In less than two days my new book (co-authored with Katie Kinder), Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools will officially launch. This moment has been months in the making—filled with early morning writing sessions, late-night revisions, deep conversations with educators across the country, and a powerful collaboration with 24 incredible contributors who are making a real impact on public Education.
But this book is more than just words on a page. It’s a movement. It’s a declaration that culture is not an afterthought—it is the foundation upon which everything else in education is built.
I’ve spent years working with schools, Coaching leaders, and speaking to educators, and there’s one common thread among the most successful schools: they intentionally cultivate culture. It’s not about policies, initiatives, or quick-fix programs—it’s about the people, the relationships, and the day-to-day moments that create a sense of belonging and purpose.
That’s exactly what this book is about. It’s not just theory—it’s real, practical, and built on the experiences of those who are in the trenches, doing the work.
So how did this book come to be? It all started with a simple but powerful idea: What if we brought together educators who truly understand the power of culture and gave them a space to share their stories? That idea turned into Culture First Classrooms, a book designed to equip teachers, school leaders, and entire districts with the mindset and strategies to build learning environments where everyone thrives.
Every great idea has a story behind it, and this one started with a shared vision. When Katie Kinder and I first discussed co-authoring a book, we knew we wanted to focus on something that every educator, no matter their role, could connect with.
Time and time again, we’ve seen schools struggle—not because of a lack of curriculum or resources, but because they haven’t invested in the foundation that makes everything else possible: culture.
As we worked on Culture First Classrooms, I couldn’t help but draw connections to my experience teaching Advanced Classroom Management at Fort Hays State University. Each semester, I ask my students—many of whom are career changers entering the teaching profession—what classroom management means to them. More often than not, their responses center around discipline, compliance, and behavior correction. But both my approach, and Katie’s approach, to classroom management has always been different. It’s not about controlling students—it’s about creating an environment where students want to engage and succeed. That’s where culture comes in. The more I taught this course, the more obvious it became that what teachers truly needed wasn’t just a set of rules or discipline techniques—it was a deep understanding of how to build a strong, positive classroom culture from day one. This realization became a driving force behind Culture First Classrooms, reinforcing the idea that when we focus on culture first, everything else—classroom management, student engagement, and academic success—naturally falls into place.
However, we wanted this book to be more than theory. It needed to be real, practical, and built on the experiences of those who are in the trenches, doing the work. That’s when we knew we had to bring in a team of contributors—educators who have built thriving cultures in their classrooms, schools, and districts.
This book wouldn’t be what it is without the 24 educators who have shared their experiences, challenges, and victories in shaping school culture.
From elementary teachers to superintendents, these educators live and breathe the belief that culture drives learning. They are the ones:
Each of these contributors has not only shared their insights and strategies, but also their hearts—the real, unfiltered experiences of what it takes to put culture first in public education, like Dr. Chris Culver pictured at left.
Here are just a few of the game-changing ideas you’ll find in the book:
These aren’t just theories—they are proven strategies that have been put to work in real classrooms and schools.
If there’s one message this book delivers, it’s this: We cannot teach effectively in an environment where culture is ignored.
Too often, we focus on curriculum, standards, and assessments while overlooking the very thing that makes all of those successful—classroom and school culture.
When culture is prioritized, here’s what happens:
Students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Teachers feel empowered, engaged, and eager to show up every day. School leaders foster trust, collaboration, and a shared mission for success.
Without a strong culture, even the best instructional practices fall flat. But with culture? Everything thrives.
This book is more than just a resource—it’s a call to action. It’s an invitation for every teacher, school leader, and educator to step up and say: Culture matters. Relationships matter. Students and staff deserve more.
Join us as we launch Culture First Classrooms on March 17th! Stay tuned for more details, behind-the-scenes content, and insights from the amazing contributors who helped bring this book to life.
Let’s start a conversation—how do YOU put culture first in your classroom or school? Drop a comment below or share your thoughts using #CultureFirstClassrooms!
If you’re ready to take your leadership team to the next level, let’s talk. Through coaching, professional development, and leadership retreats, I help school and district leadership teams build trust, improve communication, and align their efforts for real impact. Let’s work together to set your team—and your school—up for success in the coming year.
Send me a message or visit RoadToAwesome.net to start the conversation.
Tune in this Sunday to “Leaning into Leadership” when I sit down with William Grube, AI Expert and Founder of Gruvy Education.
Notifications
