Spring Hill ISD Principal Search

LYS Executive Search

~ Spring Hill Junior High School Principal ~

The LYS Superintendent in Spring Hill Independent School District seeks a like-minded principal to turn a good neighborhood school into THE showcase for public education. 

The successful candidate will have

• Demonstrated leadership success as a campus administrator.
• Demonstrated success in increasing staff effectiveness and student performance.
• LYS training and experience, preferred.

Information of note

• Enrollment - 450 students
• Beautiful East Texas suburban setting
• Competitive salary and benefits

If you are ready to lead from the front and work to win, submit the following to Search@LeadYourSchool.com

• Letter of interest
• Resume
• Administrator’s certifications
• Recent campus performance data

Application Deadline: April 27, 2015

Search Consultant: E. Don Brown

LYS Executive Search

(832) 477-5323

LYS Nation, once again a school district wants YOU!

Think. Work. Achieve.

Legendary Leadership Badge (March 2015)

There are those that don’t understand the power of reflective observation.  They mistakenly believe that there is nothing to learn after a few cursory visits to a classroom.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  In fact, the most important key to building insight and deeper understanding about teaching and learning is to engage in a steady volume of daily classroom observation.  What we have learned over the past ten years is that after about every 300 classroom observations, the observer will notice, discern, and/or learn something new... something that was previously hidden. It is the “Eureka” moment, and there is nothing else like it in instructional leadership.

In this pursuit, there is the PowerWalks Legendary Leadership Badge that is earned every 300^th PowerWalks Observation. The following instructional leaders have already earned the Legendary Leadership Badge for the 2014/2015 school year (as of 3/31/15).

3 Badges (over 900 classroom observations)

Sean Cain: March 2015, January 2015, October 2014

  

2 Badges (over 600 classroom observations)

Michael Clifton: March 2015, October 2014

Lorie Bratcher: January 2015, October 2014

Sandra Wilson: January 2015, October 2014

1 Badge (Over 300 classroom observations)

Michelle Bischoffberger: March 2015

Richard Celestine: March 2015

Kyle Hendrix: March 2015

Derieco Irvin: March 2015

Mike Laird: March 2015

Angie Moore: March 2015

Racheal Rife: March 2015

Eric Sams: March 2015

Scott Schneider: March 2015

Ernest Smith: March 2015

Leslie Ackmann: February 2015

Carmen Bellefant: February 2015

Denise Bird: February 2015

Tonia Cummings: February 2015

Jonathon Gutierrez: February 2015

Kari Eggleston: February 2015

Kathy Horvath: February 2015

Chris Johnstone: February 2015

Kelli Maikell: February 2015

Kimberly McKnight: February 2015

Edna Parr: February 2015

Martha Pulido: February 2015

Molly Swanson: February 2015

Lisa Weaver: February 2015

Brad Weston: February 2015

Joan Alvey: January 2015

Tracey Bennett: January 2015

Wes Brown: January 2015

Jenn Cooper: January 2015

Ethan Crowell: January 2015

Donny Green: January 2015

Julie Hinson: January 2015

Todd Jones: January 2015

Charles King: January 2015

Lyle Lackey: January 2015

Kim Meador: January 2015

Tim Merki: January 2015

R.J. Rodrigue: January 2015

Patsy Sanchez: January 2015

Michelle Schreiner: January 2015

Melissa Summers: January 2015

Tamika Washington: January 2015

Brenda Blackmon: December 2014

Marianne Buentello: December 2014

Dexter Floyd: December 2014

GayLynn Holt: December 2014

Cara Jolly: December 2014

Brian Lowe: December 2014

Mike Metz: December 2014

Leslie Thomas: December 2014

Pam Williams: December 2014

Jim Womack: December 2014

Mary-Margaret Crandall: November 2014

Charlie Crisp: November 2014

Rita Faulkner: November 2014

Jenny Morris: November 2014

Twyla Thomas: November 2014

Rankin Hitt: October 2014

Jennifer Phillips: October 2014

Jessica Robert: October 2014

Chris Viator: October 2014

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 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); TEPSA Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); NAESP National Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

PowerWalks Hero Schools (March 2015)

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. In March, the Hero Schools met or exceeded the targets below:

The March Hero School Targets

Big Schools – 225 PowerWalks Observations

Medium Sized Schools – 150 PowerWalks Observations

Small Schools – 80 PowerWalks Observations

Very Small Schools – 40 PowerWalks Observations.

For April, due to holidays and state testing we will adjust the targets:

The April Hero School Targets

Big Schools – 215 PowerWalks Observations

Medium Sized Schools – 140 PowerWalks Observations

Small Schools – 75 PowerWalks Observations

Very Small Schools – 35 PowerWalks Observations.

For the record, the schools in the LYS nation conducted a total of 5,273 PowerWalks observations this past month.  But enough stalling, here are your eighteen PowerWalks Hero Schools for the month of March 2015.  Congratulations!!!

Elementary Schools	Junior High & Middle Schools	Alternative Schools	Combined Campuses	High Schools
Rennell ES (CFISD – midsized school): 274	Winona MS (WISD – small school): 160	San Marcos School (JWPCS – very small school): 79		Fairdale HS (JCPS – large school): 451
Dublin ES (DISD – very small school): 198	Big Spring IS (BSISD - small school): 122			Morton Ranch HS (KISD – large school): 324
Ray ES (HISD – small school): 178	Dublin IS (DISD – very small school): 95			Mayde Creek HS (KISD – large school): 290
Veterans’ Hill ES (HISD – small school): 174
Marlin ES (MISD – very small school): 150
Winona ES / IS (WISD – small school): 142
Raymond E. Curtis ES (WISD – small school): 119
Hutto ES (HISD – small school): 103
Cottonwood Creek ES (HISD – small school): 97
Montgomery ES (NEISD – small school): 84
Southside Primary School (CISD – small school): 80

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 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); TEPSA Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); NAESP National Conference
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Exactly Who is Earning the F

Earlier this week the Texas Senate has passed a bill that will publicly rate schools on an A-F scale. (Note: this bill still has to pass the House if it is to become law.)  The supposed reason for this bill is to better inform the public as to how their neighborhood school performs.  As if “Unacceptable, Acceptable, Recognized and Exemplary” wasn’t clear or “Did Not Meet Standard, Meets Standard” is overly complicated. 

So either the Senate believes that:

A. The general public is stupid.

B. This new system will further their real agenda.

C. Both A and B.

But that is an entirely different topic to explore. Instead I want you to consider the following.

A school’s rating is driven primarily by the performance of its most fragile learners. These fragile learners are the students that are predominantly poor (economically disadvantaged) and LEP (limited English proficient).  There is nothing “WRONG” with these students.  It is just recognized that due to circumstances beyond the control of either the student or the school, the fragile student is less prepared for academic success than his/her affluent and English as a first language peers.

Even though a school has little control over the external variables that affect student performance, schools work diligently to ensure that these most fragile of learners receive a quality education.  Along with instruction, schools provide transportation, meals, basic health services, student and family counseling, clothing, reduced class size, and extended day and extended week learning opportunities, all in an attempt to level the playing field and to ensure the success of every student that enters their doors.

Juxtapose this with the Texas Senate, a body that through its actions, has a more direct impact on the variables of student performance that schools do not control. 

• Meals: The state has made it more difficult for the poor parents of school children to receive welfare support.  This means there is an increasing number of hungry students on campuses. All things being equal, it is more difficult to learn when you are hungry.
• Housing: The state has made it more difficult for the poor parents of school children to receive welfare support.  This means there is an increasing number of homeless students on campuses. All things being equal, it is more difficult to learn when you are sleepy and stressed due to not knowing where you will live day to day.
• Health Care: The state has made it more difficult for the poor parents of school children to get health insurance. The state has purposefully decided not to expand Medicare. This means there is an increasing number of sick and unhealthy students on the campus. All things being equal, it is more difficult to learn when you are in poor health.
• Social Services: The state has cut social services to the bone. Drug counseling, child protective services, and mental health and mental retardation services are just some examples.  And though this exacts a toll on all families, it impacts the poor and marginalized families the most.
• School Funding: The state has significantly cut per pupil student funding.  This act has had a detrimental impact on all schools but the impact is felt the greatest at the schools that serve the highest percentage of students harmed by the state’s purposeful inaction.

So if there is a need to rate a public entity that is under-serving the school children of Texas, it would be for the Texas Senate.  And right now the Senate has a long way to go before it earns an “A.”

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 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); TEPSA Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); NAESP National Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Writes... The Flawed Logic of Vouchers - Part 1

In response to the 2/18/2015 post, “The Flawed Logic of My Money Should Follow My Child,” a reader writes:

SC,

I totally agree with your argument. If a parent wishes to utilize their own dollar to move their child to a private school, let them; However, it is not okay to take my tax dollar too. I truly do not believe the general public knows their tax dollars will be educating others in a private school setting because that is not the rhetoric being blasted from our elected leaders in Austin. I am too a product of public education.

SC Response

You are right. A lot of inconvenient facts are being glossed over by “School Choice / Pro- Voucher” advocates.  And they know their best chance of forcing their agenda on the general public is to talk the most and talk the loudest.

Which leaves it up to us to educate (this makes sense, after all we are the teachers) the general public.

And there is a good chance that your non-educators friends want to know your opinion.  For example, my own accountant went from a  “what’s so bad about a voucher” voter to a “vouchers are bad public policy” voter just by my explaining to him that:

1. It will be his school tax dollars that will be subsidizing the vouchers for “school choicers.”

2. Vouchers this will hurt the public schools in his community.  The same schools that educated his children and now his grandchildren.

If ever there was a time to step up and lead, this is it.

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 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); TEPSA Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); NAESP 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 March 22, 2015

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 22, 2015.

1. I like to pay taxes for schools even though I don't have a kid in school because I don't like living in country with a bunch of stupid people (By @johngreen)

2. Shameful that we have to spend so much energy protecting our Texas school children from the hurtful policies of the Texas Legislature. (By @pastors4txkids)

3. You cannot run a school sitting behind a desk! (By @grizfan99)

4. On-going, purposeful & focused teacher training is THE way to support staff, reduce anxiety and promote student performance. (By @CabidaCain)

5. The person doing the talking and writing about the content is the person doing the learning... Is it the teacher or the students in your class? (By @CariBegin)

6. Most teachers do the best they know. They know best if provided on-going purposeful training with follow-up. (By @CabidaCain)

7. Another great thing about Kindergarten. When someone is being mean, you just tell your teacher and she fixes it. (By @LYSNation)

8. Success is a slippery slope, we want sustainable success, not just isolated successful events. (By @8Amber8)

9. Today's Quote:  “Rewards and punishment are the lowest forms of education.” (By @DrRichAllen)

10. The level of cognition required while coloring a map in a secondary social studies class is... None. Nada. Zed. (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 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); TEPSA Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); NAESP National Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Junior High Principal Search in East Texas

LYS Executive Search

~ Junior High School Principal ~

A LYS Superintendent in East Texas seeks a like-minded principal to turn a good neighborhood school into THE showcase for public education.

The successful candidate will have

• Demonstrated leadership success as a campus administrator.
• Demonstrated success in increasing staff effectiveness and student performance.
• LYS training and experience, preferred.

Information of note

• Enrollment - 450 students
• Suburban setting
• Competitive salary and benefits

If you are ready to lead from the front and work to win, submit the following to Search@LeadYourSchool.com

• Letter of interest
• Resume
• Administrator’s certifications
• Recent campus performance data

Application Deadline: April 27, 2015

Search Consultant: E. Don Brown

LYS Executive Search

(832) 477-5323

LYS Nation, once again a school district wants YOU!

Think. Work. Achieve.