Top LYS Tweets from the Week of May 7, 2017

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of May 7, 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. Humility and grit are born in adversity. (By @Leadershipfreak)

2. If you are willing to improve no matter how good you already are, you will always be an asset to your kids and your school. (By @teachergoals)

3. Nation’s only federally funded voucher program has negative effect on student achievement, study finds. (By @bylaurenfitz)

4. Stop hiring for mediocracy. A person who doesn’t have at least one noticeable weaknesses probably doesn’t have outstanding strengths. (By @tgrierhisd)

5. Simple is not always easy. (By @rachelwalker70)

6. School voucher programs do not have a track record of success. (By @tasbnews)

7. The needs of students outweigh the wants of adults. (By @drpriddy)

8. Nothing is truly learned until you can teach it. (By @Leadershipfreak)

9. School principals and leaders—join @LYSNation (Sean Cain) for our presentation at @PrincipalsConf (NASSP and NAESP) in Philadelphia in July. (By @hepnr)

10. @LYSNation (Sean Cain) will be speaking at Ignite17 (TASCD) on June 12th. Don't miss it! (By @hepnr)

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, 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 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

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of February 14, 2016

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of February 14, 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. If improving the quality of delivered instruction were easy, then everyone would be doing it. Improving instructional practice is hard, disciplined work. (By @LYSNation)

2. The more I observe instruction, the more evident it becomes that at scale, student critical writing is purely a function of leadership. (By @LYSNation)

3. Access to books provides four times the effect size in reading as phonics instruction. – Guthrie (By @Stephharvey49)

4. I'm not the smartest fellow in the world, but I can sure pick smart colleagues. - Franklin D. Roosevelt (By @Leadershipfreak)

5. If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. (By @CoachKWisdom)

6. Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger. – Lou Holtz (By @CoachMotto)

7. (For just the Tulsa, Ok area) Increasing our graduation rate to 90%, means an increase of: A. $34 million in annual earnings; and B. $43 million in annual gross regional product. (By @deborahgist)

8. Copying and dictation are not note taking. They are just ways to turn students into slow speed Xerox machines. (By @LYSNation)

9. "We must pay public employees a fair wage, give them benefits, and when they retire, take care of them because they took care of us." (By @TMFtx)

10. A 5th grader thinks that it is "cool" that I wrote a book. So I have that working for me. (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: National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of February 8, 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 February 8, 2015.

1. Congratulations to LYSer, Raul Nuques! He is the new Superintendent for Zapata County ISD!! Who will be next? (By @LYSNation)

2. If you believe your purpose as a leader is to make your people happy, you don't understand your purpose as a leader. (BY @LYSNation)

3. We have plenty of research that shows no compelling evidence that vouchers have made a difference for students. (By @RYHTexas)

4. Today's Quote:  In learning, let students talk - verbal processing leads to mental progress. (By @DrRichAllen)

5. Always ask, "Why the attack on our public schools? What's behind the criticism? What motivates it?" Answer: money from the many for the few. (By @pastors4txkids)

6. Adversity is the litmus test for determining the level of morale of the organization. (By @LYSNation)

7. The power in PowerWalks is not in the act itself, but in the conversations with teachers discussing trends and ways to improve. (By @blitzkreig607)

8. Today's Quote:  “The best way to learn is to do; conversely, often the worst way to teach is to talk.” (By @DrRichAllen)

9. My question to school supervisors (Superintendents and Principals) who evaluate staff without multiple objective observations: What do you base your evaluation on? (By @LYSNation)

10. We've known it for a while, but now it's official... TheFundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) has now sold over 70,000 copies! Thank you, LYS Nation! (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: TMSA Winter Conference; ASCD Annual Conference; TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); TEPSA Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); NAESP National Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of February 1, 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 February 1, 2015.

1. “The whole people must take upon themselves the education of the whole people and be willing to bear the expenses of it." John Adams, 1785 (By @pastors4txkids)

2. If the "culture" of your school is built by cherry picking and weeding out students, that's fine. You just shouldn't receive any public funds. (By @LYSNation)

3. The Texas Legislature has debated school vouchers for years, but research has yet to prove they (vouchers) are effective for students. (By @RYHTexas)

4. Adversity is a litmus test for understanding who stands by you only when it’s convenient and who will stand by when it’s tough. (By @blitzkrieg607)

5. Having faith does not mean having no difficulties, but having the strength to face them, knowing we are not alone. (By @Pontifex)

6. I question the agenda of educators who can better explain what they are against than what they are for. (By @DavidGeurin)

7. If you think certain rules don't apply to you don't get upset when kids act like some of your rules don't apply to them. (By @BluntEducator)

8. Leading Autism advocacy group says vaccines don't cause autism and it's time for children to get their shots. (By @Fox4)

9. The current measles outbreak is the result of allowing stupid ideas to become stupid inaction. (By @LYSNation)

10. Faith is no good if you don't exercise it! (By @Djack230)

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: TMSA Winter Conference; ASCD Annual Conference; TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); TEPSA Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); NAESP National Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of August 31, 2014

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 August 31, 2014.

1. Putting an RTI label on a child doesn't "fix" them. Differentiated instruction and progress monitoring is what helps the student. (By @vhssaldana)

2. Today's Quote:  "For teachers and students alike, there is no education like that which arises out of adversity." (By @DrRichAllen)

3. Teachers, when someone walks into your room the natural tendency is too talk more. Let your students do the talking to really impress. (By @justintarte)

4. You can't learn to love books if you never get to read books. Period. (By @KyleneBeers)

5. "16, 17, 18, 21... This counting is hard." Got to love Kindergarten math. Renewed respect for Kindergarten teachers! (By @LYSNation)

6. Phrases you are unlikely to hear:

"I won the lottery!"

"I was struck by lightning yesterday."

"A policymaker visited my classroom."

(By @BluntEducator)

7. I visited 24 classrooms today. Today was a good day. (By @HoustonSuper)

8. I think people are confusing pedagogy with curriculum. Curriculum determines what you teach. Pedagogy is how you teach. (By @iamDrWill)

9. There is no one right way to teach, but there are a lot of bad ways. (By @BluntEducator)

10. "I woke up very early today and I am still awake..." Amazing but true facts that Kindergarten students will share with you. (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 
• 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

Overall Top Ten Texas Elementary Schools - LYS Performance Scores

For the record, I am an advocate for school accountability. I believe in keeping score, raising the bar and the constant pursuit (and redefining) of excellence. I love winning. But more importantly, I don’t fear losing. There is a profound sense of calm that comes when you give your absolute all and still come up short. For a brief time, your limit is clear and your next goal is just sitting there, barely beyond your grasp. That being said, I also recognize that nearly all school ranking systems suffer from a mathematical and philosophical flaw that make their objective use nearly impossible.

The flaw? Nearly all rating systems are weighted to benefit schools with the greatest number of affluent students. In practical terms, this means that affluent schools are under assessed and poor schools are over assessed. You are, of course, encouraged to debate this, but do know that I have been studying this bias to systems for a long, long time.

Now, as experienced LYSers know, it is poor leadership to point out problems and not have a viable solution or recommended course of action. So as many of you are aware, and as was alluded to in the 1/12/2012 post, “The Power of LYS Doctrine,” we have a campus ranking solution. LYS ranks campuses based on their performance in the face of adversity. Essentially, the tougher row you have to hoe, the more credit you receive. Some of the adversity factors that are considered in the LYS formula include grade levels, campus size, LEP populations, Economic Disadvantage populations, true academic competency, and true academic excellence.

We don’t share this information with the general public (and even most educators) because, frankly, most people don’t understand what we are measuring, why we are measuring it, and how to interpret the results. However, a number of you have requested that I share the Top 10 list (Texas) just so you know what is the standard and what schools you should chase. That argument is appealing and is in line with my competitive nature. So, over the next couple of days I will present the schools in Texas that are the tops in getting exceptional student performance in the face of significant external adversity. First up, the overall top ten elementary schools (2010/2011).

10. Sutton Elementary* (Houston ISD)

9. Aoy Elementary* (El Paso ISD)

8. Kennedy Elementary* (Houston ISD)

7. White Elementary* (Houston ISD)

6. JP Henderson Elementary* (Houston ISD)

5. Ramirez Elementary* (Rio Grande City ISD)

4. Park Place Elementary* (Houston ISD)

3. Hobby Elementary* (Houston ISD)

2. Lyons Elementary* (Houston ISD)

1. Field Elementary# (Dallas ISD)

* = TEA Exemplary / # = TEA Recognized

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
• Get the Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan App at the App Store – Fun 5 Plans
• Upcoming 2012 Presentations: Oklahoma Association of Middle School Principal’s Mid-Winter Conference; Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference