Readers Write... Getting a Principalship - Part 1

In response to the 8/28/2013 post, “Getting a Principalship,” first a Principal writes:

SC,

Really liked your response to the Assistant Principal looking for a job. Been there myself. Always do what is right for students. It will pay off.

Then an Assistant Principal writes

SC,

Great response. I am there myself, looking to move to a larger school. Making the finalist group, but no job yet. The key point is "yet." 

If we continue to do what is best for our students, someone will notice.

SC Response

For me, this is the key: Do the right thing, for the right reason, without reservation.  You may not get the job when and where you want it. You may not be able to stay where you are. But, you will eventually get the job offer where you are needed. Then you have to decide how serious you are and if you are willing to go there.

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: NASSP National Conference; The 21^st Century High School Conference  
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Readers Write... Sometimes It Pays to Play the Game - Part 7

In response to the 6/26/13 post, “Sometimes It Pays To Play The Game,” some readers shared the following:

(From a new Principal)

SC,

I proposed a similar plan to my principal, right before I got my own school. However, your plan is better detailed! Thanks for sharing!

Smart Thinking!!!!

(From a District Science Specialist)

SC,

This is very thought provoking! Though Chemistry as a first science course is not possible if the student has not completed Algebra I and one other science course (T.E.A. required prerequisites).

 Physics first is a possibility. Now I’m sure districts are considering putting IPC first and making Biology the sophomore course. Some districts already do that. But, it’s not a course where you could logically put support for Biology, though. At least we have never thought of it that way.

You have definitely got me thinking!

(From an Assistant Principal)

SC,

We are considering some changes to course alignment in HS but definitely not this radical. I do appreciate the thought and plan to have a conversation with my principal because of what you propose.

Thanks!

SC Response

These readers get it (but then again, they are LYSers).  It’s not about running my plan.  It’s about looking at the rules of the NEW game and adjusting YOUR game for the sole purpose of better serving, protecting and nurturing your students.  Do that and you will immediately separate your campus from the ones led and staffed by the power mongers, comfort seekers and change resisters.

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: NASSP National Conference; The 21^st Century High School Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Principal Asks... Should We Frame a Test?

A LYS Principal asks the following:

SC,

When a teacher is administering a test during the day’s class, what would you suggest the Lesson Frame (We will… / I will…) look like?

Thanks for your help.

SC Response

If the teacher posts a test day Lesson Frame (which is optional, but recommended) we suggest that she use the frame to motivate and set a goal. For example:

We will use our enormous brains to easily solve a myriad of Algebra problems.

I will score at least an 85 on the Algebra test.

This allows the teacher to leverage the power of positive messaging and expectations.  And it can be fun.  A classroom Win/Win!

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: NASSP National Conference; The 21^st Century High School Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

PowerWalks Hero Schools (October 2013)

In furtherance of a LYS Nation tradition, we will take this time to tip our caps to the campuses that have embraced the most important step in creating and maintaining an action oriented professional learning community.  These are the campuses that have conducted an extraordinary number of formative classroom observations in a given month.  There were a total of 16,877 PowerWalks conducted during the past month and the October targets for Hero School designation were:

Big Schools – 350 PowerWalks Observations

Medium Sized Schools – 250 PowerWalks Observations

Small Schools – 150 PowerWalks Observations

Very Small Schools – 75 PowerWalks Observations

Next month, due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, we will adjust the targets:

Your November Hero School Targets

Big Schools – 300 PowerWalks Observations

Medium Sized Schools – 200 PowerWalks Observations

Small Schools – 115 PowerWalks Observations

Very Small Schools – 60 PowerWalks Observations.

Now without further ado, here are your thirty-six PowerWalks Hero Schools for the month of October 2013.  Congratulations!!!

Elementary Schools	Junior High and Middle Schools	Alternative Schools	Combined Campuses	High Schools
Bell’s Hill ES (WISD: small school) - 683	Cesar Chavez MS (WISD: mid-sized school) – 1,183	San Marcos (JWJPCS: very small school) - 160	Louise Schools (LISD: small school) - 194	Hutto HS (HISD: big school) - 770
McFee ES (CFISD: mid-sized school) - 668	Tennyson MS (WISD: mid-sized school) - 686			University HS (WISD: big school) - 484
Marlin ES (MISD: small school) - 353	Big Spring JH (BSISD: mid-sized school) - 541			Waco HS (WISD: big school) - 416
Cottonwood Creek ES (HISD: small school) - 345	Carver Academy (WISD: mid-sized school) - 497			Mayde Creek HS (KISD: big school) - 392
West Ave ES (WISD: small school) - 333	Spring Branch MS (CISD: mid-sized school) - 350			Fairdale HS (JCPS: big school) - 355
Frazier ES (CFISD: mid-sized school) - 322	Church MS (CISD: mid-sized school) - 269			Kennedale HS (KISD: mid-sized school) - 310
Rennell ES (CFISD: mid-sized school) - 314	Dublin IS (DISD: small school) - 180			Dublin HS (DISD: small school) - 157
JH Hines ES (WISD: small school) - 300	Marlin MS (MISD: small school) - 152
Dean Highland ES (WISD: small school) - 291
Ray ES (HISD: small school) - 248
Hutto ES (HISD: small school) - 241
Dublin ES (DISD: small school) - 228
Moss ES (BSISD: small school) - 222
Goliad ES (BSISD: small school) - 219
Marcy ES (BSISD: small school) - 217
Washington ES (BSISD: small school) - 187
Startzville ES (CISD: small school) - 165
Hoffman Lane ES (CISD: small school) - 153
Kendrick ES (WISD: small school) - 151

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: NASSP National Conference; The 21^st Century High School 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 October 27, 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 October 27, 2013.

1. Professional Development isn't a 3-hour workshop, it's a career long process in which educators fine-tune their craft to meet student needs. (By @sjunkins)

2. Typical Teacher Thinking: The students didn't get it.

Better Teacher Thinking: If I can improve my instruction, more kids will get it. (By @LYSNation)

3. Study: Quality preschool programs "are the most cost-effective educational interventions" (By @RYHTexas)

4. I am always amazed at how much students DON'T write in classes. It is such an essential skill. (By @kconners09)

5. "It doesn't take too much time. I use a ticket out text so my kids can write critically every day." Ms. Gamble (By @CabidaCain)

6. For high school math, inborn talent is just much less important than hard work, preparation, and self-confidence. (By @tgrierhisd)

7. Typical Teacher Thinking: The students aren't motivated.

Better Teacher Thinking: How can I better motivate my students? (By @LYSNation)

8. If someone tells you they are a Common Core expert, remind them that the standards are new. The real experts are teachers who implement CCSS. (By @curriculumblog)

9. Data is important, but don't live in a spreadsheet. You're a teacher - do what's best to move your students forward. (By @sjunkins)

10. Webb MS starts its announcements with the phrase "Think! Work! Achieve!" In other news, Webb MS wins my "Favorite School of the Day" award! (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: NASSP National Conference; The 21^st Century High School Conference  
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook