This study examines processes that personnel go through to assimilate the cultural norms of their schools. These processes are compared according to the teaching and learning environments of healthy, high achieving school districts and unhealthy, low achieving school districts. Specifically, this paper examines the "basket of crabs" effect, a metaphor the authors use to describe what happens during the systemic storming or "Dissatisfaction" stage for personnel in schools located in unhealthy, low achieving districts. The "basket of crabs" effect occurs when teachers view the success of an individual as a personal or professional threat so that they pull the achieving teacher away from leadership and innovation to a norm of isolation and practicing "teacher work." This negative norming process stifles potential growth and inhibits full commitment to the school and district. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.)