A Reader Writes... (My Property Tax Appraisal - Part 1)

In response to the 4/8/2011 post, “My Property Tax Appraisal” a reader writes:

You're my hero!!

SC Response

Thank you. Right now, my heroes are the campus administrators and teachers who continue to work harder than ever while politicians and the public treat them like they are thieves and leaches. Is this a case of people projecting their faults on others?

What is interesting to me is that no one believes that police officers and firefighters are getting rich in their pursuit of fulfilling public service, but that is not the case in education. Which shows you how clueless the general public is in regards to this matter. Police and firefighters get paid overtime and routinely work off-duty jobs to significantly supplement their income. Neither which is the case for educators. In fact, the teacher who works an extra job had best keep that fact quiet, lest it be assumed that they are not putting in the planning and preparation time necessary for quality instruction (refer back to the 452 part series, Yes, I Know the Hours are Long).

Second, I’m spending more and more time explaining that there is not one administrator for every one teacher (the 1:1 lie). I won’t argue that the number of support personnel has increased, but the vast majority of them are in response to increased requirements, expectations, services and accountability. Even if we could save millions by cutting pre-K, bilingual, special education and GT services, the act is morally reprehensible and bad fiscal policy. Increasing the breadth and depth of an educated citizenry is critical for long-term economic growth. The fact that maintaining that investment requires sacrifice is not a bad thing. If my grandfather’s generation was as adverse to perceived (actual in their case) hardship to further that greater good, as we seem to be now, the free world, as we know it would not exist. It is as if we have gone from a shinning beacon to a whining beacon. Which is why the school staff that haven’t lost focus are my heroes.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Follow Sean Cain at www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Coming Soon! "The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction" www.TheFundamentalFive.com

Plan to attend the LYS presentations at TASSP, TASB and TEPSA

A Reader Writes... (Game On! Schools - Part 6)

In response to the 2/8/2011 post, “Game On! Schools Write – Part 4” a reader writes writes:

I totally agree with the writer. If your boss isn't complying with the change plan, it could be time to seek out employment elsewhere. IT is totally suicidal, however, to go against the wishes of the BOSS!! Teamwork does mean working as a team and your boss is part of your team.

As far as getting your just deserts or getting credited for whatever it is you feel you need to be thanked for - having a school that is prospering - that is your thanks! The parents will thank you, your peers will thank you, the students will thank you, the administration will thank and SO WILL YOUR BOSS! Just do your job and things should improve. Just bide your time and you will get your credit. But wanting people to thank you because you believe that you should get the credit for something you did well...well that is really hard to get because you have to earn it. Good Luck!!!!

SC Response

Let’s talk a little about credit. Credit is great. And even the most stoic among us want people to know that we do a good job. But the reality is that most of the people we work with and for are not very good at recognizing and reinforcing work, effort and success. This means that for those of us who crave positive feedback, we have to create systems that create it for us. How do you do that? Targets, goals and milestones. Create them for yourself and your team (team can entail everything from a small group of students up to an entire district). As you reach those targets, goals and milestones, celebrate them. Even if it is just a mental high-five to yourself. And the data becomes your source of regular feedback and additional motivation.

As a kicker, from a career standpoint, by doing this you are able to objectively document your impact on the organization. One thing that has helped me throughout my career is that I can demonstrate (through data) how organizational performance improves with the systems I create and decline if those systems are abandoned. And like the writer alludes to, the success of students, schools and educators is plenty of incentive in itself.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Follow Sean Cain at www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Coming Soon! "The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction" www.TheFundamentalFive.com

Plan to attend the LYS presentations this June at TASSP, TASB, and TEPSA

A Reader Writes... (What Are You In Charge Of - Part 2)

In response to the 2/7/2011 post, “What are You in Charge of,” a LYS Principal writes:

I saw Dr. Jenkins operation frequently last year, as I used to work in that district. It is a smooth operation. John gets a lot of criticism for his unapologetic use of the LYS discipline approach, but after viewing it first hand, I adopted most of the same strategies.

A little history, I was a turnaround principal (as I am still) in the early days of the Texas High School Restructuring Project (which was run by Cain). I learned first hand that AU schools also have PBMAS data problems involving discretionary placements to ISS and DAEP. Here’s a rock solid correlation: Take the kids out of the instructional setting, and they don't learn. Amazing.

Here are a few things to consider, and I know some of this is crazy talk:

1. We are not in the punishment business, we are in the learning business. Discipline should be a learning tool, not a punishment tool. Don't worry, after school there will be plenty of people standing in line to punish your kids.

2. I very seldom use a discipline technique that removes a kid from the instructional setting. I will discuss the exceptions below. Yes, you too can have a school with virtually no kids in ISS. If you need to see one, come to my school. Use detentions and time outs for redirection.

3. Most behavioral problems are due to parental dis-engagement. Re-engage the parents. If they don't want to re-engage, push on the parent. Call the parent and ask to see them in person, right away. If right away is not possible, the next morning will do. For first time minor offenders a phone call may be in order, but for any repeat offender, a phone conference simply won't do. Inconvenience the parent. After all, it is the parent's job to raise the child, not yours. Don't let the parent dodge their responsibility.

Parent won't come for a conference? Try these options: suspend the child pending a parent conference (I don't like this one, but I have used it), take the child to the parent's work place and let the parent deal with the child (I did this once; it was highly effective), use your SRO for leverage: "do you prefer a ticket or a conference, because we are out of options?"

Re-engaging parents is time consuming. You are looking at 30 minutes for each conference. It only takes 5 seconds to place the child in ISS, and the problem is out of sight, out of mind.

Using these techniques I found that less than 1% of parents were unwilling to re-engage with their child. Some of these parents got tired of our calls and demands and moved their children to other schools, which suits me just fine.

I should mention that most parents love this approach. Parents don't want their child in ISS and most are willing to take off work to re-engage their child.

I should also mention that many teachers initially don't like the approach. As administrators we have conditioned our teachers that referrals will result in a multiple day break from the child in question. I mean, running a school without ISS? That is truly crazy talk.

SC Response

At one time, four of the top ten young Texas urban school leaders (FT, JJ, JM and MS) were in this district. Unfortunately, the district didn’t know what to do with them, so all but Dr. Jenkins scattered with the wind. Oh, what could have been.

Some more history, LYS discipline programs and philosophy were born in the research and work that Dr. Jim Davis and I led in Harris County in the late 1990’s early 2000’s. Here is what we learned:

1. The more a student gets in trouble, the more he suffers academically.

2. The more the student is removed from class, the less chance he has to pass the state accountability test.

3. Remove the student from the campus, and he is all but a guaranteed drop out.

The answer:

1. Create systems that prevent students from getting in trouble.

2. Minimize the time students are away from the classroom.

3. Work every day to put the Off Campus Discipline Program out of business (by chocking off the supply of students).

E. Don Brown in Dallas and Robert Brezina in Houston understood this way before the rest of us did (who’s surprised). Brown never had an ISS program on his large high school campus (Brown quote: ISS is a self-fulfilling prophesy). Brezina put his best staff at his DAEP’s (that’s where you find the greatest need).

Finally, no matter what, you have to eliminate out of school suspensions. This is the dumbest discipline intervention ever created. When I send you home, I have ceded control of the situation to a parent who by all objective data (child exhibiting anti-social behavior) has no control over the situation. I have to assume that I am the only one who has the will and the tools to teach the student how to be successful in social interactions (notice, the absence of the word punishment). So if the child gets in trouble, I’m working with him. The more serious the trouble, the more time he gets and the more focused the intervention.

Just know that every student you quit on, from a statistical standpoint, is a guaranteed failure. Things do not get better down the discipline continuum. Stop the slide before it starts.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Follow Sean Cain at www.Twitter.com/LYS Nation

Coming Soon! - "The Fundamental Five: The Formula for Quality Instruction" www.TheFundamentalFive.com

Plan to attend the LYS presentations the summer at TASSP, TASB and TEPSA.

Reader Comments - Quick Hitters

There have been a lot of quick hitter comments that readers have been sending in, so today I thought I would lump them all together and share them with the rest on of the LYS Nation.

For the 3/24/2011 post, “Texas School Finance Situation,” the Ol’ Ball Coach writes: “Amen, Brother.”

SC: Coach, I can’t tell you how relieved I was to get your comment. I wrote that post knowing that I was breaking away from one of my long held positions. And I was worried that I hadn’t explained myself well enough and that you would take some umbrance. Thanks for the support.

For the 3/25/2011 post, “Yes, I Know the Hours are Long – Part 23,” a long time reader writes: “Spot on Again!”

SC: Thanks, but again I have to credit the assist to the LYS Superintendent who refocused my thoughts and my writing.

For the 4/1/2011 post, “School Reform Agenda,” a long time reader writes: This is BRILLIANT!!!! I Love It!!!!

SC: Sometimes we need to remind ourselves how far we have actually progressed.

For the 4/1/2011 post, “School Reform Agenda,” an old school LYS’er writes: ‘Pisses you off...’ ‘Politely point out exactly why they are an idiot.’ That’s the Cain I know and love. Keep giving them hell, brother!

SC: The truth will set you free.

For the 4/4/2011 post, “Top Tweets From the Week of March 27,” a reader writes: I love this! I don't always agree with everything you say but when you are hot, you're hot!

SC: Thanks and remember the rule of the blog is that critical thought and learning resides in our areas of disagreement. That’s what confuses the haters.

For the 4/5/2011 post, “Finance Driven Epiphanies,” a reader writes: This post is why I read the blog. University level discussions about the issues I face daily on my campus.

SC: I tell everyone the typical LYSer brings more to the table than the average educator. Or as one Superintendent says, LYS Principals talk differently than their peers, that’s why I hire every one I can steal.

For the 4/6/2011 post, “What are You in Charge of – Part 1,” a reader writes: I miss the Ol’ Ball Coach!!! Great leader and mentor.

SC: He agrees.

For the 4/6/2011 post, “What are You in Charge of – Part 1,” a reader writes: I have also found that if you run around the building and jokingly harass someone and bring a smile to their face while you "borrow" their chocolate, it will bring down your stress levels as well.

SC: I need to “borrow” more chocolate.

For the 4/8/2011 post, “The Awesome Work of a LYS Assistant Principal,” a reader writes: I am sitting here with tears in my eyes! That was beautiful.

For the 4/8/2011 post, “The Awesome Work of a LYS Assistant Principal,” a reader writes: That's funny, that's my Tahoe pulling in the parking lot when they start at the beginning. Christina (the principal) is my mentor, I'm lucky! The teachers who came up with this idea did a good job! Cool for Holmsley and their kids!!!

SC: I was blown away when they sent me video. Kudos to the whole school.

Finally, I’ve had a ton of phone calls and e-mails saying that “The blog is on fire. Keep it up.” As long as the LYS Nation keeps reading, writing, and responding, I’ll keep up my end of the bargain.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Follow Sean Cain on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Coming Soon! - "The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction" www.TheFundamentalFive.com

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of April 3, 2011

I was talking to some teachers this week that reported that it is still policy and practice in their district to confiscate cell phone and charge $25.00 for their return. I wish that I could say that this is an isolated case, but it is not. Instead of embracing a chance to introduce real world relevance into our schools and our classrooms, too many of us are stuck in a school paradigm that has little resemblance to the student life after 3:00 pm.

Consider the story of one of my mentors, Wayne Schaper, Sr. When he was a principal in the 80’s, he was a pioneer in the use of (then) new technology to manage student records, grades, schedules, etc. His secret? He had an office aide that had a knack for working with the unreliable, clunky boxes that passed for office computers. So he gave the student free rein to play, learn, build and figure out how to make the box useful, which he did. Schaper went on to be one of the great school leaders of his era. Oh, and the student, Michael, he went on to found Dell Computers. Embrace bootleg technology now.

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter. If you haven’t done so yet, we want you to join us. To let you see what you are missing, here are the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of March 27^th, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. Ms. Richards at Burnet ES was 5 for 5 on the Fundamental Five!

2. Ms. Lopez at Burnet ES was 5 for 5 on the Fundamental Five. Back to back classrooms. Burnet primary teachers are on fire!

3. The San Jacinto Junior High English Department has tied the current unit’s research paper to the social studies curriculum. Awesome!

4. Today's run thought: Effort, no matter how poor, trumps talk, no matter how great.

5. Cover art and early endorsements for our soon to be released book "The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction" can be seen at www.TheFundamental5.com

6. My first change to cell phone policies. Instead of the "Keep Hidden" rule, implement a "Keep Visible" rule. This is much easier to monitor.

7. With activities not related to teaching and learning: 1 - Do you recognize them? 2 - Why are you doing them?

8. WooHoo!!! You can now access the PowerWalks site thru www.PowerWalks.com. Or, you can still use www.PowerWalks.net

9. Hooray! The first LYS national ad is in today's on-line NASSP Principals' Update. To get your free subscription to the NASSP Principal Update, e-mail nassp@multibriefs.com

10. Business and school leadership are different. The use of coercive power in business leads to lazy practice. Diminished skill set for vision & influence.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Follow Sean Cain on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Coming Soon - "The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction" www.TheFundamentalFive.com