A Report From the Field - Blame Game

A new LYS Principal submits the following:

The blame game is operating at full speed in my district. The Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendents are trying to distance themselves from our results and all decisions leading to those results. They are blaming campuses for not having better common assessments. They are blaming campuses for not having a vibrant PLC model. Even though last summer it was agreed that full implementation would take two years, and that this year we had more than enough new practices and programs on our plate.

At my “I Suck Data Autopsy,” I went through everything we implemented on my campus and the growth that we experienced because of it (admittedly, not enough growth). The feedback I received was driven by what I didn’t do and what they would have done differently. Interestingly, this feedback was not provided during the year when they were happy that teachers were happy and parents weren’t complaining.

So yes, I will endure their jabs and continue to implement the plan that we agreed to. A plan that is working (but didn’t work fast enough to cover for the lack of TPM). Next year our common assessments will be better. Our Fundamental 5 execution will be better. My one lagging sub-pop that TPM was covering for will be successful, without a crutch.

My campus learned (which my central office has not) that pull outs and support do little if Tier 1 instruction is poor or non-existent on a daily basis. We are working to teach better, not “Program Your Way to Success.”

SC Response

As regular readers know, I was never a fan of TPM. I advocated for its removal. Though I would not have removed it in the middle of the year. But politics required this to happen. As AYP standards increased and state standards decreased (the effect of TPM), the state was going to have to explain why Exemplary schools couldn’t meet AYP requirements. Take away TPM and the problem goes away. But enough with political maneuvering talk.

What I been counseling school districts to do is ignore the state rating (this year). Just compare the 2010 raw score against the 2011 raw score. If you improved (as did your campus), don’t panic. If you regressed, you have cause for concern. Some districts are listening. Others are not. But if you were congratulating yourself on your rating last year and you are punishing someone for your rating this year, AND YOUR SCORES ARE THE SAME OR BETTER, at the very least your credibility is suspect.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t

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