For School Administrators

1. Brainstorm with students, faculty, staff, and parents simple changes that could make school a more pleasant place to be.

2. Create policies that are based on student, family, and neighborhood strengths and assets.

3. Turn mistakes into learning opportunities, rather than failures meriting punishment.

4. Acknowledge and honor accomplishments and all types of competencies, such as helpfulness, good citizenship, most improved performance, volunteerism, participation in decision making, and cessation of negative behavior.

5. Set high standards and challenge students to meet them.

6. Reinforce explicit expectations for positive behavior and academic success.

7. Encourage highly interactive teaching strategies.

8. Create a welcoming environment for all who come to the school.

9. Invite family and community members to take active and regular roles in the daily operation of the school.

10. Create a common vision of success, and keep it simple.

Source: Blum, R.W., McNeely, C.A., Rinehart, P.M. (2002). The Untapped Power of Schools to Improve the Health of Teens. Minneapolis, MN: Center for Adolescent Health and Development, University of Minnesota.