Hiring Season is a Culture Check—Is Yours Attracting or Repelling Talent?

Right now, schools across the country are deep in hiring season—posting job openings, reviewing resumes, scheduling interviews.

But here’s the real question school leaders need to ask themselves:

Is our school a place people are excited to join? Or a place they’re quietly avoiding?

Because hiring season isn’t just about finding talent.

It’s about what your culture is signaling to the talent that’s out there.

Your Culture Is Speaking—Even When You’re Not in the Room

I’ll never forget this principal I coached last spring.

She said:

“We keep getting candidates who are just looking for a job. No one seems genuinely excited about joining our team.”

So I asked her one simple question:

“If I went online right now, would I get a sense of the kind of culture you’re building?”

She paused. Then said, “...Honestly, probably not.”

And that’s the thing.

Leaders want passionate educators, aligned teammates, and long-term hires…

But if your school’s only digital footprint is a dated staff directory and a few old newsletters, how will people know what it feels like to work with you?

Interviews Are a Two-Way Mirror

Hiring isn’t a one-sided evaluation anymore.

Candidates—especially high-quality ones—are interviewing you just as much as you’re interviewing them.

They’re asking:

• What’s the energy of this leadership team?
• Will I be supported here?
• Is this a place where teachers thrive or survive?

And trust me—they can feel your culture the moment they walk in.

Your team’s tone. Your building’s vibe. The energy in the interview room.

All of it says something.

Sometimes louder than your actual words.

Here’s How to Check Your Culture Signal

As a school leader, I used to do this gut check every spring before hiring:

1. What stories are my current staff telling about this place?

(At happy hour. At PD. In the group chat. Be honest.)

2. What do people see online when they search us?

Are your values visible—or buried?

3. Are my interviews giving candidates clarity or confusion?

If your team doesn’t align on what "success" looks like, neither will your hires.

My Challenge to You This Hiring Season

Before you post that next vacancy...

Audit your culture.

Because talented educators don’t just want a job—they want to join a movement.

They want purpose. Growth. Belonging.

And that starts with how your school shows up.

Let your hiring process reflect the culture you're building—not the one you're stuck repeating.

You’ve worked too hard on your vision to let it get lost in translation.

Ready to Strengthen Your Culture Before Day One?

If you want your school to attract and retain strong talent, you need more than a solid hiring plan.

You need a culture that energizes people to stay.

This summer, I’m partnering with schools to lead back-to-school PD that gets your team aligned, motivated, and ready to lead with intention—from day one.

🗓 We have limited slots for July and August back-to-school PD and leadership retreats.

Let’s make sure your school year starts with more than a checklist—it starts with clarity and a sustainable culture.

Schedule a complimentary consultation, and we can discuss the details.

— Chanavia Patterson