Walk into any school district office or boardroom, and you’ll hear the word “culture.” It appears in mission statements, strategic plans, and staff development goals. However, in many organizations, culture becomes just another checkbox, a concept to discuss, not an experience to live.

For one California school district, culture isn’t a slogan or a slide in a presentation. It’s something you can feel.

Several times a year, the Val Verde Unified’s cabinet team joins forces with union leadership for school site visits to each school in the district. But these aren’t instructional rounds, leadership audits, or site walkthroughs with clipboards in hand. These visits have a singular purpose: gratitude.

As they make their way through classrooms, cafeterias, and offices, district leaders hand-deliver cards along with a simple candy bar. It’s a small gesture, but the reactions are anything but small. Staff members often pause, visibly moved, not because of the chocolate, but because of what it represents: time, attention, and genuine appreciation from leadership.

While the district frequently visits schools to observe instruction and support teaching practices, these particular walks are different. They’re not about data. They’re about people.

We know true culture doesn’t live in slogans, murals, or hashtags. It lives in how people feel when they walk through the door. It’s how leadership treats staff when no one is watching. It’s the tone of an email, the willingness to listen, and yes — taking the time to say thank you.

Val Verde leadership knows gratitude isn’t just reserved for scheduled visits. It’s reflected in every decision, every interaction, and every conversation district leaders have with staff. From responding to concerns with empathy to celebrating milestones big and small, their leadership philosophy is clear: Appreciation is not an event, it’s a mindset.

Perhaps the most powerful part of this practice is what it symbolizes. The presence of union leadership alongside cabinet members transforms what could feel like a top-down initiative into a shared expression of respect.

“It demonstrates a rare kind of unity, one that prioritizes relationships over roles,” said Val Verde Teachers Association President Micki Gates.

This partnership sends a powerful message to every employee: We are on the same team.

“We may represent different groups, but we share the same purpose: to serve students and support one another because we are a family,” said CSEA President Miguel Hurtado.

This district’s approach reminds us that creating a positive culture doesn’t require a budget line or a formal program. It requires presence. It requires sincerity. It requires leaders who believe that gratitude is a form of service.

“In education, we often talk about the power of modeling for students. This is modeling for adults. A living example of what respect, collaboration, and appreciation look like in action,” said Val Verde Superintendent Dr. Gordon Amerson.

Because when culture is real, you don’t just talk about it. You live it — one candy bar, one card, and one heartfelt “thank you” at a time.