Top LYS Tweets from the Week of October 15, 2017

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of October 15, 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. Schools should be shining sanctuaries of learning. Teachers should be heralded heroes of society. Why are we so morally confused about this? (By @pastors4txkids)

2. The key to a scholarship tax credit is to make sure it benefits the people you most want to attend your school and exclude those you don’t. (By @LouSchoolBeat)

3. School Choice is a Lie. It’s not choice....it’s privatization. (By @CFISD_CLC)

4. Political leadership that treats public education as a liability are not leaders. (By @tasbnews)

5. The best schools don't focus all their energy on intervention programs; instead, they focus on strong Tier 1 instruction and learning. (By @justintarte)

6. Have you seen leaders ignore people when they walk around? Ignoring people is an act of power that makes others feel less powerful. (By @Leadershipfreak)

7. Chance favors a prepared mind. (By @DrKing_BBJH)

8. Progress is rarely a straight line. (By @CoachMotto)

9. Some high school head coaches never take time to build relationships with 7th-9th graders and then complain that his/her varsity kids aren’t committed. (By @CoachOzee)

10. “You can be sincere and still be stupid.” -Dostoyevsky (By @Leadershipfreak)

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

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of October 23, 2016

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of October 23, 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. The price of leadership is conflict. (By @AIEConf)

2. Seems like we would get more done if our conversations focused more on student-centered solutions instead of adult-centered problems. (By @BluntEducator)

3. There are two types of people. Dream makers and gatekeepers. Dream makers make it happen. Gatekeepers focus on rules and policies. (By @Snowmanlearning)

4. "Social media is like water. You can either let us drown or teach us to swim." - a student (By @Ms_Holliman)

5. Pastor Chris just said, "This is your 'I will' statement." Has he been trained in The Fundamental 5? (By @ambrli844)

6. In school we need to stop saying we are building the leaders of tomorrow, we need to help them be leaders today! (By @khund)

7. Research shows that when a teacher has a healthy relationship with his students, student achievement increases. (By @Dinky933)

8. There isn't just an achievement gap; there is an exposure gap. We have to create experiences and connections for our kids. (By @Snowmanlearning)

9. If all 700,000 people working in Texas public schools voted, it could determine the outcome of the elections! VOTE!! (By @TXeducatorsvote)

10. The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) has been a great read for strengthening my instructional strategies. (By @Trent_Rasmussen)‬

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: TASSP Aspiring Principal Workshop (Multiple Presentations) 
• 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 August 21, 2016

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of August 21, 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. Give students many opportunities to get off the ground before grading them on how well they fly. (By @teachergoals)

2. All teachers should often try to learn something they are not already familiar with or interested in. This is how students feel every day. (By @WeinsteinEdu)

3. A school based on punishment and compliance pushes kids out. A school built upon relationships pulls kids in. (By @paulemcneil)

4. A grade is poor feedback. “Good job” is not high quality feedback. Specifically what the student did well and specifically what can be improved. (By @alicekeeler)

5. Win or lose you will never regret working hard, making sacrifices, being disciplined or focusing too much. (By @FearAverage)

6. In deep learning, leadership expands downward to teachers and students and reverberates upward for system change. Just watch! (By @MichaelFullan1)

7. Some of the biggest cases of mistaken identity are among intellectuals who have trouble remembering that they are not God. -Thomas Sowell (By @famousquotenet)

8. What if you made 5 positive phone calls to parents before next Friday? For no reason other than to share something positive... (By @justintarte)

9. No one can offend you without your permission. When you let someone offend you, you are giving away your power. (By @JoelOsteen)

10. Learn to give without any reason. (By @LifeLimits)

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: LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote); The 2016 Texas Charter School Conference (Multiple Presentations); The 4^th Annual Fundamental 5 National Summit (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 October 25, 2015

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of October 25, 2015 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. Did you talk to a teacher today? (By @CabidaCain)

2. For a leader, recognition is the most powerful currency you have.  How do you recognize those you lead and serve? (By @TroyMooney)

3. Nothing dilutes influence more than consistent inconsistency. (By @Leadershipfreak)

4. How can we expect students to learn from mistakes if we record every single one in the grade book? (By @lmayolchs)

5. It's unrealistic to assume all students have the same opportunities and resources available to them after the bell rings. (By @justintarte)

6. The Pope said if you want to be a good shepherd... you must get out there and smell the sheep! Relationships and close proximity! (By @Principal_EL)

7. "Classroom management is complicated when you reactively create rules and consequences based on a particular behavior that comes up." (By @DrMetz_MJH)

8. By my count, the 2017 session will be the 11th that we have wasted taxpayer money on voucher policy. (By @pastors4txkids)

9. Conservative pastors know that pursuing failed education policies, like vouchers, is poor stewardship of God's money. (By @pastors4txkids)

10. Excited to share that The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) has now officially sold over 78,000 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: The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations); American Association of School Administrators Conference; 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 September 13, 2015

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of September 13, 2015 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. As a principal it’s your job to protect your best people from silly rules written for the district’s worst people - fair is not equal. (By @tra_hall)

2. Public dollars should never be diverted to private schools. (By @pastors4txkids)

3. Don't let your last big accomplishment be your last big accomplishment. (By @CoachKWisdom)

4. Your intellectualism isn't the difference maker, it is your relationships with others upon which your leadership hinges. (By @TroyMooney)

5. The Principalship is 20% technical skills and 80% leadership skills. (By @LYSNation)

6. If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much. (By @CoachKWisdom)

7. Comfort can be an enemy of greatness. What discomfort are you leading to propel your school forward? (By @JimDetwiler1)

8. We can't fix everything overnight, but we can fix things every year. Make a plan, work the plan, and stick with the plan. (By @CabidaCain)

9. The Texas Supreme Court once again deliberates the legality of our current school finance system. Every Texas teacher knows the answer: Inadequate. (By @pastors4txkids)

10. The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) has now officially passed 74,000 copies sold! 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: Illinois ASCD Fall Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Fall AP Conference, The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations); American Association of School Administrators Conference; 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

The Big Easy Writes... Its What We Do

LYS Coaching Legend, “The Big Easy,” shares the following:

SC,

I wanted to share a message that one of our principals sent me today.

"As always, I enjoyed our visit. I appreciate you taking time to provide me feedback over the years of your observations. And for the time you took to provide me with feedback from the team.

You told me I inspire you. However, I am always left inspired to do more and to be better each and every time we discuss school business. To end, I am touched by your sincere thoughtfulness and well wishes over the last few months."

 Sean, LYS has become an organization that goes beyond mere "stuff & things." All these years and going stronger than ever. My LYS take away... People matter!

The Big Easy

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 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: TASSP Summer Conference (Multiple Presentations); Texas ASCD Summer Conference; ESC 14 Sumer Conference (Keynote Presentation); ESC 11 Summer Conference (Keynote Presentation); NEASP National Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Keynote Presentation) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Superintendent Writes... Chain of Command

A LYS Superintendent shares the following:

LYS Nation,

My understanding of Chain of Command has evolved as I have progressed through my career. And I have recently learned a very valuable lesson this year that I want to share.  

Entry-level and mid-level administrators often view following the chain of command as essential to maintaining control of the organization.  This certainly is one effect of following chain of command.  Of course subordinates often take a different view of chain of command, seeing it as stifling and an attempt to suppress points of view.  And indeed, in a poorly ran system with weak leadership, this can very well happen.  But I discovered a deeper benefit to following chain of command, one that I intend to teach to all my young administrators in the future.

I work in a district that has a long history of end-running the chain of command.  Teachers, parents, students, and anyone else with an agenda, go straight to the superintendent or a board member instead of dealing with principals.  This is a learned behavior in my district because this has been allowed for years and it has produced the desired results of the chain breaking actors.  At times, Board Members would intervene with the superintendent, other times the superintendent would get involved to prevent the board from getting unwarranted phone calls.  

The Legislature rightfully allows teachers to directly contact board members, and in very rare circumstances this is the most appropriate communication avenue (criminal conspiracy involving the superintendent, perhaps). But, in general I think this right has done more harm than good.  However, there is an easy fix.  Superintendents should insist that people follow the chain of command because of the organizational benefits it brings.

I realized that my district was lacking something between teachers and principals... trust.  Much of the lack of trust could be attributed to perceived past wrongdoings or hurt feelings.  In other cases, the teachers simply didn’t know the principal.  I decided to short circuit the end-running and insisted teachers follow the chain of command.  It took a lot of effort on my part because teachers were pounding board members.  Which predictably resulted in board members pounding me. Yet I held firm.  At the end of last year I could see some signs of trust building in the organization.

I learned that in the absence of relationship, or trust, or collegiality, in the organization forward progress grinds to a halt.  So I implemented a formal process for bringing the two sides together in a systematic way in order to solve problems.  I got what I was hoping for when I forced everyone to comply with chain of command.  

For example, I had a formal Level 1 grievance filed against the principal.  The end result was a situation that was resolved at Level 1 and each side had a better understanding of the situation.  The process took the place in a relationship and trust void, but by engaging in the process a small step towards building relationship and trust was taken.

So while it is tempting to allow end-runs of the chain of command, I really encourage you halt this practice.  By end-running the process you are denying the two sides the opportunity to work together in a systematic way to resolve problems and to start building trust.  As a superintendent or board member, if you circumventing the process, you are holding your organization back and you perpetuating a culture of mistrust and non-collegiality.  

The real benefit of following the chain of command is not controlling the organization... it is in building the organization.

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 Plans (Fundamental 5 Lesson Plan Tool); PW Lite (Basic PowerWalks Tool); PW Pro (Mid-level PowerWalks Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: NASSP National Conference (Mutliple Presentations); TASSP State Conference (Multiple Presentations); NEASP National Conference; The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations)  
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook