Thursday, August 2, 2012

The Reference - Part 3


As previously reported, it’s that time of year again.  The time when districts look at what their campuses are doing and then look at LYS campuses and decide that they need to make a run at those campus and district leaders.  In the course of the recruitment dance, the interested district always wants a to hear from a reference or two.  Do you want to know why the LYS Leader is different?  Here is an excerpt from a reference that I just completed.

How does this individual get along with others?
(MASKED NAME) has the highest profile position in his district. In the current funding crisis, few districts in the state, has been hit as hard as his.  It is a testament to the esteem in which his community, staff and superiors hold him that he is able to lead in this environment.  Few in his district are happy right now, but on his campus they are still working with a purpose.

Describe his planning and organization skills.
(MASKED NAME) ability to plan and organize has few peers.  But unlike many who pride themselves for their planning and organization skills, (MASKED NAME) is a flexible thinker.  His plans are a working draft that are adjusted when the situation warrants it.  Again, it is this skill set that has positioned his campus to remain effective as resources are cut daily.

What are his strengths?
The core of Lead Your School is the code, "Think. Work. Achieve."  (MASKED NAME) personifies this.  He understands theory as well as any young school leader. Though not common, that in itself is not unique.  What is unique is the sweat equity he puts in to see that theory is put into practice, at scale, in his classrooms.

Does he have any weakness?
Like all top-tier principals, (MASKED NAME) is relentless in the pursuit of maximizing student opportunity and performance.  In an environment focused on adult comfort and convenience, (MASKED NAME) would have little patience.

What sets him apart from other candidates?
(MASKED NAME) is thriving in a "perfect storm" education crisis. He leads a fast growth campus with real dollars and actual staff counts having been cut for three straight years.  The fact that not only does his school function, but that it is also improving the quality of delivered instruction is nothing short of miraculous.

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/Fundamental5
  • Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “Look at Me: A Cautionary School Leadership Tale” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/lookatmebook
  • Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool)
  • Upcoming Presentations: Livingston ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Channelview ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Comal ISD, Leadership Team Kickoff, Bushland ISD Staff Kickoff, Canadian ISD Staff Kickoff, Highland Park ISD Staff Kickoff, Sunray ISD Staff Kickoff, Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations)
  • Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The Marine Shares... Our Results


An old school LYSer (and first year principal) shares his end of year results:

SC,

The Foundation Trinity rocks Wyoming

As first year principal I did exactly what I told my Superintendent that I would do. My staff and I implemented the Foundation Trinity with singular focus, fidelity, and urgency. No buy in, just explain, train and do (just like you, Brezina, and Brown trained me).  Here are our year one results:

1. Attendance increased from 88% to 93%
2. Discipline referrals dropped nearly 50%
3. State Standardized Reading scores went up 11%
4. State Standardized Math scores went up 11%
5. ACT average score went from 19 to 21
6. 90% of our student received college credit on their AP tests (national average is 57%)
7. Six teachers decided to leave.

My unbiased opinion, the Foundation Trinity kicks ass in any state, district or school when done purposefully and with fidelity.

Forward, MARCH!

SC Response
Yet another proof point that adult practice drives student performance.

Not funding, not demographics, not parents, and not a bunch of new teachers. Those things might make the work more or less difficult, but it is the work that is the difference maker.

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/Fundamental5
  • Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “Look at Me: A Cautionary School Leadership Tale” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/lookatmebook
  • Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool)
  • Upcoming Presentations: Livingston ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Channelview ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Comal ISD, Leadership Team Kickoff, Bushland ISD Staff Kickoff, Canadian ISD Staff Kickoff, Highland Park ISD Staff Kickoff, Sunray ISD Staff Kickoff, Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations)
  • Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of July 22, 2012


Admittedly, when it comes to bootleg technology, one of the biggest concern of educators is, “How do you keep students from ignoring their assignments and the teacher?”

Previously, we have discussed rules and reasonable consequences.  But in reality, it all boils down to the individual teacher (as does everything important as it relates to teaching and learning).  Teachers that assign meaningful tasks, have good relationships with students, stay in the Power Zone, monitor student work, and have good classroom management skills will have next to no problems with the inappropriate use of bootleg technology in their classrooms.  For each of the items listed above that a teacher is deficient in, the greater the chance that the use of bootleg technology by students will be for non-academic purposes.  But consider this, for that same teacher, is not the quality of instruction already negatively impacted?

If you are leading your campus with the purpose of making teachers more effective so that student learning is increased and enhanced, allowing the use of bootleg technology is an easy decision to make.  If you are leading with the idea that the instructional solutions have to work in spite of teachers, then really, the use of bootleg technology is the least of your worries.  

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 July 22, 2012.

1. Simple answer to a complex question: Am I a good principal if I don't insist that we follow a common scope and sequence? No.
2. Downloaded Fun 5 Plans app with @BlessingLaura on the iPad. Going to see what kind of magic I can create! (By @patriot_teacher)
3. Progress requires ruthless self-assessment. If it's inaccurate (whatever the cause) everything that follows is wrong. Be honest, not afraid. (By @gymjones)
4. Love the Fundamental 5 book! (By @jenniferzsch)
5. Whoever said teachers and principals have the summers off is CRAZY! Education preparation is perpetual! (By @sammywyatt)

6. Would someone please explain to the community that bus transportation is not a “right.” Vote for the tax cutters and de-funders and no transportation is what occurs.

7. Short-term, Common, Formative Assessments (LYS Method): Your best source of honest, real-time instructional information.

8. Ok, AWE teachers... come and get the Fundamental 5 book!! It has arrived! Pay attention to Chapter 7... that's where we are going! Be the lead! (By @jenniferzsch)

9. What predicts performance is what students are actually doing, not what we think we are asking them to do. Task predicts performance! (By @btmerrell)

10. Correction: LYSer, Bake Barron, is the new Principal at Livingston HS. Evidently my spell check has yet to recognize his awesomeness.
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/Fundamental5 
  • Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “Look at Me: A Cautionary School Leadership Tale” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/lookatmebook 
  • Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool) 
  • Upcoming Presentations: Livingston ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Channelview ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Comal ISD, Leadership Team Kickoff, Bushland ISD Staff Kickoff, Canadian ISD Staff Kickoff, Highland Park ISD Staff Kickoff, Sunray ISD Staff Kickoff, Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
  • Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Monday, July 30, 2012

So Who Are You Voting For - Runoff Edition


Tuesday, July 31, 2012 is the primary runoff election in Texas (my home state). At the request of a number of Texas LYSers, I have updated the list of candidates who voted to slash public education funding in the Texas House and Senate during the last legislative session.

As regular readers know, though I have always abhorred the use of litmus tests, for now and the immediate future, public education and public education funding are my sole candidate litmus tests.  With that being the case, I submit to you the members of the Texas House and Senate who orchestrated and supported the gutting of public education funding in 2011, who are on tomorrow’s ballot. 

Whether this information enters into your decision making or not, as a reasonable, thinking LYSer, make sure you get out and VOTE. 

Voted For Slashed Education Budgets – 2011 Legislative Session
Name
Party
Running For
David Dewhurst
Republican
US Senate



Randy Weber 
Republican
US Congress



Warren D. Chisum 
Republican
Texas Railroad Commissioner



Jeff Wentworth
Republican
Texas Senate

Vote. Vote. Vote.
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/Fundamental5
  • Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “Look at Me: A Cautionary School Leadership Tale” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/lookatmebook
  • Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool)
  • Upcoming Presentations: Livingston ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Channelview ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Bushland ISD Staff Kickoff, Canadian ISD Staff Kickoff, Highland Park ISD Staff Kickoff, Sunray ISD Staff Kickoff, Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations)
  • Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation