic timing and community engagement are critical for successful survey administration.
The district learned that timing plays a significant role in participation rates. Their first survey was administered in late spring, which coincided with the “downhill slide” toward summer.
- Adjustments for Year Two: Considering earlier spring or late fall administration to avoid overlapping with state testing and holiday breaks.
- Pro Tip: Test different administration windows to find the timing that works best for your district’s unique calendar and priorities.
5. Leveraging Data for Strategic Planning and Sustainability: “The CSCI is the most comprehensive tool we’ve used, highlighting crucial staff and student relationships.”
Key Takeaway: Use climate data as part of a broader continuous improvement cycle with built-in processes for maintenance and adaptation.
Red Lake acted on the data that they collected, embedding sustainability into their process using the Plan-Do-Study-Act model. After the first administration of the CSCI, they are already integrating the results into their late winter data reviews. This process allows leadership teams to identify trends and align findings with district-wide and building-level goals. The school climate data will continue to inform their multi-year strategic plan and support ongoing improvement efforts.
- Concrete Steps: Aligning professional learning communities (PLCs) and site leadership teams around school climate discussions, supported by book studies like Cultivating School Culture by Muhammad Khalifa.
- Pro Tip: Combine climate data with other data sources for a holistic view of district needs and opportunities for growth and make school climate an ongoing priority by integrating it into all levels of decision-making.
Reflection and Advice from Red Lake
- Biggest Lesson Learned: Accelerate the exploration phase to allow more time for buy-in and preparation.
- Advice to Other Districts: Invest in understanding your chosen tool and match it to your district’s goals. A dedicated champion with deep knowledge of the initiative is critical for success.
- Sustained Focus: Build momentum through consistent data collection and a commitment to long-term goals rather than chasing short-term results.
Conclusion
Red Lake Public Schools’ experience with integrating the CSCI into their five-year strategic plan highlights the importance of preparation, leadership, and a focus on sustainability. By leveraging a data-driven approach, they’ve set a strong foundation for fostering a positive and inclusive educational environment. For districts considering a similar path, the insights from Red Lake offer a clear roadmap for success.
