Real Client Results
How a Middle & High School Staff Increased Team Health from 77.5% to 92.5%
Stronger communication, greater trust, and a more connected team at Coastal Middle & High School.
Stronger communication, greater trust, and a more connected team at Coastal Middle & High School.
The Challenge
School staff spend nearly every minute of the day focused on students. Time to focus on each other, and on how the team works together, rarely makes it onto the calendar.
Before the workshop, staff completed an anonymous Team Health survey. The results showed a solid starting point, with clear opportunities around access to the information people need, respectful difficult conversations, ownership of problems, and support for one another.
The Experience
Instead of sitting through another professional development presentation, staff started with a Brain Dump to name what was weighing on them, sat together in circle conversations, and worked in small groups to map out practical commitments for how they communicate, from radio and calendar habits to how they show up for one another.
For many, the circle questions were the highlight of the day. One staff member described the best part as connecting with coworkers outside the usual routine and hearing different perspectives.
The Results
Before
After
Team Health Index
Increase in Overall Team Health
Post-Workshop Favorable Ratings
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Team Health | 77.5% | 92.5% |
| Team Health Index | 81.3% | 92.7% |
| Favorable Ratings | 70% | 95% |
Method: anonymous pre and post workshop surveys, rated on a 1 to 5 scale (percent = average score / 5). Results reflect short-term staff perceptions.
Biggest Improvements
Having the Information Needed to Do My Job
Respectful Difficult Conversations
Taking Ownership of Problems
People Supporting One Another
What Participants Said
It has helped me do my job better.
It gave me ideas I can adapt to my classroom.
It gave us a better connection to each other.
It showed me that I need to have more grace and patience.
Beyond the Numbers
The survey showed real gains, but what staff talked about most was each other. They learned new things about coworkers they see every day, realized how many of their struggles and stories they share, and left with a simple reminder to check up on one another.
Before leaving, staff covered a kudos wall with handwritten notes of appreciation for one another. That kind of connection is what carries a school staff through the hardest weeks of the year.
Leadership Insights
Measuring outcomes shows what to build on next. For Coastal, the data and staff feedback point to continued opportunities to:
Staff also asked for a follow-up session to put these ideas into practice, along with future workshops on managing stress and staff communication.
The workshop started the conversation. The follow-through is where it sticks.
Let's Work Together
If you're looking to strengthen communication, build trust, and create a more connected workplace, I'd love to help.