Saturday, March 2, 2013

LYS Principal Search


LYS Executive Search
~ High School Principal ~

A West Texas school district is searching for its next secondary school principal. The successful candidate will have:
  • Demonstrated leadership success at the campus level
  • Demonstrated success educating at-risk student populations
  • Experience in curriculum implementation and teacher support
  • LYS training and experience, preferred

Information of Note:
  • Small Texas High School
  • Located in a rural, West Texas community
  • Excellent location to raise a family
  • Diverse student population
  • Compensation: Mid - $80’s, with a competitive benefits package

Qualified candidates should submit the following to Search@LeadYourSchool.com
  • Letter of interest
  • Resume
  • Texas administrators’ certification
  • Two letters of reference

Application Deadline: March 15, 2013 
Search Consultant: E. Don Brown
LYS Executive Search
(832) 477-5323

LYS Nation, once again a school district is specifically looking for you to be its next campus leader.

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: National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
  • Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Friday, March 1, 2013

A Superintendent Writes... But By Any Other Name


A LYS Superintendent submits the following:

Vouchers and the expansion of charter schools are at the forefront of the legislative session.  I have no serious issue with charters, other than the fact they don’t compete on an even playing field with traditional public schools.  This has been addressed by others who have written to the blog so I won’t linger too long on them.  However, I do like Cain’s general statement about charter schools, “If small school districts are inefficient, why does the State insist on creating more charter schools, which for the most part are also small?  If small is bad for traditional public schools, should it not be bad for charter schools too?”  

I promise that is all I will say about charter schools in this blog.  I will now discuss vouchers.

Vouchers are obviously intended to benefit parents who choose to educate their children in private schools or parochial schools.  The “let the money follow the child” argument is bogus, because the money already does follow the child in every Texas public school, including charter schools.  Vouchers then amount to nothing more than tax credits.  Since some parents have “waived” their public education option, they don’t feel that they should have to pay school property tax AND the private school tuition.  This is not a new argument in this country as it was discussed in the 17th and 18th century, and apparently now in the 21st century.  Of course we don’t call vouchers a tax credit for waiving participation in public schools, we hide behind the phrase “school choice”, but by any other name...

Having established that “voucher driven school choice” is the same thing as a tax credit for waived public services, one has to wonder where that argument ends.  What if I sign a waiver promising never to use hospitals, police, or fire protection?  Can I get a tax credit for those services too?  On the national level, if I sign a waiver disavowing Social Security and other federal entitlements, can I get a tax credit for that too?  Once this thinking takes root, where does it end?  Which government services are we “allowed” to waive and which ones are mandated?  Is school the only government service we can waive?  What about prisons?  I don’t use prisons, I have never been to prison, and no one has ever been in prison due to committing a crime against me.  Shouldn’t I get a tax credit (voucher) for that too?   This goes to the old truth of libertarians that is at the heart of the Tea Party: Libertarians offer a beautiful and somewhat accurate criticism of government without offering any viable model of governance.

Let’s discuss some other aspects of vouchers and school choice.  Why do parents send their children to private or parochial schools?  I am convinced that Cain is once again correct, “Parents are choosing their peer groups.”  Although that is well said, I have an alternate phrase for “choosing their peer groups;” it is called “separate but equal.” School choice and the vouchers that drive school choice is nothing more than a step back to “separate but equal.”  Again, by any other name... What the State of Texas cannot do legally, the state intends to do by putting the onus (choice) onto the parent.  It is a beautiful side step around well-established law.  

Finally, we need to discuss home schools.  In the State of Texas home school laws are considered very strong.  In fact, as I recall Texas has ruled home schooled children are the equivalent of, you guessed it, private schools attendees.  As such, TEA and districts have little or no authority in this area.  Of course this has not presented a problem, but then again there has never been a financial incentive for being home schooled.  Think about it, if every parent gets a voucher for their children, what is to prevent them from withdrawing their children from public schools, “home schooling” the children, and pocketing the money?  The answer is, absolutely nothing.   Not without changing the laws regarding home schools, that is.  Of course we can always tell home school parents they MUST enroll in either a public school or an “approved” private school, but what kind of “school choice” is that, not to mention the problem of equal protection under the law.  I am not thinking of a theoretical problem.  I have seen plenty of child abuse and neglect over the years, and I can assure you that if I can think of such a voucher scam, there will some parents who figure it out quickly.  With four or five children, this can turn into a profitable venture.  Of course we can always regulate and monitor home schools more (beware legitimate home school parents, Leviathan awakens) or we can accept the fact that a certain amount of educational neglect and abuse will happen due to the fact that we chose to give incentives for pursuing private education.  That option of acceptance of the neglect and abuse certainly does not sound like the moral high ground Republicans are fond of seizing, or we can choose to monitor the situation but that sounds like more regulation and bureaucracy (read: not efficient, and certainly not consistent with libertarian thinking).

So there are my initial thoughts on vouchers and tax credits, aka school choice.  Call this what you want, put any spin on it you want, but it stinks, by any other name.

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: National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
  • Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Thursday, February 28, 2013

A Reader Asks... Clarify Your Testing and Homework Comments - Part 1


In response to the 12/12/12 post, A LYS Principal Asks... Clarify Your Testing and Homework Comments,” a reader asks:

SC,

Would you implement a similar testing and homework schedule for high schools?

SC Response
Absolutely, we actually did it first at a high school.  I just used the middle school as an example so everyone could see that the concept has merit and will work at any grade level.

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: National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
  • Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

A LYS Superintendent Writes... The Power of Reflective Conversations


A LYS Superintendent recently sent in the following:

SC,

I'm beginning to like these conversations with you very much!  Let's keep them going.

They energize me at 5:45 in the morning when I'm sitting at my desk; much better that coffee.

We shouldn’t look over our shoulders and regret that we didn't start sooner. Rather, let’s rejoice in the fact that we are now in a position to bring our collective wisdom and experience to a district that is hungry to improve.  Honestly, how rare is that?

Now we just have to help people deal with the reality of addressing that hunger.  For example, yesterday, one of my directors stopped me in the hallway and said, “Boss, the stress you predicted and I observed last week at a campus... well, it's everywhere.  I basically had teachers stop me today and tell me that they are literally crying on each other's shoulders".  

I listened carefully and replied, "Let me tell you how Superintendent's think. Did the teachers cry on each other's shoulders last week when ¾ of our campuses missed AYP? Did they cry when our most fragile students failed year after year? Did they cry when our graduates weren’t accepted to the best universities? No, they didn't.  But they do cry when we begin to take the necessary steps to position more of our students to be successful. Right now we have good people with the wrong focus. We can’t be OK with kids failing and then adults complaining when we change our routines to address this.”  

The longer I do this, the more I’m OK with shedding a few tears. Working with you, and other LYS leaders have given me the "gift of sight." I now see situations and circumstances from the kids’ perspectives.

I'm not angry. I'm very energized, excited and I AM RESOLVED!

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:  National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
  • Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation and like LYS on Facebook

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of February 17, 2013


A number of you in the LYS Nation are now Twitter users.  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 February 17, 2013.

1. Tax credit scholarships or vouchers - it's all the same. Just vote no. (By @RYHTexas)

2. We must recognize that the inadequacy of state funding to public education by the Texas Legislature is the civil rights issue of our time. (By @PrincipalAlton)

3. We will get the schools we need when we vote for people who care about our public schools. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

4. In the 1920's oil boom, Houston invested heavily in public schools. If only we had a big oil boom now in Texas. Oh...wait... (By @scottbraddock)

5. As a leader, if your goal is to keep everyone happy & comfortable, you should plan on not getting much accomplished... (By @justintarte)

6. Great idea from BJ Paris: Set Google Alert for your school name, and get an alert any time your school is mentioned on the Internet. (By @ChristaRitchey)

7. Faculty meetings during planning periods rock! More meaningful discussions than in a large group setting. Great time for professional development. (By @hola_alfredo)

8. Eat lunch with your students today. You'll be surprised at the positive impact that gesture makes. Try it! (By @TechNinjaTodd)

9. Today, The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) is the warm up act for Good to Great (Collins). The conference must have slotted us alphabetically.

10. It happened again! The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) sold out at the AASA Bookstore. Thanks, LYS Nation!

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: National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
  • Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Monday, February 25, 2013

LYS Principal Search


LYS Executive Search
~ High School Principal ~

A West Texas school district is searching for its next secondary school principal. The successful candidate will have:
  • Demonstrated leadership success at the campus level
  • Demonstrated success educating at-risk student populations
  • Experience in curriculum implementation and teacher support
  • LYS training and experience, preferred


Information of Note:
  • Small Texas High School
  • Located in a rural, West Texas community
  • Excellent location to raise a family
  • Diverse student population
  • Compensation: Mid - $80’s, with a competitive benefits package


Qualified candidates should submit the following to Search@LeadYourSchool.com
  • Letter of interest
  • Resume
  • Texas administrators’ certification
  • Two letters of reference


Application Deadline: March 15, 2013
Search Consultant: E. Don Brown
LYS Executive Search
(832) 477-5323

LYS Nation, once again a school district is specifically looking for you to be its next campus leader.

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: National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
  • Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook