A Reader Writes... (P.T.I.)

In response to the post, “P.T.I.,” a reader writes:

SC,

The answer to your second question is, “It is very depressing!”

SC Response
If it was anybody else, I would say do something about it. But in your very unique case, I know your hands are tied. You were a topic of conversation recently. The consensus is that you are the only person keeping a very dysfunctional ship afloat. If it helps at all, we recognize and appreciate that fact... even when no one in your organization does.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

It's Not Over Until We Decide It's Over

6:05 AM – Sitting down in my comfortable first class seat, getting ready for a 6:17 take-off. I’ll make my 9:30 AM meeting 700 miles away with at least 15 minutes to spare. “Coffee, two creams and an Equal. Thank you” I love it when a plan comes together.

5:56 AM – They should have an idiots only line at the airport. Take your liquids and gels out of your bag means take your liquids and gels out of your bag. I’m just going to miss my flight.

5:45 AM – Right though the first class check point line. Now just the x-ray machines to get through. I’m going to make my flight.

5:41 AM – I’d like to upgrade my ticket to first class. Whatever it costs, I need to get through that line, right there. “No problem Mr. Cain, and I’ll let the gate know you are here.” I still might make my flight.

5:38 AM – No one in the first class line. Upgrade my ticket or go home.

5:37 AM – Check-in line extends out the door of the terminal. I just missed my flight and my meeting.

5:30 AM – Parked the car in the expensive area near the front. I still have a chance to catch my 6:17 flight.

5:19 AM – Detour back around down town, and I still might get to the airport on time. I’m pretty sure I won’t get stuck driving down the grass embankment.

5:18 AM - You have to be kidding me. Freeway construction! I’m toast. Maybe I can reschedule my meetings.

5:14 AM - No more margin of error. But I can still make my flight.

5:13 AM – Court date is May 18th. Got it., Thank you, officer.

5:12 AM – He’s just messing with me. Nothing like being someone else’s humorous diversion.

5:08 AM – I have a 6:17 flight that I can’t miss. Here’s my license and insurance.

5:07 AM – He clocked me.

5:07 AM – Oops, that’s a cop. I wonder if he clocked me.

4:45 AM – In the car. The airport is 40 minutes away. Flight is at 6:15. I love it when a plan comes together.

4: 05 AM - Alarm clock goes off. Get it in gear, boy. T minus 2 hours.

10:30 PM – Brief case is in the car. Suit is laid out. 5½ hours of sleep and I’m good to go.

Three Days Prior, Minus 15 Seconds – “Don’t cancel anything. Make the arrangements and I’ll get there.”

Three Days Prior – “Sean, the only way I can get you to the Thursday night event and Friday morning meeting is fly you in Wednesday night. Have you spend the whole day there Thursday and then fly you out on the first flight Friday morning. Or you cancel something.”

It’s not over until the final bell sounds or you decide it’s over. Have a plan and execute it at full speed up until you know that what you are doing won’t work anymore. Then change the plan while you keep running at full speed. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to catch a flight, teach your content, or pass a bond election.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

A Reader Writes... (Quick Advice for AP's - Vol. 2 - Part 4)

In response to the post “Quick Advice for AP’s – Parts 2 and 3” a reader writes:

“Sean,

I wish I were an LYS principal! I wish someone cared about instruction outside of this campus. We soldier on and know that we are the difference in these kids’ lives. High expectations sound trite and overused and yet it is critical in making the difference in whether our students succeed or not.

One of my AP’s gave permission for a teacher to take a personal day and overlooked we did not have any subs. He asked me to solve the problem. He didn’t want to tell the teacher no. I told him I would be happy to cancel his registration for a conference on that same date so he could sub for the teacher. When I asked who comes first, student needs or staff needs, his answer was student needs. He came back later and told me he convinced the teacher to change his date. He sent the message to that teacher and more importantly to himself to look at the priorities. He also has reviewed his process for ensuring he keeps up with when staff is out and if subs are available. What a wonderful teaching moment for him!”

SC Response
First of all, you are one of the proto-type LYS Principals. You were one of us before we formally organized. And I feel your pain; it hurts my heart that your district no longer puts students in front of adults. Our team put in a lot of sweat equity to change lives and it is sad that you are now the last one standing.

Second, I can’t image one of your AP’s pulling a stunt like that (rookie?). Knowing you and having had to deal with your, “I’m disappointed in you” tone, I’d bet that the problem was fixed within 15 minutes of the AP leaving your office. Keep pushing; you’ve been in unchartered territory for about 10 years now.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

First, Fix the Obvious

I’ve been spending a lot of time working with a low performing Junior High, including a recent stint of four straight days of direct support and coaching. Everyone, and I mean everyone, knows that the students on this campus are significantly behind their peers, that instruction is typically sub-par and this is crunch time before the state accountability test. However, in the span of four days I have observed the following:

1. One entire tested grade went on a district planned field trip.

2. Core content teachers from two tested grades were pulled from the campus for an entire day, to attend a district mandated training.

3. “No Homework” passes and “Free Time” passes were freely distributed to students as rewards.

It’s hard to improve a campus when we shoot ourselves in the foot repeatedly, reload and start shooting again.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

P.T.I.

Pardon the interruption to the regularly scheduled blog post for an important announcement.

If you are a user of the most powerful instructional observation tool available, you can now generate real time “Rigor, Relevance and Relationship” reports. This is in addition to the 18 standard reports and literally 1000’s of customized reports. As was heard as we ran the first report today, “That’s freakin’ cool.”

And if you aren’t a user of the most powerful instructional observation tool available, I have two questions for you.

1. Why not?

2. What does it feel like waking up every morning knowing that no matter what you do, you are falling further behind the LYS Nation?

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

A Reader Writes... (Teacher Stress - Part 17)

In response to the post, “Teacher Stress – Part 14,” a reader writes:

“Actually when we fail, many of our students will end up in jail; choosea life of crime or gangs where they could die or cause someone else to die; and/or choose a life of crime that can destroy businesses.”

SC Response
Correct, but then again as a member of the LYS Nation, you operate at a higher state of awareness and urgency. What I meant in my example is that a doctor who half-steps has patients die. A lawyer who half-steps has clients go to jail. A CPA who half-steps has clients go bankrupt. An educator who half-steps doesn’t often have to face the immediate ramification of his or her lack of professionalism. The damage that we do generally manifests itself at a latter date, but it is still very real.

Once we embrace the fact that our failures do cause death, prison and economic failure, the incentive to get better, faster becomes more universal. Until then, we are not a true profession; we are just a collection of mostly well intentioned people engaged in random acts of nurturing. Our students (and our communities) need more that that.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

A Big LYS Shout Out!

A big shout out to LYS campus Hairgrove Elementary and its principal Lesa Cain. Ms. Cain was just named Principal of the Year in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, for the second time in four years.

And just like the Coach of the Year award in sports, you aren’t even considered for the honor if your team isn’t doing something extraordinary. So by that calculation, congratulations are in order for the entire Hairgrove Elementary staff and their world class students.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...