Just 21 Days Until The Fundamental 5 National Summit

We’re now just 21 days away from the opening session of the fourth annual Fundamental 5 National Summit.  Book your travel and hotel room and register now so you can join educators from across the country who are focused on student performance and want to share their success stories. This is the best Fall Conference in the country!

5 Reasons to Attend The Fundamental 5 National Summit (November 5th and 6th)

1. This is a K-12 practitioner’s conference.

2. The presenters are from real schools using successfully using The Fundamental 5 every day.

3. You will get to network with some of the best educators from across the country.

4. The average November temperature in Austin is 73 degrees.

5. The keynote speaker is Sean Cain (I hear he is pretty good), co-author of The Fundamental 5 and a nationally recognized school improvement expert.

Enemies to Instruction

We just wrapped up the two-day TASSP/LYS Leadership Academy, a fantastic experience with almost 250 campus-based school leaders participating and networking. One of the presenters was the Maverick Superintendent of Wyoming and LYSer, Fletcher Turcato.  In his presentation he talked about Enemies of Instruction. His premise, which I agree with, is that we allow too many infringements to teaching and learning because we don’t assign enough value to the infringement.  My example is that we ignore the mosquito, because it is just a small irritant, something to work around or through.  But the mosquito is not a small thing; it represents malaria, zika and a host of other diseases that will kill you.

So what are the Enemies to Instruction? It depends on the campus.  For example, it could be the 5-Minute Passing Period when 3 minutes will suffice. It could be the Open Campus Lunch Policy where 5% of students are late getting back to school every day.  It could be the Weekly In-School Pep Rally. It could be the Annual Charity Can Drive. The point being, if teaching and learning are being negatively impacted, identify the enemy and eliminate it. That is leadership. Or ignore the enemy, avoid the conflict, and leave student performance on the table. Which is leadership failure.

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) 
• 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

See You at the TASSP / LYS Leadership Academy

This coming Sunday and Monday in the TASSP / LYS Leadership Academy in San Antonio, Texas.  Late registration is still available.  Or you can join us the following Sunday and Monday in Frisco, Texas.  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

The LYS / TASSP Leadership Academy

Today is the last day for early registration discounts for the LYS / TASSP Leadership Academy.  Sign up, now!!!

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 TASSP / LYS Leadership Academy

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

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

Coming Soon! The TASSP / LYS Leadership Academy

Register Now!

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

Save the Dates: The TASSP / LYS Leadership Academy

An Event So Nice... We're Doing It Twice!

Open to all educators, from all states.  TASSP membership not required.

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

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of May 8, 2016

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of May 8, 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. Congratulations to LYSer, Dr. Mike Metz! He is the new Principal of Magnolia High School!! Who will be next? (By @LYSNation)

2. The key trait that distinguishes leaders from everyone else is self-development—leaders actively seek to improve themselves and their skills. (By @DrKing_BBJH)

3. The absence of adversity is an indicator that my goals aren't significant enough. – Clint Bruce (By @CoachMotto)

4. You can be comfortable or courageous, but you cannot be both. (By @DavidRoads)

5. The signature of mediocrity is not an unwillingness to change, innovate, or grow; it's chronic inconsistency. Jim Collins (By @LeadershipCures)

6. We should focus just as much on HOW results are achieved as we do on WHAT results are actually achieved. (By @DrKing_BBJH)

7. "Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day." - Jim Rohn (By @MariSmith)

8. The best measure of a leader’s success is what is accomplished by those they trained. (By @DrKing_BBJH)

9. When you move unsuccessful people up and expect success you truly are foolish.  You can't hope a dud into a diamond. (By @TobyTucker)

10. Excited to share that I will present multiple times at the TASSP Summer Conference this June in Austin, Texas! Hope to see you there!!! (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

The Principal Platinum Standard

“Nationally, I’m known as E. Don.”

When I heard that comment twelve years ago that was when I realized that that my friend and mentor in my little world, also operated on a much grander scale.

Don Brown is an anomaly. Has was principal in an era when rubric for the exceptional principal was fairly cut and dried, all one had to do was, in order, keep:

• The teachers happy.
• The Superintendent happy.
• The parents happy.
• The building clean.
• The students occupied and behaved.

That wasn’t enough for Don. So he did more. He is:

• One of the Godfathers of the Trimester Schedule.
• One of the Godfathers of the PLC process.
• One of the Godfathers of the All Students Continue Their Education After High School movement.
• The architect of Breaking Ranks. 

That wasn’t enough for Don. So he did more. He was:

• The President of the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals
• The President of the National Association of Secondary School Principals
• A Board Member of the International Confederation of Principals

Then Don retired, but didn’t quit. He became one of the:

• Godfathers of the Online Professional Development movement.
• Godfathers of the EFFECTIVE (not political) School Turnaround Process.
• Godfathers of the Principal Coaching movement.
• Founders of Lead Your School.

As the Lead Your School Principal Emeritus, Don continues to coach principals and train teachers across the country, every week. In his 70’s, he has more energy and passion for schools than a man ½ his age.  We at Lead Your School are not the only ones who recognize and appreciate his continued contributions to the profession. Just last week, at a complete surprise to him, E. Don Brown was named....

The Principal Emeritus of the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Don Brown, he’s kind of a big deal...

Congratulations!!!

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

Top Tweets From the Week of May 31, 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 May 31, 2015.

1. Congratulations to LYSer, Kari Eggleston! She is the new principal at Washington Elementary School!! Who will be next? (By @LYSNation)

2. Congratulations to LYSer, Tom Giles! He is the new principal at Marcy Elementary School!! Who will be next? (By @LYSNation)

3. “Kids today don’t know how easy they have it.  When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpet to change the channel.” (By @DrRichAllen)

4. (Adopted Texas) Budget leaves 31% of school districts with less funding per pupil than what they had prior to the 2011 budget cuts even though money is available.  (By @DonnaHowardTx)

5. The biggest irony is that the people criticizing teachers the most, lack all the qualities needed to be a teacher. (By @NicholasFerroni)

6. 75% of teens have access to a Smartphone - how do we teach them to use them for learning? (By @DSteward89)

7. Superintendents all over Texas give dedicated leadership to our children. They should be heeded by legislators instead of ignored. (By @pastors4txkids)

8. “Many politicians make up for their lack of education with a keenly developed sense of moral bankruptcy.” (By @DrRichAllen)

9. We pray for the day when we care as much about putting a book in the hands of our citizens as we do a gun. (By @pastors4txkids)

10. Make plans to attend the FREE post-conference session on Friday afternoon. PowerWalks Observer Training with ‪@LYSNation is one you don't want to miss! (By @TASSP1)

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); Texas ASCD Summer Conference; 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