Guidelines for Working Together
As PSD staff, families and community members partner together to help students be successful, our operating principles and community engagement norms are posted below to guide us in our work and our communication with each other.
Community Engagement Norms
These norms aim to create a culture of mutual respect, effective communication, and collaboration, fostering positive relationships within the PSD community.
- Respectful Communication and Response Time: All calls or emails (that are not emergencies – does not require 911 services) will be acknowledged within three school days and the scheduling of appointments, if appropriate, will take place as soon as reasonably possible.
- Established Appointments for Constructive Conversations: Appointments will be established as a norm for addressing concerns or discussing important matters, allowing for emotions to settle and providing adequate time for preparation and research beforehand.
- Mutual Respect and Non-Confrontational Behavior: All communication will be conducted with general respectful language and non-confrontational behavior, fostering an environment of understanding and collaboration.
- Boundaries and Respect for Personal Lives: Respect for boundaries between work and personal lives will be maintained, with sensitive matters not being addressed in community settings. All conversations are centered around work related topics.
- Resolution Process and Strengthening Partnerships: Challenges will be addressed through a resolution process that prioritizes direct communication between parties involved, avoiding escalation to higher authorities initially. Partnerships will be strengthened by assuming best intentions, seeking the truth through dialogue, and maintaining patience and positivity throughout the process.
Operating Principles
Poudre School District focuses on helping all students learn in an environment based on these operating principles:
- Operating with Integrity: We commit to being person of our word whose action are aligned with the language we use. Out of this foundational principle will come an atmosphere where we respectfully honor the truth that each of us brings to any endeavor.
- Committed to Continuous Quality Learning: Every member of our school community, in everything we do, will focus on increasing student and staff learning and growth. We will continuously define our goals and expectations and help one another be accountable so that we can be stewards of education at all levels.
- Trust through Openness: We will presume the good intentions of others and honor speaking the truth from our hearts and minds so that we can create a culture of openness for honest input and creative ideas.
- Courageous Action: Ethics and integrity will guide our actions even when the serious issues must be faced. With courageous actions, we will rise above mediocrity, chaos or isolation. We will support one another's courageous actions in an environment that embraces thoughtful risk-taking.
- Inclusive of all Stakeholders: We value all voices; our collective wisdom is greater than individual wisdom. People do their best work when they feel valued and connected, and we are all made stronger by each of our successes. We will continuously work to create a climate that values diverse thinking, mutual respect and working as a team for the betterment of the whole organization.
- Joyful in our Work: We strive to cultivate the human spirit and to care about staff and student feelings. We dedicate ourselves to provide inspiration and support for each other, to be non-judgmental, and to be genuine. Enjoying our work, taking the time to laugh, and having fun are important to us and will provide continual rejuvenation. Joyfulness promotes personal and organizational health and generates more opportunities for success.