An Unexpected Lesson Learned

Recently, two former school principals were witnesses to a deadly accident. Well, not exactly witnesses.  Let me explain.

First, the two former principals were in a public (not a school) venue when they heard a commotion in an area where they knew there were children. Both principals, without looking at the other, ran towards the commotion, when at the time, the crowds were running away from the area.

When they got to the crisis area, the people who remained were figuratively frozen.  The two principals took positions on opposite sides of the event and started ordering people to exit the area, physically pulling people towards safety.

The principals were unable to ensure everyone’s safety, but they definitely reduced the number of people adversely effected by the incident.

Here was what the two principals took away from the incident.  

1. The principalship is great training for crisis management.

The event was outside the scope of any formal training that the two principals had, but the assuming command in a chaotic situation was a reflex action for both of them.

2. If the best case scenario is a bad, learn from the incident and move on. 

There was a fatality.  And with 20/20 hindsight, the two principals could have done a few things slightly different.  But the bottom line is their response, at the very least, prevented others from being injured and/or traumatized. And as the first responders (or in this case the second responders) reminded the principals, in some cases, reducing a loss is the only 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 
• Upcoming Conference Presentations: Texas ASCD Summer Conference, TASSP Summer Conference, Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference; The National Principals Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Asks... Problem Solving

A LYS Teacher (and an aspiring campus leader) asks the following question:

SC,

How does an effective school leader assess and solve problems or challenges?

SC Response

Good question.  One that could serve as a topic for an entire book.  But I’m going to give you the 80% answer.  The answer that will serve you 80% of the time.

1. Watch your indicators, both leading and lagging.  And when an indicator catches your attention, recognize that the indicator is a symptom.  Go find and solve the problem and the symptom will go away.

2. Stay focused on student need.  You can spend a lot of time solving adult problems that have absolutely no positive effect on student performance.  Keep student performance moving forward and adult problems begin to evaporate.

3. Plan for the worst, expect the best. The initial contingency planning makes you a more flexible thinker when faced with an actual problem.  And if you expect things to go well, they often do.

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 
• Upcoming Conference Presentations: Texas ASCD Summer Conference, TASSP Summer Conference, Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference; The National Principals Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of May 21, 2017

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of May 21, 2017 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. It's pure stupidity to think that the best way to get quality teachers in classrooms is to reduce credential standards and cut pay and benefits. (By @LYSNation)

2. A message for politicians: If you really want quality teachers in classrooms then invest in schools and teachers. Doing the opposite is lying. (By @LYSNation)

3. The bedrock democratic institution for training American citizens is the public school system. Support, strengthen and protect it! (By @pastors4txkids)

4. Your job as an administrator is to get the best performance out of your teachers and students. You cannot observe performance from your office. (By @MalachiPancoast)

5. If you want something different, you must do something different. (By @Leadershipfreak)

6. Teaching writing = making a fire. You add firewood, but unless you leave space for air (choice, voice, play, pleasure) the fire won't burn. (By @FletcherRalph)

7. We are in a pitched battle for the public education in Texas against Senate leadership that no longer believes in it. (By @pastors4txkids)

8. When someone asks for your help, you can feel burdened, or, you can feel honored that they are requesting your assistance.  (By @justintarte)

9. When teachers go into each other's classrooms all the teachers can become like the best teachers. We never steal a worse idea. (By @ToddWhitaker)

10. Financial expert Dave Ramsey suggests saving 5% of your salary, to be increased every year until you're socking away 15% or more. (By @tgrierhisd)

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 
• Upcoming Conference Presentations: Texas ASCD Summer Conference, TASSP Summer Conference, Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference; The National Principals Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook