Saturday, June 1, 2013

LYS Principal Search - High School (Northeast Texas)


LYS Executive Search

~ High School Principal ~

A large, Northeast Texas school district is searching for its next high school principal

The successful candidate will have
  •  Demonstrated leadership success as a secondary campus administrator
  • Demonstrated success educating at-risk student populations
  • LYS training and experience, preferred

Information of note
  • Large 4A/5A high school campus
  • Urban, suburban setting
  • Diverse student population
  • Competitive salary and benefits

Qualified and interested candidates submit the following to Search@LeadYourSchool.com
  •  Letter of interest
  •  Resume
  • Administrator’s certifications
  •  Two letters of reference
  • Recent campus performance data

Application Deadline: June 13, 2013

Search Consultant: E. Don Brown

LYS Executive Search
(832) 477-5323

LYS Nation, once again a school district is targeting you to be its next campus leader. Time to step up again!
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

Friday, May 31, 2013

A Principal Asks... The Power Zone


A LYS Principal asks the following:

SC,

First, thanks so much for the post on Friday (5/13/13), “On the Edge of Insight.”  It couldn't have come at a better time!  We are having our 2-day Campus Improvement Planning this week, and Fundamental 5 implementation is one of the things we will be discussing.  I am going to take those questions sent in by a fellow LYS Principal and use them as the springboard for our discussions.

Second, some of our teachers (and, in fact, some of our leadership team) are confused as to what the Power Zone really is.  Specifically, considering the set-up in our elementary school, when a teacher "brings her class to the floor", as they so often do, does that constitute the Power Zone or is it the "Lecture Position?"  

My stance is that it totally depends on what the teacher is doing; that "bringing the kids to the floor" does not automatically mean he/she is in the Power Zone.  But, knowing I could be wrong (but never in doubt), I promised I would contact ya'll to see what you had to say on the matter!

Thanks for your input.

LC Response
In the beginning being in the Power Zone is purely physical - is the teacher in close proximity to one or more of her students? As with anything, after that behavior is in place, you begin to look at the quality of what is being done while close to kids. Is the teacher actively engaged with kids, is the teacher actively monitoring kids? If so, then yes, he/she is in the Power Zone. By now you may have brand new teachers just learning so you are shaping their behavior by accepting just being by kids. If teachers have had training and understand how the expectations grow over time, then you are looking for different things in their classroom. Sooooo - long answer long, it depends on your communicated expectation for teachers along a continuum of learning. Hope this is as clear as mud!

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

Thursday, May 30, 2013

A Reader Writes... CSCOPE is the Root of All Evil (Part 4:2)


In response to the 2/15/13 post, “It Seems That CSCOPE is the Root of All Evil (Part 4 of 4),” a LYS Assistant Superintendent writes:

SC,

I wholeheartedly thank you for your genuine use of honest, forthright language in gauging the importance of CSCOPE and its invaluable resource qualities.  You have called out the critics.  You have presented ample truths.  The education profession needs people like you, more and more. 

SC Response
Thank you. We all play our part.  As a profession we are under attack.  Nine times out of ten, you and your staff have to ignore the slings and arrows because you have to remain focused on teaching and learning. Sometime, I’m in a position to provide you a little cover.  This was one of those times.  I’m just glad that so many of you in the field found the cover timely and useful.  

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

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

A Reader Writes... CSCOPE is the Root of All Evil (Part 3:2)


In response to the 2/14/13 post, “It Seems That CSCOPE is the Root of All Evil (Part 3 of 4),” a reader writes:

SC,

CSCOPE may have limited access, but there is a resource that I believe is similar and is open source: http://cte.unt.edu/

There is a ton of curriculum material here that, as far as I know, was developed in a similar way: by Texas teachers, for Texas teachers. I was part of this process, I did actually develop a significant amount of this content, and like anything made by humans it is not perfect. There are good lessons here and there are poor lessons. This simply gives those people who are curious about what CSCOPE might look like a glimpse. Those of you who have seen both (I have not) might be able to talk about the differences.

I can tell you that the process of creating this material is imperfect. As a full time teacher, obviously I had time, energy, and resource limitations. This material is designed to meet TEKS requirements, but the material I created was also based on my own knowledge and experience, and on the resources I had available that other teachers may not. It should also be noted that in the vast majority of the cases (and in my own experience) that these were the lessons actual Texas teachers used in actual Texas classes, and to one degree or an other it was because those lessons somehow stood out that we were asked to publish them. It was part of the design that other teachers could add, subtract, or change the material as they wished.

I do think this material is useful, I tried to do the best job I could, and I wish more teachers knew this material existed.

SC Response
I checked out the site you referenced and it is focused on CTE courses.  Which is a good thing.  CSCOPE is focused on the core subjects and those teaching outside of the core (even if it is a related course) are often left to their own devices.  But it is not a CSCOPE replacement.

The format is similar to CSCOPE and I would suspect that the longer this collaborative is in place, the more dense (in provided resources) it will become. In fact, I believe that it is this increasing density issue that is the root of CSCOPE current problems.  Not only does resource density create navigation problems, it also overwhelms the novice who is unable to filter the critical, from the useful, from the enriching.  And an overwhelmed educator (or any other person) is a complaining educator.  Mix in an aggressive anti-public school faction and we find ourselves in the current situation.

The process you describe for lesson development and selection is similar to what CSCOPE uses, which is both powerful and flawed.  Powerful because it reflects what is being used and refined in the field.  Flawed because the uninformed view lessons that are always in draft stage as an endorsed, perfect product.

Thank you for reading the blog.  Thank you for your reasoned response.  Thank you for sharing a resource. Thank you for the work you have done to improve the quality of instruction in not only your classroom but the classroom of others as well.

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


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of May 19, 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 May 19, 2013.

1. Congratulations to LYS Coach, Harry Miller! The newest member of the Texas Basketball Hall Of Fame. Well deserved!

2. Congratulations to LYSer, Fletcher Turcato! He is the new Superintendent for Carbon County School District. Who will be next?

3. Congratulations to LYSer, Christopher Taylor! He is the new Assistant Superintendent for Quinlan ISD. Who will be next?

4. Classroom management tip:  Want better behaved students in May?  Try taking the countdown of school days until summer break off your board. (By @principalkinney)

5. Today we learned that Texas State Senator, Dan Patrick, believes in money for Pearson more than he believes in the sound instructional practices for Texas children. (By @BennySoileau)

6. The Tea Party fanatics need to read the TEKS before speaking. Better yet, hand them the TEKS and say, "Teach!" (By @darbie490)

7. Professors rarely ask their students to write—because "their writing skills are poor." Self-perpetuating cycle, anyone? (By @anniemurphypaul)

8. Today's Quote:  "Sadly, in education, when the going gets tough, the tough get traditional." (By @DrRichAllen)

9. My guess is at least 40% of the 9th and 10th graders failed writing and are now ineligible to graduate. Have we ever had a test do that? (By @txschoolsupe)

10. Schools are so much more than a bunch of tests. Do not let STAAR define what your school is all about. (By @cheadhorn)

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

Monday, May 27, 2013

In Honor of All Who Have Served


Greater love has no one than this: To lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
                                                                                                John 15:13

Sunday, May 26, 2013

LYS Principal Search - Middle School (Northeast Texas)


LYS Executive Search

~ Middle School Principal ~

A large, Northeast Texas school district is searching for its next middle school principal

The successful candidate will have
  •  Demonstrated leadership success as a campus administrator
    • Principal experience preferred
    • Secondary experience preferred
  • Demonstrated success educating at-risk student populations
  • LYS training and experience, preferred

Information of note
  • Mid-sized middle school campus
  • Urban, suburban setting
  • Diverse student population
  • Competitive salary and benefits

Qualified and interested candidates submit the following to Search@LeadYourSchool.com
  •  Letter of interest
  • Resume
  • Administrator’s certifications
  • Two letters of reference
  • Recent campus performance data

Application Deadline: June 18, 2013

Search Consultant: E. Don Brown

LYS Executive Search
(832) 477-5323

LYS Nation, once again a school district is targeting you to be its next campus leader. Time to step up again!
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