Top LYS Tweets from the Week of August 6, 2017

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of August 6, 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. Drama is a weak leader’s way of feeling important and powerful. (By @Leadershipfreak)

2. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick to Texas schools: “Starve.” (By @texasisd)

3. Leadership 101 - 1. Hire good people 2. Coach those people 3. Hold those people accountable. Just as you hold yourself accountable. (By @AsstSuptAAA2)

4. Zig Ziglar was asked, "What if you spend money training people and they leave?” He replied, "What if you don't train them and they stay?" (By @JonGordon11)

5. Lockhart ISD administrators learn The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird), the district's new framework for instruction, from Sean Cain. (By @LockhartISD)

6. “School Choice” means private schools choose. (By @jarowell)

7. Things that are unique, different, and unexpected power our brains. Boring is the enemy of learning. (By @sjunkins)

8. Why pardon the innocent? (By @LYSNation)

9. The Texas GOP needs to show some action instead of rhetoric. They can't claim to "love" teachers… And lower professional standards with school vouchers and no funding for public education. (By @CounselorCarol1)

10. Be certain: we are not anti-choice. We fully affirm the right of parents to send their children to non-public schools, at their own expense. (By @pastors4OKkids)

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: 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

The TASSP / LYS Leadership Academy - Don't Miss Your Last Chance to Attend

On this coming Sunday and Monday, the TASSP / LYS Leadership Academy is in Frisco, Texas.  Late registration is still available. Join over 100 education leaders from across the state as we tackle real world leadership issues with real world experience and solutions. Last week's Academy was amazing, don't miss your last chance to participate this year. See you 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 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote); The 2016 Texas Charter School Conference (Multiple Presentations); The 4^th Annual Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

One Chance Left - The Leadership Academy

This weekend, 100 instructional leaders gathered in San Antonio to hone their craft. Covering topics from communication to system design to decision making to coaching, it was a non-stop leadership fest!  As a testament to the power and value of the event, numerous participants signed up additional members of their leadership teams to attend the TASSP / LYS Leadership Academy on Frisco, Texas on September 25 and 26.  There are still about 20 slots left.  Come learn and grow with us in North Texas!

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: LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote); The 2016 Texas Charter School Conference (Multiple Presentations); The 4^th Annual Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

The TASSP / LYS Leadership Academy

The Event So Nice – We’re Doing It Twice!

That’s right, on September 18th and 19th, we’ll be in San Antonio. On September 25th and 26th, we’ll be in Frisco.  Sign up now to get the discounted registration and housing rates. Below is the roster of speakers and topics. See you there!

E. Don Brown

Texas Principal for 30+ years.

Past President of TASSP and NASSP

An Early Pioneer of IB and PLC’s

An Architect of Breaking Ranks

Principal Emeritus for NASSP and Lead Your School

A Mentor to 100’s of schools leaders across the country

o   The Leader as Communicator: A schools leader’s most powerful lever is communication. One of the most influential principals in the past 50 years shares the what, when, how and where’s of the leadership communication and the powerful effect it has on school success.

Sherilynn Cotten

Texas Secondary School Principal (ret)

Early adopter of PLC’s and IB

Recognized school improvement expert

An original LYS Coach

o   Run the Play: The success of your school boils down to your answer to the question, “How confident am I that what is being taught today is what is supposed to be taught to day?” Learn about the understandings, actions, and process that must be in place on your campus to ensure that the right thing is being taught at the right time in every classroom on your campus.

Dr. Darin Jolly

Active Texas Superintendent

A pioneer and leader in the use of Social Media for professional growth.

o   The Leader as Evaluator: The effective formative and summative evaluation of staff is an invaluable tool for every school leader. Yet it is a tool that too many in our profession wield ineffectively. Dr. Darin Jolly will highlight the connection between coaching (formative practice) and evaluating (summative practice) and how the improved use of both transforms school leadership into legacy building.

Fletcher Turcato

Active Wyoming Superintendent           

A Texas secondary school administrator

District is experiencing unprecedented improvements in student performance and graduation rates

o   The Power of Focus: In three years, the second poorest school district in Wyoming has dramatically increased performance for all students and has experienced an unprecedented gain in graduation rates.  Join the Maverick Superintendent of Wyoming, Fletcher Turcato, as he shares how his team harnesses the Power of Focus to improve opportunity and outcomes for each student who walks through their school doors.

Sean Cain

Former State Director of Innovative School Redesign (Texas)

Best-selling education author

Nationally recognized school improvement expert

Chief Idea Officer – Lead Your School

o   Bridging the Gaps: An interactive, planning presentation that walks the participant thru the process of bridging the gaps between knowing and doing, and doing and understanding that prevent schools and educators from meeting their true potential.  At the end of the presentation participants will have created an actionable plan for rapidly increasing staff capacity and school success.

o   The Structure for Success: An interactive presentation that provides participants with an overview of critical tools and processes that schools must have in place in order to leverage brain power and maximize staff success and student performance, at scale. 

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: LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote); The 2016 Texas Charter School Conference (Multiple Presentations); The 4^th Annual Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

The Fundamental 5 Summit: Real Teachers - Real Results

PowerWalks 2.0 - It's Kind of a Big Deal

Dear PowerWalks User,

We are excited to unveil the updated version of the PowerWalks Instructional Observation System.  As you are well aware, PowerWalks was designed to provide Teachers with “Game Film” to inform their honing of daily practice and to provide Instructional Leaders with a tool to better coach and support their staff, from the large group to the individual. With this updated version, PowerWalks continues to do this, but now easier, faster and with more flexibility.

The PowerWalks site looks different (better), but the basic operations remain the same, with the following enhancements:

• The primary classroom observation survey has been streamlined and now focuses on only the positive elements of instructional best practice.
• For managing users, there is the ability to create custom observation elements for campuses.
• The PowerWalks Instructional Observation System will alert the observer when the most powerful elements of best practice have been observed and will send a positive note to the teacher.
• Report building has been streamlined to just a one screen operation.
• Additional standing (pre-built) reports have been included on your personal report page.
• Report generation speed has been significantly upgraded. 

To be added in the next few weeks, both an Android and Apple App for use on campuses with inconsistent connectivity and a narrative coaching report to facilitate staff coaching meetings and conversations.

We know you will find the new version of PowerWalks to be even better than the last and welcome your comments and suggestions.

Thank you,

Your LYS Coaching Staff and Fellow PowerWalkers

Bob Brezina, E. Don Brown, Lesa Cain, Sean Cain, Sherilynn Cotten, Dr. Jim Davis, Barbara Fine, Jo Hoeppner, Harry Miller, Jeanette Nelson, Gwen Poteet

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 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); Fun 5 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote Presentation) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Writes... Top Tweet List

In response to the 6/16/14 post, “Top LYS Tweets From theWeek of June 8, 2014,” a LYS Principal writes:

SC,

Great set of tweets! I often send your list to my staff. They may not all follow the blog but I think all can benefit from your top list of tweets. I also print them out and place on my board next to my door for all to read!

SC Response

Thank you! And so very old school and new school at the same time. I remember reading as much as I could when I was a principal.  Both for me and to find the articles that I thought my staff should be aware of.  When I found something, I would copy it and place it in their box.  I figured even if they didn’t read the whole article, at least they would know that I valued professional reading and by the topics I shared know what I thought was important for the campus.  Why copies in the mail box? Because at the campus level there were no scanners, few online articles and spotty e-mail coverage back in the day.

I’m not surprised that you do the same thing for your staff (with the modern additions of blogs, Twitter, Pintrest, etc.).  But I am honored that you find the topics I think are important are also useful for the staff at one of the top public schools in the country.

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: NAESP National Conference; Kentucky Association of School Administrators Leadership Institute; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote Presentation) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

The Astronomical Cost of Comp Time

Every decent school leader recognizes the need to train staff.  And since there is never enough time during the school year, the summer with its glorious span of empty calendar dates always seems like an untapped resource.  I, for one, am a fan of organized summer training.  But there is always the legitimate question of compensation for those attendees who are off contract (generally teachers). There are essentially four answers to the question. 

1. There is the, “They need to be here if they value their job,” intimidation answer.  Usually espoused by those who no longer teach, have longer contracts and are getting paid to work during the summer.  If you catch yourself doing this, it is a moron move, so stop immediately.

2. There is the, “We used the budget to book the great training, so if you are interested please come,” answer. This isn’t the best circumstance, but you will be surprised by how many teachers attend if you actually ask them too and explain the benefits of the training.   If you do this once, OK.  If you make a habit of doing it every summer, you are taking advantage of your staff.

3. There is the, “We booked the training and budgeted a stipend for those who attend,” answer.  This is the best answer.  It recognizes that no matter how valuable the training, it is only fair to compensate your staff for their off contract time and attention.

4. Finally, there is the, “Attend the training and you will earn comp time you can use during the upcoming school year,” answer.  This is a horrible, yet all too common solution that tricks very smart and capable school leaders every year.  On the face of it, it seems to compensate staff for their time at almost no cost.  But that is the lie.  The costs are astronomical.  Let me explain why this is the case through a couple of examples:

• The teacher earns a comp day by attending an off contract summer training.  Then the teacher takes the comp day on an instructional day.  The school hires a sub for the teacher taking the comp day.  Here is the actual cost of this scenario

          Summer training pay: $0.00

          Teacher pay on comp day: $275.00

          Substitute teacher pay on comp day: $100.00

          Opportunity cost: 1 day of quality instruction, times the number of  students taught by the teacher.

            
Actual Cost: $375.00, plus one day lost of quality instruction for students. A darn expensive solution.

• The teacher earns a comp day by attending an off contract summer training.  Then the teacher takes the comp day comp day on a non-instructional day.  Here is the actual cost of this scenario.

          Summer training pay: $0.00

          Teacher pay on comp day: $275.00

          Opportunity cost: 1 day of training, planning or collaboration with peers.

          
Actual Cost: $275.00 plus one day lost of quality training, planning or collaboration with teammates and peers. A darn expensive solution.

So the best answer is back to Answer #3.  Here is the math for this scenario.

• The teacher is paid a training stipend for participating in an off contract summer training.  The training stipend should be at least the amount of a substitute teacher day rate. The teacher does not take a comp day during the school year

          Summer training pay: $100.00 to $275.00

          Teacher pay on a regular contract day: $275.00

          Opportunity cost: $0

         
Actual Cost: $375.00 to $550.00 with no opportunity cost.

That is the affordable solution.

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: NEASP National Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote Presentation) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook