An Offer from a Member of the LYS Nation

See below for yet another example of the LYS Nation stepping up to help its own. At the very least, print a copy of this and keep it in your desk. You never know when you may want to take Bret up on his offer.

Sean,

For any leader transitioning into a new position, I recommend the following two books:

1. You’re in Charge - Now What, by Thomas J. Neff and James N. Citrin

2. The First 90 Day, by Michael Watkins

I know you have read at least one of them. From those books, I developed my own transition plan/agenda for when I became Deputy Superintendent at Grand Prairie. I will gladly share my plan/agenda with the LYS nation. Anyone interested in receiving it need only e-mail me. I also have my highlights of both books typed up. I will also share them with the LYS Nation. Again, just email me.

Bret Jimerson, Ed.D., J.D.
Deputy Superintendent of Educational Operations
Grand Prairie Independent School District
2602 South Belt Line Road
Grand Prairie, Texas 75052
(972) 264-6141
Bret.Jimerson@gpisd.org

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

A Reader Writes... (A Convesation with One of the Smart Guys - Part 2)

In response to the post, "A Conversation with One of the Smart Guys," a reader writes:

“I am in GP and very proud to be a part of it. At the end of May, I was sitting in a meeting with other teachers from other GP schools. One teacher went off on LYS and asked to see the research and why it is so important. Another person said the same thing. In fact, I am pretty sure that (he or she) said, "I have asked to see the research on its effectiveness, but was told to be quiet and never ask again."

That is not verbatim, but close. Look at the growth that GPISD has had in the last 3 years. Right there is a validation of the research!!! What LYS and GPISD is doing, IS WORKING!!!”

SC Response
As you (and the majority of the GPISD staff) have proven, all it takes is the courage to let go of the stale practices of habit and embrace small changes that pay big dividends in student performance. Kudos to you.

The “research question” is the biggest crock of malarkey you can image and is simply a tool that the naysayer uses to stop change. The research is not secret, as we point out and share over and over again. LYS practices are entrenched in the works of Schmoker, Marzano, DuFour, Fullan, Schelecty and Caulkin just to name a few. Then, just as you have done, we point to the work of LYS that has been validated in the field over and over again. All the naysayer has to do is read a book and/or look at the data.

As for the the statement, “I was told not to ask.”

Again, made up garbage by someone who doesn’t want to change at a pace that is beneficial for students. One reason why LYS and GPISD works well together is because GPISD leadership is constantly is looking for the answers to the qestions, "what works, how do we know it and how do we start doing it?" As does LYS.

Plus, there is the blog. As regular readers know, I (and by extension LYS and the LYS Nation) will discuss any topic and address any concern that is brought forth in this forum. As I have written before, this is a forum of ideas and may the best idea win.

So when someone is throwing stones, consider the following options:

1. Say nothing. Often just knowing that you are right and they are wrong is enough.

2. Ask them to explain away the data that shows that things are improving.

3. Ask them if they have actually had a conversation with me or any of the LYS coaching staff. We are easy to find.

Regardless, don’t let the naysayers slow you down. In the short run, a little skepticism is healthy. In the long run, the continuous improvement and success of you and your students will either convince them to change or convince them to leave. Either way, their students win.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

A Converstaion with One of the Smart Guys

I was recently talking to Brett Jimmerson (one of the scary-smart guys in our field). He was almost giddy (as was I) when looking what his district has been able to do in just three years. Here’s the recap:

2008: 8 schools Recognized or Exemplary (mostly recognized)

2009: 24 schools Recognized or Exemplary (mostly recognized)

2010: 32 schools Recognized or Exemplary (even 16 / 16 split)

The formula: The Foundation Trinity; the Fundamental Five, data driven decisions; a motivated and aggressive Principal corp; and a critical and ever growing mass of teachers committed to working differently.

But here was his question, “Why isn’t the media beating down our doors to report the story about the Grand Prairie Miracle?”

Of course I don’t have the definitive answer, but here is my opinion. The Grand Prairie Miracle (like the “miracle” at scores of LYS schools) isn’t flashy. The miracle isn’t a miracle. Instead it is a lot of hard work, a commitment to asking hard questions, and holding yourself accountable to purposefully improving.

In a world that wants to “program” it’s way out of a problem, that’s not a story, that’s a reminder that we’re not better because we lack commitment.

Jimmerson wrapped up with this, “We didn’t do this for the publicity, but our people and our kids have busted their tails for three years now and you would think that someone outside our system would care.”

That’s why there is an LYS Nation. The world may not care but the Nation does.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

TASB and AASA Presentations Update

It seems that the education world just can’t get enough of the LYS Nation.

First, on Thursday, over 100 school board members overcame bad weather to hear how the LYS schools have learned to eat the perceived pain of change for breakfast. Look out non-LYS districts, because your board members left the presentation embracing the Moral Imperative to Change and are fully aware of the danger of relying on false positives to assess system performance. It’s hard to be cynical about schools when there are board members like this audience who are out there working their tails off to lead more effectively and efficiently.

Then on Friday and Saturday at AASA, weather was an issue. There were over 700 participant cancellations due to the inclement weather on the East Coast. But we still had a room of interested Superintendents who came to hear how the hard work and disciplined action of motivated educators has produced significant performance gains in the LYS schools in Splendora ISD, Grand Prairie ISD and Cypress Fairbanks ISD. LYS Nation, your story seems like a fairy tale to most schools and their staffs. What was also nice was that the old school Harris County crew was well represented and that Dr. Paige, Dr. Guthrie, Dr. Folkes, Mr. Berry, and Dr. Merrill are still sought out by their peers across the county.

Finally, I’ll close with a little blatant (but unexpected) self-promotion. If it is true that you are known by the company you keep, then Malcolm Gladwell might be slipping a bit. You can find, "Jump Start Your School," on Amazon.com

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

A Reader Writes... (Race)

In response to the post, “A Reader Asks… Race,” a reader writes:

“When I took over my last academically unacceptable high school, I was greeted by a number of helpful adults. They all wanted to explain to me that the African American kids in deep East Texas were simply different and unlike any African American kids anywhere else. The adults continued, stating they tracked the progress of the African American students and knew well in advance that due to "those" students the school would inevitably become unacceptable. No one could have stopped it.

This was the culture of the school and it was widely accepted. The effect on the climate was devastating. The only people willing to change the culture in the school were me and the two AP's I hired (all of us outsiders). Even the school board, that included African American members, believed and agreed that nothing could reasonably be done to correct the situation. We proceeded none-the-less.

"Those" African American kids did just fine. In fact, they did so fine the school went from unacceptable to recognized. Did I mention I am white? No, because it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I care deeply for all of my students. Student performance is not a “real” race issue. It is the issue of getting adults to do what is right for kids. That is, it is a culture issue."

SC Response
Here’s what I do know from my work with 100’s of schools.

1. Kids are kids are kids, no matter where they live.

2. Kids do an excellent job of meeting adult expectations. No matter how low or how lofty are those expectations.

3. The critical variables are the adults.

If your kids aren’t performing, you have to look in the mirror. If you want proof, I’ll give you four quick examples.

1 & 2: Both Aldine ISD and Brownsville ISD have recently won the Broad Prize, for being the best urban school district in the country. At the same time that those districts won the prize, they both shared a boarder with some of the weakest school districts in the country.

3. Hairgrove Elementary, in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, is the second poorest out of 50 elementary schools in the district. Yet their benchmarks scores are consistently in the district’s top 10.

4. Houston Elementary, in Grand Prairie ISD, is one of the poorest of over 20 elementary schools in the district. On their latest district math benchmark test, their third grade scores were first in the district and fourth grade scores were second in the district.

It’s not the kids, it’s the adults.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...