Summer Reading - The Revised Top Ten List

I’m often asked (as I was earlier this week) what books would I recommend to educators that best encapsulate the LYS philosophy. Last year I posted a top ten list, but since that posting I’ve added two books, and by necessity, demoted two. So just in time for summer reading, here is my updated list.

1. Results Now, by Mike Schmoker.

This book sets the LYS tone. If on the whole you disagree with what Mike writes in this book, you are going to disagree with LYS (the organization and probably the Nation).

2. Corp Business, by David H. Freedman.

This is the book I had every new AP I hired read. I have yet to find a book that does a better job of laying out the actionable ABC’s of leading people in the field.

3. Good to Great, by Jim Collins.

There are hedgehogs and foxes. Reject your fox instincts and embrace your inner hedgehog. Don't have a clue what I'm talking about? Read the book.

4. The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell.

The primer on the power of the few. Those who question the power of the LYS Nation just don’t recognize the implication of a network of the best Mavens, Connectors and Salespeople in our field.

5. Switch, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

Ever feel like (or know) that you are leading change but no one is following? Find out if you have a rider problem, an elephant problem or a path problem and learn how to get everything going in the right direction.

6. The Fundamental 5, by Sean Cain and Mike Laird.

Yes, I co-authored the book. But it really is that good. Need a primer for your rookie teachers on how to survive in the classroom? Want a reminder for veteran staff to improve their effectiveness and reduce their stress. Looking for a blueprint to improve the quality of your presentations. The fundamental five is the place to start.

7. The Moral Imperative of School Leadership, by Michael Fullan.

You actually should read everything that Fullan writes, but if time is a factor, this is the one to start with. I do have one small problem with Fullan. He’s too smart. He understands the nuances that drive expert leadership and does a world class job of explaining this (perhaps better than anyone). Unfortunately, the smart/lazy manager type can use Fullan as justification for their repeatedly inane actions (or inaction).

8. How the Mighty Fall, by Jim Collins.

Yes, it is a business book, but Collins lays out the doom loop that district after district is currently stuck in. Fortunately, he tells us how to get out of the loop and even prevent it. Unfortunately, most senior leadership doesn’t care and isn’t listening.

9. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John C. Maxwell.

Maxwell is a former pastor. He writes about church leadership. In many ways, church leadership is a better model for school leaders than business leadership. Violate the Irrefutable Laws at the peril of your organization and you career.

10. Slot number ten is filled by a number of books, that depending on my mood, interest, or need of the person I’m working with, that I might recommend. Some of those books include:

33 Strategies of War, by Robert Greene for strategic and tactical planning.

The Federalist Papers, by Hamilton, Madison and Jay. If you are trying to lead an organization of more than three people who have competing self interests, you might find this worth reading.

It’s Called Work for a Reason, by Larry Wingate. Admittedly a pulp book. But sometimes we have to get over ourselves, cut thru the BS and admit that we have a job to do and how hard we tried doesn’t matter if we’re not successful. Just looking at the title ought to give you a little boost when the going gets tough.

His Excellency, by Joseph J. Ellis. Think you have leadership all figured out? If this study of George Washington doesn’t convince otherwise, you must be pretty darn good.

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

Louise ISD is searching for a Superintendent. Application details at www.LeadYourSchool.com

Follow Sean Cain on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Upcoming Event / Presentation Schedule

June 11 (TASB) - The Fundamental Five; Improve Now!

June 15 thru June 17 - TASSP Conference

June 16 (TASSP) - Conference Breakfast, hosted by E. Don Brown (LYS travel tumblers for the first 1000 attendees, last year we ran out)

June 16 (TASSP) – Book Release Event for “The Fundamental 5”

June 18 - TASB Conference, Fort Worth

Quick Hitters from the LYS Nation - Vouchers

In response to the 5/19/2011 post, “Vouchers - It’s Only Choice,” LYSers sent in the following quick hitters.

