A Reader Writes... STAAR Preparation Strategy - Part 1

In response to the 12/14/12 post, “Your 6-step STAAR Preparation Strategy,” a LYS Assistant Superintendent writes:

LYS Nation,

The only thing that is accomplished by the use of all the STAAR worksheets that are being sold is ensuring profit for their publishers. Nothing takes the place of effective, well-planned instruction.

SC Response

Testify! And keep teaching at full speed!

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: 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

Readers Write... The Common Assessment Process - Part 3

In response to the 11/9/12 post, “The Common Assessment Process,” some LYS Principals write:

1. Great response. Clear and to the point.

2. Amen, cowboy!

3. Excellent response. Something else to consider is how the organization views "scores." If scores are used to identify and address gaps in student learning, and gaps and deficiencies in delivered instruction this system will work. If the scores are used primarily to evaluate teachers, the integrity of the system will be in jeopardy, focus will be lost, and little will change. Thanks for your wisdom. 

SC Response

1. Thank you.

2. Yippee-ki-yay.

3. Exactly.  The common assessment process works when it is used to objectively identify what works, so we can replicate it and identify what doesn’t work, so we can replace that practice. The scores are simply information that inform our next instructional decisions.  If the process is used incorrectly, that is a case of poor leadership. Sadly, at the non-LYS schools I have observed, the process is used incorrectly significantly more often than correctly. Doing what is right is rarely easy.

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: 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

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of March 3, 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 March 3, 2013.

1. If you believe morale is about keeping people happy, you are misinformed and misguided.

2. True definition of morale: Unit cohesion in the face of adversity. What does that say to you about your leadership and staff? (By @CabidaCain)

3. AGAIN I'm reminded of the significance of framing lessons with student friendly learning goals... Yet we still inconsistently practice it. (By @jbriannorton)

4. Children feel shame when they don't meet our expectations—another reason to praise effort instead of the person. (By @anniemurphypaul)

5. "Wrong answer moments" are an incredible learning opportunity. Game designers do it. In classroom, it’s a perfect use of Recognition & Reinforcement. (By @S_Snell)  

6. Anyone know where my HS kids can attend training on how to use their cell phones? What? They just figure them out? Weird. (By @Joesanfelippofc)

7. Why is it that we cut education funds, when we all know our future depends on the quality of innovative thinkers in the next generation? (By @DrRichAllen)

8. Inability to act over sequestration is a damning indictment of the way our government functions these days. (By @FareedZakaria)

9. I can't think of a management practice more poisonous than giving any attention to anonymous letters.

10. Tax-credit vouchers simply subsidize tuition for students already going to private school. (By RYHTexas)

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

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: 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