A Reader Writes... (Instructional Discussions - Part 7)

In response to the posts addressing, “Instructional Discussions,” a reader writes:

"I know there are educators that read the blog that have never worked with you, or Brezina, or Brown. LYS Nation, SC is right about being there every step of the way if you are taking the road less traveled. When I finally said, “Enough is enough, we have to get better,” Cain and Brown are the only ones who didn’t waiver and had my back when the going got tough. But after my teachers and kids started having success, there was a long line of people who showed up to try to get some of the credit."

SC Response
Thanks for the compliment. Here’s a little known story. Brown and Brezina, for being national icons, had never met until 2002.

Texas had identified 15 high schools that would be closed if they did not improve immediately. 11 of the high schools, on paper, had the potential to get better with a few tweaks here and there. Those schools were doled out to the big national school improvement organizations. I won’t name those organizations, but all of them are still out there. 4 schools were considered so bad that no one would go near them out of fear of having their reputation tainted.

As a favor to the Commissioner of Education, Brezina came out of retirement for the second time to work with two of the campuses and Brown came out of retirement to work with the other two campuses. Those four campuses improved faster that any of the 11 “easy” campuses. Brown and Brezina noticed what the other was doing with equally tough campuses, and as the say, the rest is history.

If you are serious about doing what is necessary to improve the quality of education for all of your students, we will find a way to help you and your staff. And as for credit, you have heard numerous times what we tell everyone, “It is the Principal and the staff that do all the heavy lifting. If there is any credit, they are the only ones who should get it.”

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...