A Reader Writes... (Remember the Main Objective is to Drain the Swamp)

In response to the 5/3/11 post, “Remember the Main Objective is to Drain the Swamp,” a LYS Principal writes:

SC,

I really needed the reminder yesterday that my goal is to drain the swamp. I am up to my butt in alligators. I read the post, and then went into my procedural team meeting with all my “Type A, Pet Peeve” people and relieved myself of an alligator. I told one of the participants in the middle of the meeting, "We aren't really here to fix your pet peeves and if that is why you volunteered to be on this team, you are wrong." She excused herself and we moved onto a very productive meeting.

Keep it up.

SC Response

It is so easy to lose perspective when you are in the thick of daily routines. As educators, we are attuned to customer service and problem solving. Overall this is not a bad thing. In fact it is a result of us being people-centric. But it also means that very quickly we can find ourselves spending much of our time working to solve issues and problems that have no impact on the greater good.

That is why the Foundation Trinity is the engine of school improvement. Properly executed, we are forced to answer the following questions over and over again.

1. Are we teaching today what we are supposed to teach today?

2. Did our students learn what we were supposed to teach?

3. Did we deliver instruction to the best of our ability?

If your daily activities revolve primarily around insuring that all three questions are answered with an “affirmative,” your part of the swamp is being drained.

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

A Central Texas School District is searching for an Assistant Superintendent. Application details at www.LeadYourSchool.com

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

TASSP / TASB Wrap Up

Last week was a blast at TASSP and TASB – North Texas. At TASSP, the LYS Booth was a constant hub of activity with LYS campus leaders old and new stopping by to catch up and connect. I looked up one time and counted 25 LYS principals and assistant principals all clustered around the booth talking shop. Our main presentations on the Fundamental Five and the Foundation Trinity were standing room only. Our two bonus presentations addressing Bootleg Technology and PowerWalks were well attended, especially considering the times when both were scheduled. We were overrun at the conference breakfast, handing out over 1,200 coffee tumblers in less than an hour. Finally, the book, “The Fundamental 5,” was the runaway best seller at the conference bookstore. The store was going to stock 10 copies, I suggested 100. They took 80 and sold out.

At the North Texas TASB conference, we were standing room only for Fundamental Five and at capacity for the Foundation Trinity. I cannot complement our Texas school board members enough. They took copious notes and asked specific, relevant questions. For unpaid volunteers, they attack their role with passion and focused curiosity.

It was great to see everyone who attended and I appreciate everything you do. I’ve attached a number of photos from the conferences. You just might be in one of 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

A Central Texas School District is searching for an Assistant Superintendent. Application details at www.LeadYourSchool.com

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

A Reminder From the Ol' Ball Coach

The following is a summer checklist from the Ol’ Ball Coach.

Since the LYS Nation represents the hardest working educators in the land, I thought I might need to remind you of your agenda for the next month:

1. Relax

2. Take some time for friends and family

3. Take some time for yourself

4. Get bored

5. Recharge

6. Be thankful for all the above

Thank you for being there for our youth and enjoy the rest of your summer

The Ol’ Ball Coach.

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

A Central Texas School District is searching for an Assistant Superintendent. Application details at www.LeadYourSchool.com

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of June 12, 2011

A LYS Principal shared a story we me during the TASSP conference that perfectly encapsulates the Bootleg Technology (and LYS) mindset. He called a meeting of his department chairs at the beginning of May. He started by asking how many of them had a smart phone, and if they did to put it on the conference table. Within seconds there were a number of phones in plain view. Then he said this, “There is more technology sitting on this table than is in any one of our classrooms. And it is faster than anything we have. Our challenge for the rest of the year is to get the power of these phones embedded into our instruction.”

Which they were able to do; even if it was on a limited scale. Every journey has a first step.

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 June 12, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. Just got the news. The Fundamental 5 is the best selling book at the TASSP Conference Bookstore (80 copies in two days). Second place isn’t even close. Thanks LYS Nation!

2. Tonight's Run Thought: The do'er in me hates to slow down to re-explain. The teacher in me demands that I do.

3. Tonight's Run Thought: If your pupils struggle, you suffer from some degree of an "understanding / coaching" gap.

4. (@DrJerryRBurkett) Apparently, my blogs are "rants". I didn't know "rant" was another word for "fact."

5. The LYS breakfast at the TASSP Conference is a runaway success. Overwhelmed. We started with over 1,000 LYS travel mugs. We now have 0.

6. (@DrJerryRBurkett) Modeled purposeful talk in my presentation. No one left, standing room only, plugged your book (The Fundamental 5), great feedback.

7. (@DrJerryRBurkett) Thank you, Tea Party! Voting against Keller ISD just raised my home value! No one will want to move to a school district without school busses.

8. (@BorowitzReport) BREAKING: Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he will run for President if he has finished destroying Texas by 2012.

9. Seven days, three conferences, eight presentations. The highlight? Watching as the old school LYSers reconnected and how they welcomed the newbies.

10. Just found out, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" To slow me down and delay my getting home after a week on the road. CURSE YOU, CHICKENS!

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

A Central Texas School District is searching for an Assistant Superintendent. Application details at www.LeadYourSchool.com

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation