Superintendent Search - CCAISD

LYS Executive Search

~ Superintendent ~

Culberson County-Allamore Independent School District

A West Texas school district is searching for its next Superintendent of Schools

The successful candidate will have

• Demonstrated leadership success as a principal and/or district level administrator 
• Demonstrated success educating diverse student populations
• Firm understanding of school finance
• LYS training and experience, preferred

Information of note

• Enrollment - 450 students
• Rural setting
• Two campuses
• Competitive salary and benefits

Qualified and interested candidates submit the following to Search@LeadYourSchool.com

• Letter of interest
• Resume
• Administrator’s certifications
• List of references
• Recent campus/district performance data

Search Consultant: Robert 'Bob' Brezina

LYS Executive Search

(832) 477-5323

LYS Nation, once again a school district wants YOU!

Think. Work. Achieve.

The Vitriol of the Political Opportunist

A common mistake among public school educators is to ignore the state level politics of schools.  We seemingly believe that doing the yeoman’s work of educating and caring for the children of our communities will garner the respect and gratitude of those we serve.  Sadly, in the current political environment we could not be more wrong. Our elected representatives, especially those in the Texas Senate openly despise public education and by extension, educators.

Texas public schools are governed by duly elected school board members and manned by dedicated public servants.  These two groups work diligently to meet ever increasing state mandates with increasingly inadequate resources.  And it can honestly be stated and objectively proven that the quality of education currently provided to the school children of Texas exceeds what was provided in any previous generation.

But based on my recent observation, the Texas Senate is not governed by honest statements and objective proof.  Instead they state in public hearings that today’s public schools are a monstrosity (Sen. Donna Campbell).  They invite testimony that trades in lies, such as, we have a 40% dropout rate (Phil Gramm).  They tilt at a Common Core windmill that has absolutely no standing in Texas. Which makes about as much sense as a Texas gardener worried about giraffes eating her roses. So much ado about nothing...

Which brings me to this.  If we, the public school educators in Texas do not speak to the right people, now... Things are going to get much worse before they ever get better.  

So who are the right people?  First, start with Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, and your State Senator.  Call their office and let them know you vote, you do not appreciate the attack on public education and you have a long memory.  Then follow that up with a letter.  Finally, talk to your neighbors and friends.  Let them know that in regards to education, they are being lied to and you are being vilified.

The Texas Senate is in session and is purposefully working to dismantle one of the pillars of our democracy, Public Schools.  Speak up and let the right people know what you actually think about that.

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; Illinois ASCD Fall Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Crazy Idea for Accountability Sanctions (Secondary Model)

The Legislature and TEA have been twisting themselves into pretzels to come up with sanctions that deliver the appropriate level of punishment and humiliation to schools that are deemed to be “low performing.”  The fact that punishment and humiliation are highly ineffective motivators and are really just forms of bullying has escaped both groups.  But since they have an innate need to punish, I want to share a reasonable sanction plan that should better motivate schools, school boards and communities to focus on academic performance.

Year 1 Low Performing

• Submission of Improvement Plan to T.E.A. 
• State staff development grant to campus.
• Desk monitoring by T.E.A.

Year 2 Low Performing

• All extra-curriculars moved to outside the school day
• Limit on Spring sport event days
• Submission of Improvement Plan to T.E.A. 
• State staff development grant to campus.
• Desk monitoring by T.E.A.

Year 3 Low Performing:

• Suspension of all extra-curricular activities
• Submission of Improvement Plan to T.E.A. 
• State approved and/or prescribed staff development program and funding
• On-site monitoring by T.E.A.

Call it the “No Pass – No Play Plan,” though I would call it the "Time & Funding Plan." I promise you for the effected Texas secondary campuses, academic success would become very important to everyone in the system.

And no, I don’t believe there is even a “Snowball’s Chance” that anything like this would be adopted.

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; Illinois ASCD Fall Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Writes... Quick Accountability Testing - Part 1

In response to the 2/11/2015 post, “Quick AccountabilityTesting,” a LYS Principal writes:

I love this plan! How soon can we implement it?

SC Response

Obviously, not now.  But if we, as educators, ever want to have this or a similar system implemented we must do two things.

1. We must co-opt the accountability discussion instead of fighting / ignoring / complaining about it.  Accountability, at least in Texas, has its roots with a small group of proactive Superintendents who were trying to identify the instructional practices that would improve the success of their students.  Paige, Guthrie, Donaldson, Neeley and Brezina didn’t enact accountability measures in their districts because they were anti-public education.  They enacted them because they recognized that public education is the most important civic enterprise that we engage in.  They were looking for better process and better results.  But outside of their circle, educators didn’t see a tool to use, only a weapon to ignore.  So those with an anti-public school agenda were able to dictate the terms of the programs.  To the detriment of the profession.      

2. Vote for a different candidate. Current state policy has not occurred by accident. It has been carefully and expertly (in political terms) orchestrated by those who have been in charge for the last 15+ years.

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; Illinois ASCD Fall Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

It's More Than a Job

There are a number of voices in our profession that make the valid case that schools cannot be expected to do more than what is currently done in the face of very real ills of society.  Poverty, lack of a safety net, broken homes, racism, etc.

Too many of us believe that good enough is good enough.

But it is not. 

Yes, the world is a hard, cruel place; especially for children. 

Yes, by policy and practice, our legislatures in an attempt to disincentivize adult behaviors are victimizing children at a horrifying scale.  

Yes, the layperson that fancies him/herself an expert in education has no idea what it takes to run a classroom, much less a school.

Which is why good enough is not good enough. Good enough plays right into the hand of the Anti’s.  The Anti’s: Those who are Anti-equity, Anti-opportunity, Anti-inclusion, and Anti-public education.

We, the Educators, are the nexus between poverty and a better life.  We are the nexus between fear and understanding.  We are the nexus between ignorance and enlightenment.

What we do, now more than ever, requires significantly more than good enough.

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; Illinois ASCD Fall 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 29, 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 29, 2015.

1. Congratulations to LYSer, Dr. Matthew Mann! He is the new Superintendent for Pleasanton ISD!!! Who will be next? (By @LYSNation)

2. Congratulations to LYSer, Crystal Romero-Mueller! She is Tomball ISD's Secondary Principal of the Year!!! Who will be next? (By @LYSNation)

3. The evidence is clear: School vouchers are bad public policy. (By @randypittenger)

4. It's not really school choice if the private schools pick the students and not the other way around. (By @JoseforTexas)

5. Today's Quote:  “Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is truly a lost tradition.” (By @DrRichAllen)

6. Great school leaders are thinking about improving their campuses today - on a beautiful sun filled Saturday... (By @CabidaCain)

7. Great to hear folks complaining about the curriculum in public schools in a hearing held by the people who set the curriculum. (By @TroyMooney)

8. Do you know? Americans who earn a college degree make a 40 % higher salary than those with just a high school diploma. (By @Lynch39083)

9. Excited to share that Grand Valley State University in Michigan is using The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) with undergraduates! Go Lakers!!! (By @LYSNation)

10. The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) has now sold over 72,000 copies! 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

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; Illinois ASCD Fall Conference (Multiple Presentations)

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Texas Superintendent Search

LYS Executive Search

~ Superintendent ~

Culberson County-Allamore Independent School District

A West Texas school district is searching for its next Superintendent of Schools

The successful candidate will have

• Demonstrated leadership success as a principal and/or district level administrator 
• Demonstrated success educating diverse student populations
• Firm understanding of school finance
• LYS training and experience, preferred

Information of note

• Enrollment - 450 students
• Rural setting
• Two campuses
• Competitive salary and benefits

Qualified and interested candidates submit the following to Search@LeadYourSchool.com

• Letter of interest
• Resume
• Administrator’s certifications
• List of references
• Recent campus/district performance data

Search Consultant: Robert 'Bob' Brezina

LYS Executive Search

(832) 477-5323

LYS Nation, once again a school district wants YOU!

Think. Work. Achieve.