1. Spot on! Vote out those that vote against public education.

2. Outstanding blog and to answer your “Who will I vote for” question...anyone without (R) next to their name.

3. Great anti-voucher argument.

4. Since you have pointed it out, I can see their agenda in every pro-voucher comment and argument.

5. Love the post; remind me to never make you mad at any of my pet projects.

6. If you run, I will vote.

7. There should be no vouchers. If the government wants to address this, do so with tax deductions.

8. Can I repost your post on vouchers?

SC Response

As always, thanks for the comments. In regards to comment #7, this isn’t a case of the Government wanting to do this. This is a case of a small number of people with a very specific agenda manipulating an issue that the general populace pays little attention to. The general population supports schools (see: school bond passing rates in this era of “taxes are evil”). But those with an ax to grind are much more vocal and specific than those that do not. There is an understanding in business, the customer that does not like you will tell ten people, the customer that does might tell one.

As for the idea of allowing a compromise solution such as providing a tax deduction for those who opt out of the public school system, that unveils a slew of unanswered issues. I’ll start with the easy one. If you get a tax break for not sending your kids to public school, shouldn’t someone else get a tax break for not having kids? No, “Public” is public because it serves the greater good.

In regards to #8, I have no problem with the LYS Nation referencing and reposting what we discuss on the blog. This is just one big discussion about schools. I’m just happy that there are thousands us of that are driven to improve our schools, only because we love them.

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

Louise ISD is searching for a Superintendent. Application details at www.LeadYourSchool.com

Follow Sean Cain on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Upcoming Event / Presentation Schedule

June 11 (TASB) - The Fundamental Five; Improve Now!

June 15 thru June 17 - TASSP Conference

June 16 (TASSP) - Conference Breakfast, hosted by E. Don Brown (LYS travel tumblers for the first 1000 attendees, last year we ran out)

June 16 (TASSP) – Book Release Event for “The Fundamental 5”

June 18 - TASB Conference, Fort Worth

Quick Hitters from the LYS Nation - Part 2

I’m continuing the end of the school year house cleaning. Here are some more quick comments from the LYS Nation. If you happened to miss the original post, go back and check it out.

In response to the 5/3/2011 post, “Remember the Main Objective is to Drain the Swamp” readers wrote:

1. Great post. I know you talk to our bosses, but are you sure they are listening.

2. It’s uncanny. Sometimes it’s like you have been watching me and write my a personal note right when I need it. Thanks for remind me to focus on Swamp Draining.

3. Good point

SC Response

Right now a lot of bosses that we work with are not listening. But in this case it understandable. Their focus for the spring semester has been on budget, staffing and politics. This happens every year for a short span of time, but this year has been different. Schools are under attack and they are attempting to craft contingency plans on top of worst-case contingency plans. Which is why, at the campus level, we have to maintain our focus on teaching and learning. Because right now, no one else has that luxury. In the short run things will be tougher, working harder and smarter will be the new reality. Meaning that by necessity, we will have to improve at both ignoring and training the alligators.

In response to the 5/16/2011 post, “Top LYS Tweets from the Week of May 8, 2011” the Big Easy writes:

In regard to #8, remember the advice of then General Eisenhower “Plans are nothing; Planning is everything.”

SC Response

Ike understood (as all officers do) that the world plays defense. To not plan is to waste effort and lives. To over plan is to waste opportunity (and probably lives). Planning is simply the mental simulation that increases your chance of success. Do just enough of it to ensure that you are able to address basic logistics and have responses to predictable setbacks. Then start acting and adjusting based on results.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

To order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction” call Jo at (832) 477-5323. Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t

Louise ISD is searching for a Superintendent. Application details at www.LeadYourSchool.com

Follow Sean Cain on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Upcoming Event / Presentation Schedule

June 11 (TASB) - The Fundamental Five; Improve Now!

June 15 thru June 17 - TASSP Conference

June 16 (TASSP) - Conference Breakfast, hosted by E. Don Brown (LYS travel tumblers for the first 1000 attendees, last year we ran out)

June 16 (TASSP) – Book Release Event for “The Fundamental 5”

June 18 - TASB Conference, Fort Worth

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of May 22, 2011

I was at a neighborhood get-together this weekend. I was talking to one on the guests (a successful salesman), explaining that in spite of what he has heard, schools do not actually burn money to heat the buildings in the winter and that there is not one central office person for every person on a campus. He was surprised. But what surprised him most is that we don’t let students use their smart phones on campus. As he pointed out, his phone has made his computer almost obsolete and he runs his entire day in the field from a device that fits in his palm. That has to be our challenge over the summer - How do we get the power of personal technology into our classrooms? We have to get past the urge to put $10,000 interactive white-boards in rooms while telling students to leave their tablets at home.

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 May 22, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. If you are a school leader who enjoyed the warmth of the TPM blanket, resist the urge to burn those under you because now you are cold.

2. So the legislature has made no progress in 5 months? Hmmm... Imagine if our kids were in the same place where they were when they started in August.

3. Breaking News: TEA to rate Texas legislature academically unacceptable... Legislators ask, "Is that with or without TPM?"

4. Don't waste your time worrying if your people like you. Invest your time in making your people better.

5. Not making mistakes comes with experience, which usually comes from making mistakes.

6. At a state juvenile facility where every interaction between guard and student is textbook wrong. The next placement is never better. Never quit on your students.

7. Texas Republican Logic: When one hypothetical student theoretically dies from steroid abuse, it's a tragedy. When 100,000's of actual students are under-educated, it's belt tightening.

8. The last summative assessment of the school year is the first formative data source for the new school year.

9. The bottom line is: Unsuccessful students + state created fiction = unsuccessful students.

10. Louise ISD is looking for an exceptional LYS leader to be its next Superintendent. Candidates send information to: superintendent@leadyourschool.com

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

Louise ISD is searching for a Superintendent. Application details at www.LeadYourSchool.com

Follow Sean Cain on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Upcoming Event / Presentation Schedule

June 11 (TASB) - The Fundamental Five; Improve Now!

June 15 thru June 17 - TASSP Conference

June 16 (TASSP) - Conference Breakfast, hosted by E. Don Brown (LYS travel tumblers for the first 1000 attendees, last year we ran out)

June 16 (TASSP) – Book Release Event for “The Fundamental 5”

June 18 - TASB Conference, Fort Worth

Correct Application Deadline - LISD Superintendent Search

Superintendent Search

Louise Independent School District

The New LISD Superintendent Will Have

• A Record of Successful School Leadership
• Exceptional Communication Skills
• A Dynamic Vision for Teaching and Learning
• A Working Knowledge of School Finance

Application Requirements

Submit the Following to:

superintendent@leadyourschool.com

• Letter of Interest
• Resume
• Superintendent Certification
• Two Letters of Reference
  
  
  Application Deadline: June 24, 2011
  Search Consultant: Robert Brezina (832) 477-5323

Have a Safe Memorial Day

In honor of the Memorial Day, I will share a quote from “Patton on Leadership,” by Alan Axlerod, that resonated with me early in my career as a principal.

The essence of the quote was, “Victory is achieved when you declare it.”

The school year is a marathon. If we don’t announce and celebrate our short-term victories, we will do one of two things. We will wear our staff (and/or students) down because they will see no progress, or we will demoralize them as they begin to believe that their effort does not matter.

Set meaningful short-term goals and make it a big deal when the campus (or your class) meets them. Patton used this leadership tool to beat the Nazi’s. We can use the same tool to improve graduation rates and state accountability tests results. And the tests are not trying to shoot us.

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

Upcoming Event / Presentation Schedule

June 11 (TASB) - The Fundamental Five; Improve Now!

June 15 (TASSP) - Improve Now!

June 16 (TASSP) - Conference Breakfast, hosted by E. Don Brown (LYS travel tumblers for the first 1000 attendees, last year we ran out)

June 16 (TASSP) – Book Release Event, “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction”

June 16 (TASSP) - Fundamental Five; Tech Tools for the 2.0 Principal

June 17 (TASSP) - PowerWalks

June 18 (TASB) - The Fundamental Five; Improve Now!