Team-Building Event Fosters Camaraderie in TTU K-12 Staff

By Leslie Cranford, Section Manager

It was not a typical late-July day in the office for the 35 or so TTU K-12 staff and administrators who met at an off-campus venue for food, games, keynote speakers and professional development, all wrapped around building a stronger team environment.

The group started the day hearing from speaker Brandon Mulkey, the owner/operator of three Lubbock Chick-fil-A's, with revenue over $17 million in combined sales and more than 250 team members. Mulkey presented “Corporate Purpose,” with topics that included executing with excellence, creating moments and creating a culture that goes above and beyond.

Mulkey's reflections on creating a positive culture inspired one staff member to comment, “I loved his emphasis on the culture of the company. Making sure the culture is healthy, encouraging and positive makes a huge difference in its effectiveness.

Motivational speaker Kevin Tutt provided the backdrop for building enthusiasm and excitement while the team participated in several exercises promoting trust and counting on one another as well as giving each other a compliment to spread positivity.

Scott Lucas, superintendent, said TTU K-12 continues to invest in professional growth to ensure it is providing the best quality of education for students.

“In this session, we as a staff learned about the importance of working together and the strategies necessary to create a culture of excellence,” Lucas said. “A team's success depends on individual commitment to meet departmental and organizational goals. Teams rely on one another to set each member up for success.”

Key points the team heard throughout the day:

• Spread the positive
• Create an experience
• Add value: the ability to help others get what they cannot get on their own
• Create a culture of excellence
• See change differently: change must be embraced.
• Culture can change immediately within an organization.

Teresa McCumber, academic administrative coordinator, said it was a great day all around.

“Both speakers were very engaging, but Kevin was electrifying! He was hilarious and kept us in stitches,” she laughed.

Participants discovered more about being an engaged member of the team and how each staff member's voice matters. Overcoming roadblocks and accomplishing goals set for the upcoming year are priorities. Working together in smaller teams was literally played out in games like Jenga and cornhole.

Lucas plans on more events like this to nurture the school district's dedication to growth and success within the faculty and staff of TTU K-12.