The 5 Year Plan

I had a non-LYS Assistant Superintendent tell me once, “Do you know what the problem is with you guys? You don’t have 5 Year Plans. You LYSers are too short-sighted.” 

He was telling me this as part of his explanation for why his non-improving schools were actually doing better than the improving LYS schools.

So, I just replied, “When exactly is your 5 Year Plan supposed to actually yield results?”

On one level he was right, we’re not big fans of the Five-Year Plan.  Instead, we are advocates for having a series of 1Year Plans.  Make your 1 Year Plan, run full speed, assess at the end of the year.  Make a new 1 Year Plan, run full speed, assess at the end of the year. And so on...

The World changes overnight.  A series of 1 Year Plans reflects this reality. 

In contrast, the 5 Year Plan (which often take a year or more to create) is generally outdated before the ink dries on the paper.

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 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Principal Words of Wisdom - Planning Time

Here is a great piece of advice from Dale Martin, an old school LYS Principal.

Finding planning time for teams of teachers is always a zero-sum game. Either it is after school or off-contract, which is tough on the teachers (if no pay) or tough on the budget (if paid).  Or you have to take teachers out of the classroom, which has a detrimental impact on instruction.

Do what Dale does. 

Hire enough substitute teachers to cover a content or grade level team (based on the planning needed) on district benchmark testing days. The substitute teachers can proctor the test and your teachers get to meet as a group for an extra period for team planning. 

The negative impact on instruction on that day is negligible. And if you schedule it right, one group of subs can cover for up to 8 teams of teachers (if you have an eight-period day). Thus, lessening the negative impact on the budget while making a huge positive impact on instructional preparation and adjustment going forward.

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: 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

Does Your Campus Have an Induction Plan

It always amazes me how often campus operations and practices are left to chance. We hire staff and then hope that thru luck and osmosis, the new hire will know what to do.  There is a better way.  Implement a new hire induction program.

Why?

Because an induction program ensure that new hires integrate successfully into the team, are familiar with fundamental practices and expectations, and quickly become assets to the organization. Induction topics should include (at the very least):

• Curriculum source and resources
• Instructional planning practices
• Discipline management practices
• Instructional delivery practices
• Grading policies and practices

Don’t leave the successful integration of new members of your team to chance. Induct and keep your campus moving forward at full speed.

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: 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