A Reader Submits... UIL Disconnect - Part 1

A LYS Principal submits:

As of this year, I have finally concluded that UIL has utterly disconnected itself from the educational process. In baseball and softball we play a determined number of pre-season games, during the school day, in the form of tournaments. Those are generally two-day, all-day tournaments that occur during a three-week period. Then we move to track. There was a time when track meets were on Saturday. Not anymore. Now we do them during the week. Thus, during the final push towards the most important contest of the year (TAKS), many of our teachers and students are at district track meets. How is that good for anyone?

SC Response

As you well know, in our regular debates on the topic of athletics I generally take the pro side and you take the con side. But dare I say you are at least nudging me back to center. I have always believed that a successful athletic program should serve as a supplement to the academic program. It should teach students about hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship and character. All which should make them more successful in the classroom. Personally, I learned more about how to be a leader in a huddle than I ever did in any classroom. Great Head Coaches and Athletic Directors understand this.

Unfortunately, great is a rare commodity. Thus, a number of athletic programs are focused solely on wins, instant gratification and adult needs. My advice is that as a principal, it is your responsibility to advocate for the academic program as aggressively as the head coach /AD advocates for the athletic program. Because if you won’t, no one else will. Plus, I can't remember a time when I saw a coach stand beside a principal and take responsibility for taking students and teachers out of the classroom when campus accountability scores took a hit.

But I want to know, Ol’ Ball Coach and E. Don Brown, what do you think?

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/4ydqd4t

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Top LYS Tweets from the Week of July 24, 2011

So you are going to let some classes let students use their own technology devices this year (really, this is a statement more than a question). A limited pilot seems reasonable. And you picked out a teacher who is not going to let the kids just go anywhere on the web. But it doesn’t take long for you to hear that some student has done something and the evidence is on his or her device. What are you going to do?

Do know that if you go crazy and ignore common sense that this situation is going to blow up in your face. But since only LYS’ers read this blog, we know that common sense is your strong point. Case law tells you that if a school administrator has reasonable suspicion that there is evidence of wrongdoing to be found that he or she can conduct a limited search. The key phrases being reasonable suspicion and limited search. However, if you are allowing the student to use the device in class and the student seems to be doing so appropriately, you do not have carte blanche to search the device. But, a “permission to use / permission to search” agreement, signed by all parties (parent, student, administrator) would seem to be a prudent and reasonable precaution and would go along way in addressing why, when and how to search a device. And if the student and parent don’t sign, they do get to use their device.

Second, when you do find something inappropriate on the student owned device (which you will), leave the Gestapo tactics at home for use on your own children. Be reasonable, with reasonable consequences. There is a lot of inappropriate stuff out there. If we over-react, we will just make that stuff more exciting and cool. If and when your students mess up, teach and coach them so they don’t make the same mistake again.

Now for the disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer, but I have watched almost every Law and Order episode.

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter. 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 July 24, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. Congratulations to LYS Principal, Steve Snell. He is the new Assistant Superintendent in Hutto ISD! Who will be next?

2. For those who view bootleg technology as a classroom management land mine, the issue might be larger than a tiny cell phone.

3. If your school internet filters block access to almost everything - you are telling your staff that they are either too dumb or immoral to be trusted.

4. You don't win by pointing out how bad someone else is. You win by blowing the top off performance and raising the bar.

5. Question: "Should charters be allowed in 'successful' suburban districts?" Answer: Effective and efficient schools should be allowed wherever there is need and demand.

6. The Real Question: If the 'successful' suburban school does not outperform its suburban peers, what is the rubric for success?

7. Some believe state testing is contrary to critical thinking and inquiry. LYS'ers know that critical thinking and inquiry are the best test preparation.

8. The quality I most admire is the consistent attitude of "Here's how we can do it." As opposed to "Here's why we can't."

9. I have spent last 2 days training 20+ grizzled, old, tenured and cynical middle school teachers. They were freaking awesome!!!

10. Texas will be tied for 49th place in education spending per pupil after these state funding cuts. Ahead of only Arizona. (By KDKHarman)

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/4ydqd4t

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Readers' Reviews - The Fundamental 5

Two LYSers submitted to following comments:

1. SC, Just wanted to let you know that I read the book from cover to cover. Then I read it again. Of all of the "How to Teach Better" books, yours is the most accessible. In the on-going debate of are great teachers born or made - you and Laird make a great case for building great teachers. I have already recommended the book to three other principals.

2. We have all heard the old cliché that the issue isn't discipline, it's instruction. And I always roll my eyes because the person saying that inevitably taught in an easier setting than the one I'm in. But now I can see it. I see what I have always done in my class versus the Fundamental Five practices and why my practice has caused some of the discipline issues. Time to try something new this year. Thank you.

SC Response

Thanks for the great comments. The response to the book has been beyond what either of us ever imagined. It seems to have struck a cord with cord with teachers and administrators. We are just happy people believe that reading it was worth the time investment. And again, thanks you to everyone who has bought a copy and an extra big thank you to the over 60 campuses who have selected our little book for their fall book study.

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/4ydqd4t

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

The Big Easy Writes... (TASSP / TASB Wrap Up)

In response to the 6/22/2011 post, “TASSP / TASB Wrap Up," the Big Easy writes:

As I reflected on this blog something just came to me that seems a bit of a paradox, and yet, is interesting enough. I have read, "It is not about what you learn. It is about how you learn it."

So does this mean that learning is not like scoring in an athletic contest, but is in fact as much about style points?

Not so fast. Is it about how you score - touchdown vs. field goal, homerun vs. squeeze play, three point shot vs. layup? How you score (learn) assumes that scoring (learning the right "stuff") took place. So the question becomes “How do you hit a homerun in classroom?” LYSers know the answer.

SC Response

After reading your comment, up is down... right is left... Make it stop.

I think I know where you are going with this. It is one thing to just know the fact (scoring). It is another thing all together to connect facts, create meaning, and communicate revealing questions and understanding. Which is why the LYS Nation continues to separate itself from the masses. Others are operating on varying degrees of autopilot and panic (more of the same and “fix the broke kids” programs). The LYSer is engaged in purposeful application, driven by analysis and synthesis. Evaluated though the lens of student performance (style point capacity building).

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/4ydqd4t

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

A Report From the Field - Blame Game

A new LYS Principal submits the following:

The blame game is operating at full speed in my district. The Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendents are trying to distance themselves from our results and all decisions leading to those results. They are blaming campuses for not having better common assessments. They are blaming campuses for not having a vibrant PLC model. Even though last summer it was agreed that full implementation would take two years, and that this year we had more than enough new practices and programs on our plate.

At my “I Suck Data Autopsy,” I went through everything we implemented on my campus and the growth that we experienced because of it (admittedly, not enough growth). The feedback I received was driven by what I didn’t do and what they would have done differently. Interestingly, this feedback was not provided during the year when they were happy that teachers were happy and parents weren’t complaining.

So yes, I will endure their jabs and continue to implement the plan that we agreed to. A plan that is working (but didn’t work fast enough to cover for the lack of TPM). Next year our common assessments will be better. Our Fundamental 5 execution will be better. My one lagging sub-pop that TPM was covering for will be successful, without a crutch.

My campus learned (which my central office has not) that pull outs and support do little if Tier 1 instruction is poor or non-existent on a daily basis. We are working to teach better, not “Program Your Way to Success.”

SC Response

As regular readers know, I was never a fan of TPM. I advocated for its removal. Though I would not have removed it in the middle of the year. But politics required this to happen. As AYP standards increased and state standards decreased (the effect of TPM), the state was going to have to explain why Exemplary schools couldn’t meet AYP requirements. Take away TPM and the problem goes away. But enough with political maneuvering talk.

What I been counseling school districts to do is ignore the state rating (this year). Just compare the 2010 raw score against the 2011 raw score. If you improved (as did your campus), don’t panic. If you regressed, you have cause for concern. Some districts are listening. Others are not. But if you were congratulating yourself on your rating last year and you are punishing someone for your rating this year, AND YOUR SCORES ARE THE SAME OR BETTER, at the very least your credibility is suspect.

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/4ydqd4t

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Readers Write... (The Legacy of a Great Coach)

In response to the 7/20/2011 post, “The Legacy of a Great Coach,” readers write:

1. Thanks for sharing. I am at T-CASE, today. He will be missed, but what a legacy of influence.

2. That is awesome! Made me cry.

SC Response

I agree and me too.

Harlan understood principal coaching. He had a rule for our relationship. At least twice a week he would remind me, “Son, this is your school, not mine. I’m going to give you my best advice for a given situation. Use it to inform your decision. I’ll adapt my advice based on what you decide.”

That is the same mindset I now use when I’m working with school leaders.

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/4ydqd4t

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation