School Structures, Systems & Culture Guide

Whether you are starting a school from scratch, transitioning an existing school into the Big Picture Learning Design, or seeking to improve upon your existing Big Picture school, there are many things you must think about. Big Picture Learning schools are designed to be small, in part so that the principal will get to know each student in the school well. Knowing the students, staff and community well is the principal’s foundational work. This is a departure from the traditional role of principal as manager. In Big Picture Learning schools, we ask principals to be advocates for all students, and to support staff in order to serve students. You will also be asked to continue to align aspects of your school with district, state and federal requirements, and sometimes it can be challenging to serve both students and the bureaucracy.  We ask that you make all decisions for your school in the best interest of students, and that students are the lens at all times for how you view the work. This guide will provide ideas and structures aligned with the Big Picture Learning Distinguishers and will provide guidance as you begin to design and implement your own Big Picture Learning school.