The Fundamental 5 National Summit - October 2013

http://www.tassp.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=409

A Reader Asks... Principal Evaluation

A LYS Assistant Superintendent asks the following:

SC,

I had a question from a principal that I wanted to pose to you.

The order of our evaluation / contract renewal system has a bizarre sequence.  Around March or April contracts go out. About the same time summative conferences occur.  Finally scores from the state come back. 

Hence the question from the principal, "The system is completely backwards!  How can you take STAAR results and have them reflect them on our PDAS evaluations?"

I like the way my principal is thinking... Input?

SC Response

Here is the short version of a long answer.

I need an objective performance matrix for my principals.  This matrix will be made up of critical leading indicators (formative) and results (summative).  Nearly every measure on this matrix should directly correlate to STUDENT performance. The formative indicators will be locally determined and collected.  The summative results will be a mix of required local and state performance targets and outcomes.  

Once I have this matrix built, I can then evaluate my principals.  By contract law, I may have this evaluation conference prior to having all of my state data.  This is OK, since the state data is not the sole determinant of my evaluation.  The final state data (STAAR results in Texas) simply confirms that our evaluation matrix is, or is not, aligned with state mandated student performance standards.  If it is aligned, stick with your decision.  If it is not aligned, figure out why.  

One final, extremely critical, point: Fairness is not sameness.  If your Title I campus performs at the same level as your non-Title I campus, the Title I principal should receive the better evaluation.  And here is your sports analogy that drives this point home.  

The University of Texas goes 8-4 this year and barely beats the University of Houston in the Holiday Bowl.

The University of Houston goes 7-5 this year and barely loses to the University of Texas in the Holiday Bowl.

Who is the better coach? Mac Brown or Tony Levine?

The Holiday Bowl Results shouldn't matter that much.  The evaluation of the coach should be driven by the 8-4 and 7-5.  Given available resources, UT has performed below expectations.  UH, most likely has met expectations (you don't know how hard it is for me to use this example).

Does your current principal evaluation system reflect this basic truth?

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

A Reader Asks... Getting a Principalship

A LYS assistant principal is intrigued by the following situation.

SC,

I am not sure what has really transpired but I know that sharing my confusion with qualified and seasoned veterans will elicit some repose and encouragement.

Recently, two administrative leaders responsible for instructional leadership in my district were reassigned. Then, almost immediately, they both got positions in other districts in spite of poor recommendations from the superintendent. One of the positions was one that I also applied for, but didn't make the final cut.  This does not overly bother me, just stating a fact. 

But here is my question, how are hiring decisions made for principalships?  Because based on my observations in my district and the districts in my vicinity, there seems to be no logical selection criteria.  If the getting the next job is primarily based on random luck, where is the upside of working everyday to hone your skills and the skills of your team?

  

Thanks for listening.

SC Response

What you are seeing is that in many cases, from an objective standpoint, there is no rhyme and reason to who gets hired and why. And also, don't be so sure that the recommendations from the Superintendent were not good.  They very well could have been excellent.  Though I don't believe in the practice, many supervisors see their recommendations as a way to solve their problems. 

However, in terms of increasing your odds of getting a promotion, the following all seem to be successful strategies.

1. Be so bad, that they demote you up.

2. Be there long enough that it becomes your turn.

3. Be connected to someone making the decision.

4. Be so good, the next job is a given.

5. Be the new and novel choice.

6. Be the only one willing to take the job.

I’m not a fan of strategy 1 and 2, but I won’t pretend that it doesn’t work.

Strategy 6 is risky, but a number of old school LYSers, including myself, took that route to accelerate their careers.

Your best bet: Be good, be connected and be mobile.  And then realize that it becomes a numbers game.  50 applications for 10 interviews for 1 job.  If you are not near those numbers, don't get discouraged, just keep playing.

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

Best Tweets From The CSCOPE Debate

This past Saturday night, State Board of Education Member Thomas Ratliff and Senator Dan Patrick debated CSCOPE.  The debate was streamed live and it was fascinating viewing.  Both men did something that is rare in today’s political world.  They engaged more in argument and discourse than scripted made for TV sound bites.  And for those who think this was a Left vs. Right fight, both men are Republicans, so it was a Right vs. More Right fight.  Also note, for both men, there was more political downside than up side to agreeing to meet as they did. I appreciate this and want to thank both men for presenting and defending their sides in a format that I hope other candidates embrace in the future.  Now to the best tweets from the debate, as selected by the students from a Texas 9^th Grade business class (an inside joke for those who watched).          

In chronological order from my Twitter timeline 

Imagine your thrilling first day at the NSA, then finding out your job is scanning CSCOPE scores for terror threats. (By @PatrickMichels)

CSCOPE works cheaper than any other entity; saving taxpayer money deserves a medal, not a witch hunt. Compare with Pearson's prices. (By @EdDarrell)

Dan Patrick in full spin mode and not answering the question. (By @txschoolsupe)

Asking a question about CSCOPE is a different thing than bullying the CSCOPE Board as a Senator. (By @tra_hall)

Senator Dan Patrick: "I can only base it on what people had to testify." Umm... no. You could actually look at CSCOPE materials before slandering them. (By @TFN)

Teachers, when you are up until midnight building your own scope & sequence, remember that Senator Patrick is proud to have given you that gift. (By @LYSNation)

I want my Senator to weigh testimony based on credibility, not voter blocks. Sadly, my Senator does not operate in this way. (By @LYSNation)

Fun Fact: Dan Patrick’s senate district does not contain ANY CSCOPE school districts. (By @Slothfornix)

When I taught 3rd grade, not once did a parent ask for a lesson plan. (By @emayfarris)

And now the crux of the matter. Do we ask our students to think for themselves or tell them what to think? (By @mikeyjsize)

Mary Anne Whitaker reinforcing what I said earlier: Senator Patrick bullied the TESCCC. (By @txschoolsupe)

Senator Patrick now describing how he bullied the TESCCC. (By @txschoolsupe)

If Ratliff personalized this, Patrick certainly politicized it.  Which is worse???? (By @txschoolsupe)

Senator Patrick made the amateur mistake of listening to a vocal minority.  Is this someone we want for Lieutenant Governor???  (By @txschoolsupe)

It's not about freedom about what to teach!  It's about having support to teach everything in the TEKS!!! (By @CabidaCain)

So Senator Patrick used the veiled threat to shut down the whole ESC system to get rid of CSCOPE. Interesting Senator... (By @LYSNation)

Senator Patrick: “Pull down the lesson plans or we close the regional service centers.” The truth comes out. (By @txschoolsupe)

CSCOPE created a business-like model to protect state assets from being raided by private interest. (By @LYSNation)

How come I can get a hold of CSCOPE employees and management by phone any day? Senator Patrick, you need a better secretarial staff. (By @LYSNation)

CSCOPE is not on-line learning. (By @CabidaCain)

Irony abounds. CSCOPE lessons are the least important part of CSCOPE yet Senator Patrick acts as if they are the engine that drives CSCOPE. (By @michaelsclifton)

When parents talk to teachers they are overwhelmingly satisfied - with the curriculum, the relationships, and the learning. (By @CabidaCain)

Thomas Ratliff explains what happened in Llano ISD. Someone ran for school board on anti-CSCOPE platform and got beat. Then raised lawsuit. (By @mattprewett)

Interesting that the Attorney General, a Republican running for Governor, wrote a letter expressing CSCOPE concerns. (By @LYSNation)

CSCOPE charges $7.00 per student.  Pearson charges $29.00 per student for a lesser product. (By @LYSNation

Senator Patrick doesn't answer questions. Just rants. (By TXSilentMajority)

Thomas Ratliff says Texas State Comptroller reported $4.5M savings by those districts that implemented CSCOPE. (By @DonnaHowardTX)

Maybe CSCOPE would be more popular with politicians if it too contributed to re-election campaigns. (By @LYSNation)

Do you know how long it takes to write on really good lesson plan? Every teacher has a right to have a resource to use, adapt, or exchange. (By @sharonkamas)

When I was a teacher, I often had my students consider the perspective of the British when teaching American Revolution. Perspectives differ. (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

Hey, if Pearson owned CSCOPE, would this debate even be happening? (By @DrJerryRBurkett)

Anyone know how to contact the 9th grade class mentioned tonight? I may contact them for help when I start my dissertation! (By @tjadams105)

Senator Patrick, could you get Pearson to make their lesson plans transparent next? Teachers would love to see those too as public domain. (By @iTexasPrincipal)

I knew John Wayne. John Wayne was a friend of mine. Senator Patrick, you're no John Wayne. (By @TheTexasHoss)

CSCOPE is not perfect... It is merely a tool for districts to use to ensure that we teach the TEKS... Senator Patrick worries me. (By@carlingrammer)

Here is an interesting fact: Senator Patrick looked into CSCOPE due to parent concern. He failed to mention it was a home-school parent. (By @PaulaKelm)

With Thomas Ratliff's opening statement, CSCOPE debate comes down to why Senator Patrick is wasting taxpayer millions on a bungled, unnecessary witch hunt. (By @EdDarrell)

Irving ISD Fact: CSCOPE cost them roughly $189,000. The new curriculum will cost them $1.3 MILLION. (By @MattMFoster)

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

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of August 18, 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 August 18, 2013.

1. I had two teachers tell me (at different times) that our speaker today obviously has not read The Fundamental 5...and he needed to. (By @scot_wright)

2. When a system takes purposeful steps to reveal the system (to itself); it has the option to self-correct. Analyze and Adjust! (By @brandyjbaker)

3. Opening Week underway.  Continuing our focus of changing the practice of adults to drive the changes we desire in student learning. (By @blitzkrieg607)

4. Want to rock your PDAS?  It's as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4, Fundamental 5. (By @OCTKinney)

5. Students who know how to seek feedback other than only from the Teacher will be more engaged and achieve greater over time. The case for purposeful talk continues! (By @kimbarker25)

6. It's funny how "conservatives" in Texas hate big government telling THEM what to do, but they love laws bent on micromanaging everyone else. (By @woscholar)

7. Teachers tell me how much CSCOPE has helped them teach to the standards but they are afraid to speak up due to bully blogs. Sad. (By @PaulaKelm)

8. It's been scientifically proven that the less you know, the more you think you know. (By @PaulaKelm)

9. I want to thank all of the CSCOPE support staff. They continue to help teachers in the face of malicious stupidity and purposeful ignorance. (By @LYSNation)

10. What education book made the Washington Post best-seller list? The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) coming in at number 10! Thank you, LYS Nation! (By @LYSNation)

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