Lesa Cain on Common Assessments

Here is Lesa Cain’s take on common assessments (note: Lesa Cain and her staff were pioneers in the use of short-term common assessments in Texas.  Her former district is still trying to figure out what her former staff now knows intuitively).

If there ever was a case of “Simple in theory, difficult in practice,” the short-term common assessment is it. So, resist the urge to make them perfect, that just complicates the process even more.  Stay focused on the purpose - to make instruction better in three-week chunks.

Practice, make mistakes, make changes. It was the messy process that led us to multiple Exemplary ratings (Title I campus, no exemptions, no exceptions, no TPM). Just dig in and start the work. People will cry, people will get mad, people will call the Board. There will be naysayers and those with weak will, but in the end, your KIDS will be the winners!"

L.C.

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: The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations); NASSP National Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook