The Big Easy Writes... (Teacher Nests - Part 5)

In response to the 8/19/11 post “Teacher Nests – Part 4,” the Big Easy writes:

Consternation? I have seen real tears and a lot of anger during discussions centered on teacher nests, and I have yet to see one tear during discussions about poor student performance. We can look to Maslow for an explanation. It is and always will be an uphill struggle against human nature.

The Big Easy – “Trust Me, I’m a Doctor”

SC Response

The conversations about nesting are beginning to sound like dialogue from a Monty Python skit. All the pettiness of the human condition is exposed in the discussion. I even heard one school “leader” say, “The teachers can do what ever they want to. He’s crazy if he thinks I’m changing my office.”

With leadership of that quality I hope the teachers like the taste of “second best” and “also-ran,” because “best” is a pipe dream.

Once again I will clarify the nesting argument.

1. There is an inverse correlation between nesting and time spent in the Power Zone

2. Increase time spent in the Power Zone is positively correlated to increased student performance.

3. Before teacher nests are tackled, administrators and professional support personnel should de-nest their offices.

4. If leadership and support are not willing to “walk the walk,” DO NOT “talk the talk.”

5. Instruction is always the primary focus.

6. If instruction is adequate or better, the environment can accelerate or decelerate performance.

7. If instruction is poor, the environment won’t save you.

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/4ydqd4

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

Come visit us at the LYS Booth at the TASA/TASB Fall Conference on 9/30/11 and 10/1/11

Attend the LYS presentations at the Texas School Improvement Conference on 10/26/11 and 10/27/11

A Reader Asks... Maintaining the Course

A long time LYS’er asks:

SC ,

I am having some struggles getting my new principal on board with a few LYS strategies because they don't jive with AVID, which is her major push. I think AVID is great for college readiness for struggling and disadvantaged students but I do not think it addresses school improvement issues as a whole.

I can report that we have made some significant gains the over the past year, which has come with focused disaggregation and instructional targeting with C-SCOPE and test data. Unfortunately, we did not make enough gains to change our rating. How do I convince my new principal that we are on the right track?

SC Response

I would agree that AVID is not a holistic school improvement program. AVID would fall under the umbrella of instructional delivery / teacher craft. Or the “Art” of instruction. The initial and primary focus of LYS is the infrastructure of instructional machine. And as E. Don Brown constantly reminds us, it the infrastructure isn’t there, the “Art” will not save you.

But the good news is that AVID does focus on improving options for academically fragile students. Meaning that philosophically, LYS and AVID are in the same ballpark. I think that it should be fairly easy to demonstrate that the LYS practice of using the performance data of the AFS to leverage sustained campus is valid and prudent. There is nothing that compares to the clarity of measuring success by those who succeed because of you, not in spite of you.

P.S. Send me your current contact information, I’m often in your neck of the woods and want to stop by and see you in action.

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

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

Come visit us at the LYS Booth at the TASA/TASB Fall Conference on 9/30/11 and 10/1/11

Attend the LYS presentations at the Texas School Improvement Conference on 10/26/11 and 10/27/11

A Reader Writes... (Recruiting New Teachers - Part 1)

In response to the 8/3/11 post, “Recruiting New Teachers,” a reader writes:

Though I have not taught for long, I started following Lead Your School when I was in college and this is my first post. As a beginner teacher, I have not fully understood what is going on in our profession, nor did I want to take the time to care. However, that thinking changed today.

I am currently working on my Master's degree and this week's assignment was focused on professional learning communities. The articles that were assigned to us talked about the importance of collaborative communication. We, as professionals, are to "support the notion that talk itself is a form of learning that can lead to change in thoughts and action" (Nieto, 2003, p. 124). Therefore, I realize that I can no longer be on the sidelines when it comes to my profession; it is time for me to talk.

In today's blog you talked about how people, particularly politicians, are undermining teachers and believe that teachers are a commodity. However, we as teachers are not doing all that we can to change their perception. It's no secret that we have "low pay, high stress, and no appreciation from the public and our elected leaders for the work we do." But, that's not why I chose this profession. I chose it because I truly believe that I can make a difference in the educational system. I enjoy a challenge and to me, society is challenging me to prove them wrong in their thinking.

I want to tell my story and the story of my campus. I want people hear what it is like for a teacher, new or experienced. Being a part of this network lets me know that I am not alone in my big dreams and big ideas; it provides a support and strategies. Therefore, I want to thank you and the LYS Nation for giving me the opportunity to finally talk. I feel much obliged!

SC Response

First, thanks for taking the time write in. I always appreciate the thought and the effort.

Second, I might debate a little bit with Nieto on the value of talk. I actually value “doing.” I was recently talking to a principal who was worried that all of his talk wasn’t changing the hearts of his teachers and community. I told him that I gave up on changing hearts a long time ago. Now I work to change practice. Change the practice long enough and the heart will follow, or leave. Either one improves the organization. And us our mothers all taught us, “Actions speak louder than words.”

And that is what you are doing now, acting. Sending in your post is a new and purposeful action. Educating your neighbor on the importance of investing in schools is a new and purposeful action. Making education the litmus test for your vote is a new and purposeful action.

I want to close with this, as educators we get to observe daily (with students, parents, and occasionally our peers) that people project on others their sins, attitudes and beliefs. The student who whines the most about others not sharing, usually has the biggest problem sharing. The parent who complains that her child (or herself) is a victim of gossip is often a big gossip. It is an element of the human condition that those of us in the people business quickly learn to recognize. I point this out for this reason. The attempts to increase revenue by closing corporate and personal tax loops holes have been characterized by the far right as “Class Warfare.” An interesting observation from those who are advocates for cutting funds for education, public service, health, medical, and infrastructure. The Right doth protest too much, methinks.

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/4ydqd4

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

Come visit us at the LYS Booth at the TASA/TASB Fall Conference on 9/30/11 and 10/1/11

Attend the LYS presentations at the Texas School Improvement Conference on 10/26/11 and 10/27/11

Some Reader Quick Hitters

Here are a couple of recent quick hitter comments from the LYS Nation

After reading the 8/15/11 post, “Top LYS Tweets From the Week of August 7, 2011,” a reader writes:

Amen to the roadblocks issue!

After reading the 8/17/11 post, “Student vs. Teacher Data,” a LYS Superintendent writes:

Great post today, Sean. Maybe not your most elegant prose, you’ve said it much more succinctly when you say (and I’m paraphrasing) that student performance is the lagging indicator and the leading indicator is teacher effectiveness.

After reading the 9/8/11 post, “Quit With the Early Benchmark,” a LYS Principal writes:

Repeatedly weighing the herd doesn’t make them gain weight!

After reading the 9/8/11 post, “Quit With the Early Benchmark,” a LYS Assistant Superintendent writes:

Oh, Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.... the cheese is molding.

After reading the 9/16/11 post, “LYS Followers?,” Brezina writes:

This is one blog post that deserves a big “AMEN.”

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

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

Come visit us at the LYS Booth at the TASA/TASB Fall Conference on 9/30/11 and 10/1/11

Attend the LYS presentations at the Texas School Improvement Conference on 10/26/11 and 10/27/11

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of September 18, 2011

When I speak to groups about using bootleg technology in the classroom, many principals look at me with an expression somewhere between pity (for my obvious bout of early senility) and panic (please don’t let this idiot talk to my superintendent). As I query these administrators, it seems that it is the fear of introducing an unknown variable on their campuses that that is behind their trepidation. As a former principal, let me say, “I feel your pain.”

I get it, if anything goes awry, you are the one that is called on the carpet. But the best way to conquer our fear is to confront it. Really, what could go wrong that we don’t already have to deal with?

A phone might get stolen? Happens already. A student might send or receive an inappropriate message? Happens already? A student may view an inappropriate image? Happens already. A student might make a call during school hours? Happens already.

Why are we afraid of what we already deal with?

It is my position that when we take the “Bootleg” out of bootleg technology, that we will be able to manage the misuse of said technology like we manage the rest of student behavior - with clear expectations, monitoring and reasonable consequences. Couple that with the benefits of a cheap (essentially free) 1:1 computing environment and to not move in this direction seems close-minded and reactionary.

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own 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 September 18, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. Today, handed out "The Fundamental 5" books to teachers. Excited about improvement in classroom instruction coming to our campus. (By – @blitzkrieg607)

2. Happy that a teacher I met had my book, “The Fundamental 5.” Sad that it was a Xerox copy.

3. The Most Patriotic Thing You Can Do: Bust your ass and get rich. Make a boatload of money. Pay your taxes. Lots of taxes. (By - @mcuban)

4. Saddest thing I've seen this week. Teachers reporting how much they and their students have raised for the community. The same community that cut school funding.

5. In a district where just 650 voters out of 10,000 voted in the last school related election. More than 650 employees in the district. Step up now.

6. With the push to make high schools more like college, I have just one question? How many college professors did you have that were actually a good teacher?

7. Guess what they are working on at this campus? http://yfrog.com/ntkqhxoj Read the book! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t

8. The problem and solution to sub-par student performance begins and ends with us.

9. When did not planning for instruction become an acceptable practice?

10. The answer isn't more tutoring. The answer is improved front line instruction. It’s the difference between reactive and proactive.

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

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

Come visit us at the LYS Booth at the TASA/TASB Fall Conference on 9/30/11 and 10/1/11

Attend the LYS presentations at the Texas School Improvement Conference on 10/26/11 and 10/27/11