Building Trust - School Community

Respect and a belief in the honesty, reliability, and competence of one’s colleagues help shape trust among teachers, according to researchers Anthony Bryk and Barbara Schneider. In their extensive study of "relational trust” in Chicago elementary schools, the researchers found that the principal plays a crucial role in shaping the overall trust level among staff, parents, and teachers in a school. Such trust does not arise from a workshop or daylong retreat, but rather from constructive daily interactions of people.

In their publication, Building Trusting Relationships for School Improvement, Cori Brewster and Jennifer Railsback offer the following guidelines for enhancing trust among teachers:

• Involve all faculty members in activities and conversations about the school’s vision, mission, and core values.
• Create a welcoming climate, especially for new staff, breaking the traditional pattern of classroom isolation.
• Nurture significant opportunities for teachers to collaborate on meaningful projects.
• Facilitate effective faculty communication (e.g., implement a faculty Web site).
• Make relationship-building a top priority. For example, survey the staff on perceived trust level or communication effectiveness.
• Implement a professional development program (e.g., peer coaching, team teaching) that promotes relationship building.

Source: Brewster, C., & Railsback, J. (2003). Building trusting relationships for school improvement: Implications for principals and teachers. Portland, OR: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Bryk, A.S., & Schneider, B. (2002). Trust in schools: A core resource for improvement. New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation.