A Reader Shares... More Accolades in the LYS Nation

A long time reader shares,

SC,

As a believer in the LYS Nation and faithful reader of your daily blog/post, I wanted to submit some information on our middle school here at Tom Bean ISD. As you well know, Tom Bean Middle School Principal, Dewitt Smith, is a huge follower and LYS administrator. Last week it was announced that Tom Bean Middle School is one of six Texas "Schools to Watch" and will be showcased and presenting at the Texas Middle School Associations Annual Conference held in Galveston, Texas in March and at the National Schools to Watch Conference held in Washington, D.C. this June.

Here are some of the observations of the selection committee:

• TBMS knows and articulates the academic outcomes they seek.
• TBMS takes deliberate steps to help students achieve those outcomes by making strategic changes in curriculum, teaching, and school services.
• TBMS sets benchmarks for implementing their strategies, and hold themselves accountable for specific results—data guide instructional planning and campus decisions.
• TBMS strategically concentrates its energies on important focus areas.
• TBMS has strong, visionary leaders who can articulate challenging goals, and motivate faculty and staff to reach those goals.

I have attached a link to our local news that did a great news piece as well as a written article on their website. When you watch the video, pay careful attention to the book showcased on the right side of the screen over the edge of Mr. Smith's shoulder. It’s a little free publicity for "The Fundamental 5"!!! I thought you might enjoy this.

The video is located on the far upper right had side of the front page of the website: http://www.kxii.com/news

SC Response

This is awesome news; news which has spread like wildfire. You can’t believe the number of people who are talking about TBMS. But even with this deserved recognition, what I love about Dewitt and the staff is that they are never satisfied. This is just one step in a continuous journey to redefine what is possible at their “little ol’ school.”

The video is great, and yes, the shot of “The Fundamental 5,” in Dewitt’s office is a classic.

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: Region 16 ESC Leadership Academy (Keynote Address); NASSP Conference; NASB Conference

A LYS Teacher Shares... Her LYS Principal

A LYS Teacher shares the following:

SC,

Our principal is LYS’er, Dewitt Smith. He attends all of your workshops and trained us on The Fundamental 5 even before the book was released. This year, The Fundamental 5, is one of the books we are studying. He is one of those guys that not only “talks the talk”, he “walks the walk”.

I wanted to attach an example of his weekly e-mails to the staff. I also wanted to say that his practices and leadership has turned our campus around. He has turned us into a professional learning community, and our teachers and students have truly benefited from it.

Tom Bean Middle School Family:

I have included a “quick hitter” teaching tip video for you below. My hope is that these clips will provide you with short applicable reminders/tips for best practice during the school year. The stuff that we already know that prompts us to say, “Oh yea, I forgot about that technique—I’ll implement it during “x, y, z” lesson. This week’s topic is “Attention Getting Signals”:

http://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/attention-getting-signals-practice?fd=0

I hope that this will prove to be a usable source of tips, support, and a sort of instructional "idea" springboard throughout the course of the year. Stay focused on The Fundamentals…

SC Response

Thanks for sharing. There is nothing better that news like this from the field. I would agree with your assessment that Dewitt is an outstanding principal. But based on all my conversations with him, he makes that case that it is the quality of the staff and the hard work of the students that drives the continued success of Tom Bean Middle School. All he does is make sure that the doors are open and that the teachers have the tools and support that they need.

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

Attend the LYS presentations at the Texas School Improvement Conference on 10/27/11

• Improve Now – 8:00am
• The Fundamental 5 – 9:15am
• You Can’t Fix What You Can’t See – 10:15am

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

Confirmed 2012 Presentations: NASSP Conference; NASB Conference