Do You Want Grades or Information

There are way too many campus-based educators who hate and openly fight the short-cycle common assessment process.  A primary motivation for this behavior is that these educators value good grades over good information.

If you want grades, common assessments are not the way to go. Instead you should go with the traditional test comprised of low rigor questions over material that the teacher has taught, re-taught and then taught again. Your grades we’ll be good, but what will you actually know? Close to nothing. 

If you want real-time instructional information, use short-cycle common assessments.  Assessments that are aligned to both the pace and rigor of the curriculum. With these you will have information on both pacing of the delivered material and the effectiveness of instructional practices.  This information is useful to the teacher and critical to the PLC.  

Given the choice, I’ll take good instructional information over good grades every single time. 

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: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations); Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Conference (Multiple Presentations); LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

LYS Nation Donation Total - The March For A Cure Challenge

LYS Nation, I couldn’t be more proud.  Your challenge was to visit classrooms to beat cancer, and you really stepped up.  In March, individually you visited a total of 11,965 classrooms, which equates to a donation of $598.25

Then Twenty LYSers met the 200 PowerWalks Challenge, which adds another $100.00 to the donation.

As for campuses, 17 schools made the March Cancer Fightin’ PowerWalks Hero list.  This adds another $170.00 to the donation.

Then Southside Primary School (Cleveland ISD), Cleveland Middle School (Cleveland ISD), and Fairdale High School (Jefferson County Public Schools) led their school categories, adding another $150.00 to the donation.

Then Iroquois High School (Jefferson County Public Schools) was the Ultimate PowerWalks Cancer Fightin’ Hero School in March, adding another $100.00 to the donation.

Which means that the overall March For A Cure donation to the American Cancer Society is....

Thank you! And mark your calendars, because we’re going to do it again next year!!!

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: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations); Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Conference (Multiple Presentations); LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

PowerWalks Legendary Leadership Badge - March 2016

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 2015/2016 school year (as of 3/31/16).

Three Badges

Pattie Myers: October 2015; December 2015; March 2016

Two Badges

Shannon Clancy: December 2015; March 2016

Edward Husk: October 2015: March 2016

Karen Ivy: November 2015; March 2016
Shelia Ochoa: December 2015; March 2016

Robin Rice: February 2016; March 2016

Steve Sherrouse: October 2015; March 2016

Christina Spears: December 2015; March 2016

Wes Brown: October 2015; February 2016

Denise Poland: December 2015; February 2016

Cody White: December 2015; February 2016

Glenn Barnes:  November 2015; January 2016

Todd Durham: October 2015; January 2016

Van LeJeune: October 2015; January 2016

Nassrin Spencer: October 2015; January 2016

Janie Snyder: November 2015; December 2015

One Badge

Ariel Aleman: March 2016

Joan Alvey: March 2016

Matt Ammerman: March 2016

Ashley Brauchi: March 2016

Norma Briseno: March 2016

Marianne Buentello: March 2016

Carla Butler: March 2016
DeDe Conaway: March 2016

Linda Cox: March 2016

Tonia Cummings: March 2016

Rocky Ford: March 2016

Clinton Grange: March 2016

Valerie Hammit: March 2016

Karen Hart: March 2016

Emily Laurence: March 2016

Scott Rogers: March 2016

Scott Schneider: March 2016

Elizabeth Scott: March 2016

Mindy Sides: March 2016

Jennifer Soileau: March 2016

Fred Steubing: March 2016

Twyla Thomas: March 2016

Monica Waggoner: March 2016

Sandy Williamson: March 2016

Marissa Bell: February 2016

Vernon Berckmoes: February 2016

Denise Bird: February 2016

Sean Cain: February 2016

Marisol Candelaria: February 2016

Michael Cano: February 2016

Stella Chen: February 2016

Michael Clifton: February 2016

Tonia Cummings: February 2016

Mary Giles: February 2016

Jeff Groseclose: February 2016

Michael Hannum: February 2016

Brandon Harris: February 2016

Julie Hinson: February 2016

Kathy Horvath: February 2016

Derieco Irvin: February 2016

Chris Johnstone: February 2016

David Knobloch: February 2016

Mike Laird: February 2016

Grezelda Ligons: February 2016

Steve Lucas: February 2016

Drew McConnaughhay: February 2016

Tania Merik: February 2016

Keith Owen: February 2016

Regina Raiborn: February 2016

James Russell: February 2016

Janie Snyder: February 2016

Sherrie Tolbert: February 2016

Rose Tran: February 2016

Lisa Watson: February 2016

Brad Weston: February 2016

George Wollenzien: February 2016

Lynn Anderson: January 2016

Teresa Bodey: January 2016

Denise Collins: January 2016

Francisco Delgado: January 2016

Demetrio Garcia: January 2016

Donny Hearn: January 2016

Paige Johnson: January 2016

Daniel Kotara: January 2016

Chesta Schneider: January 2016

Lisa Weaver: January 2016

Pete Armstrong: December 2015

Anna Bryant: December 2015

Shele Coburn: December 2015

LuJean Daniel: December 2015

Charlotte Goudeau: December 2015

GayLynn Holt: December 2015

Gail Johnson: December 2015

Stephen McCanless: December 2015

Kimberly McKnight: December 2015

Edna O’Bryant: December 2015

Dawn O’Connor: December 2015

Rebecca Smith: December 2015

Marti Turner: December 2015

Tamika Washington: December 2015

Pamela Williams: December 2015

Esther Boateng: November 2015

Shirley Jenkins: November 2015

Ana Lopez: November 2015

Erica Moody: November 2015

Jeffrey Smith: November 2015

Sheila Stephens: November 2015

Sandra Wilson: November 2015

  

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: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations); Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Conference (Multiple Presentations); LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

The March For A Cure Cancer Fighin' Heroes

Part of the March For A Cure Challenge was for individual LYSers to conduct 200 PowerWalks observations in a month.  This was an “Above and Beyond” call to action. But in spite of weather days, Spring Breaks, Easter, state testing, lunch duty....  Twenty LYSers stepped up their commitment to instructional leadership and met the challenge.

With great pride and reverent awe, LYS Nation here are your Twenty Cancer Fightin’ PowerWalks Heroes!

Joan Alvey – Fairdale High School - Jefferson County Public Schools

Teresa Bodey – Gateway Elementary School – Borger ISD

Ashley Brauchi – Gateway Elementary School – Borger ISD

Clinton Grange – Borger Middle School – Borger ISD

Valerie Hammit – Permian High School – Ector County ISD

Karen Hart – Permian High School – Ector County ISD

Edward Husk – Northside Elementary School – Cleveland ISD

David Knobloch – Cleveland High School – Cleveland ISD

Emily Laurence – Crockett Elementary School – Borger ISD

Grezelda Ligons – Cleveland High School – Cleveland ISD

Sheila Ochoa – Aransas County Independent School District

Keith Owen – Dublin High School – Dublin ISD

Denise Poland - Aransas County Independent School District

James Russell – Borger Middle School – Borger ISD

Steve Sherrouse – Cleveland Middle School – Cleveland ISD

Jennifer Soileau – McFee Elementary School – Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

Janie Snyder – Southside Primary School – Cleveland ISD

Christina Spears – Live Oak Learning Center – Aransas County ISD

Twyla Thomas – Refugio Elementary School  - Refugio ISD

Cody White – Kermit High School – Kermit ISD

Visit Classrooms. Beat Cancer.

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: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations); Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Conference (Multiple Presentations); LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote) 
• 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 27, 2016

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of March 27, 2016 when they were first posted.  And if you are on Twitter, you might want to check out the Tweeters who made this week’s list.

1. Vouchers? Tuition tax credits? Home school deductions? Opportunity scholarships? Tax credit scholarships? No. Theft from children. Period. (By @pastors4txkids)

2. The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) is a great instructional book. Allows for instructional boundaries and autonomy all in one. (By @iPrincipalJJ)

3. A guaranteed curriculum, formative assessments and instructional coaching are key differences between schools that succeed and schools that do not. (By @PrinRipmaster)

4. "School choice" is fancy policy designed to rob public money for private aims. It's a lie. Don't fall for it. (By @pastors4txkids)

5. Hey LYS Nation, I'll see you in June at the TEPSA Summer Conference! (By @LYSNation)

6. If you’re going to be a pioneer… just understand, you will have to spend periods of time serving as an outlier.

Embrace that opportunity! (By @DCulberhouse)

7. Improvements to classroom layout can result in a 45% increase in student engagement. (By @IntelK12Edu)

8. Negativity and high quality instruction do not mix. (By @BluntEducator)

9. Spending unhealthy amounts of time on social media can erode your attention span for real 'life' comprehension. Try speaking and listening. (By @idriselba)

10. Just found out that the University of Louisville is using The Fundamental 5 (Cain and Laird). Go Cardinals!!!! (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: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations); Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Conference (Multiple Presentations); LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook