A Superintendent Shares... Wanna Be An Adnimistrator

An old school LYSer and Superintendent shares the following.

LYS Nation,

I received an email today from a candidate for an assistant principal opening in my school district.  I thought you would enjoy my response:

Dear Mr. Superintendent,

My name is (MASKED).  I am currently teaching Spanish at (MASKED) High School.  This is my third year at (MASKED) HS; however, I taught for nearly 16 years in (MASKED) ISD before.  I am certified in Spanish and have my Principal certification. I have heard through word of mouth that there is an anticipated Assistant Principal position for the (MASKED) ISD.  I wanted to contact you to let you know of my strong desire to be considered for the position should it come available.  I was extremely excited to hear of the potential opening.  I have heard nothing but great things about the tradition of excellence within the (MASKED) ISD, and would love nothing more than to have the opportunity to join the (MASKED) ISD family.  I am certain that the pool of applicants will be extremely large considering the excellent reputation of the district.  Because of this, I was wondering if there is anything I can begin to do in order to become more familiar with what you are looking for in a leadership position.

Thank you in advance for taking time out of your busy schedule to read my letter of interest for the anticipated position.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any advice to offer or would simply like to know more about me.  You are also welcome to contact any leader within the (MASKED) ISD for references.

Best Regards,

Thank you for the email Mr. (MASKED).  You asked for it, so here are my expectations, as superintendent, for the possible Elementary Assistant Principal position when it gets posted. 

Obviously we will be looking for the basics: good leadership ability, good public speaking ability, professional appearance, excellent rating as a classroom teacher, etc. 

At the elementary school, the next Assistant Principal will need to work with teachers to improve their art and skill in teaching younger children. 

• Extensive knowledge in Pre K and Primary teaching strategies.
• Extensive knowledge of how to teach children how to read.  Masters in Reading preferred.
• Knowledge in research-based "centers," small group, and large group instruction. 
• Knowledge in current reading software programs and assessment tools that rate reading ability.
• Experience in using age-appropriate technology 
• Experience leading PLC process as it relates to improving instruction. Not a meeting facilitator. 

Our district (MASKED) ISD also believes in The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird). The book, written by two Texas Principals addresses the five teacher behaviors (based on field research in Texas) that improve student achievement.  As an Assistant Principal, you can't just know The Fundamental 5, you have to walk the talk and lead by example to reinforce the adult behavior.  If we know of research-based practices that are best for children and the adults in the building are not practicing them, then that is leadership failure, not a teacher problem.

When you are not in an official meeting or duty, and school is in session, the Assistant Principal will be in classrooms, not in his/her office. This means we take care of “administrivia” after student school hours. When we talk about the administrator being a disciplinarian, we mean self-discipline, you will need to work hard enough so that not only your staff is inspired, but the leaders up the chain take notice at your work ethic as well. 

In addition to that, our elementary school holds an assembly every Friday with singing and dancing to get students fired up for the day, recognizes teachers and students, and reinforces our character education program.  As an Assistant Principal, you will be front and center leading the singing and dancing part of the program.  

So, our new Assistant Principal will need to be a disciplinarian, lead ARDs, be an instructional leader, music teacher, PE teacher, a social worker, have many outside of school duties, up to and including being an occasional bus driver.  

All this, with more days worked, and not much more money.  Pretty glamorous!

If you are still interested, please contact the principal.

SC Response

It would be interesting to know how many people who read this mistakenly believe that you are over-selling your expectations. And then how many who think, “Who wouldn’t want this job!”

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

A Superintendent Writes... Schools are Built for Adults - Part 1

In response to the 5/18/2016 and 5/20/2016 posts, “Schools are Built for Adults – Case 1,” and “Schools are Built for Adults – Case 2,” an old school LYS Superintendent writes:

SC,

You are absolutely right – schools are built for adults. My question: What would a school look like that was built for students?

This requires reimagining and reinventing schools, not simply revising and “repairing” them. I would suggest that such a school would be student-centered with real student input into the core curriculum and electives. It would involve real-world investigations into real world problems and coming up with relevant, meaningful, real world solutions. It might even have true facilitators instead of teachers, learning studios instead of classrooms, a flexible schedule with no bells, comfortable and movable furniture instead of student desks and chairs. Students would do what we all do: set goals, keep a “to do” list and calendar, meet with advisors/facilitators, evaluate progress and move forward. They would learn to work collaboratively, be creative, participate in problem-solving, and think critically. They would research, analyze, theorize and then present their findings.

So what’s the New Fundamental 5 in a school that doesn’t have classrooms or teachers or bell schedules and where students drive the learning process and direction?

And you must come see our newest campus. Our latest attempt to create the school I described. Let me know the next time you are in town and I would love to give you a tour and discuss the future!

SC Response

Great to hear from you!

And a fantastic question!!!  With no right answer.  It would be very easy to argue that any school built by adults can only approximately meet student needs, because our experiences and expectations drive all of our actions, no matter how saintly we claim to be.

My rubric for creating the real student-centered school is driven by Dr. Jim Davis’ definition of school culture and climate (which in my opinion, is darn near pure genius). School Culture is the things we do and the structure we do them in.  School Climate is the positive and negative effect that our school culture has on students.  Which means that if we truly want to manage school culture and climate (which extended out, over time, means building actual student centered schools), we must constantly examine everything.  The things that have a negative impact on students, we quit doing… No matter adult opinion and/or benefit.  The things that have a positive impact on students, we do more of… No matter adult opinion and/or benefit.

I have yet to see this happen, but I have seen a handful of educational leaders who pursue this in a disciplined, rigorous (though imperfect) fashion.  It’s a short list, on which you are included.

As for the new Fundamental 5 for the student centric school, there isn’t one.  The Fundamental 5 represents the fundamentals for facilitating, accelerating and deepening learning.

1. Framing the Lesson works regardless of setting and student direction.  The teacher/coach still has a role in providing focus and ensuring closure.  If only to increase retention.

2. The Power Zone works regardless of setting. 

3. Recognition and Reinforcement is what keeps the under-motivated engaged and the over-motivated from burning themselves out.

4 & 5. The last two, Purposeful Talk and Critical Writing are the absolute best vehicles (both in efficiency and effectiveness) for ensuring that connection, meaning, extension, and deep thinking occurs.

The Fundamental 5 in a career/tech setting... Works.  The Fundamental 5 in a STEM setting... Works. The Fundamental 5 in a liberal arts setting... Works.  The Fundamental 5 in a discipline / clinical setting... Works.

In the school you describe, there should be an over-emphasis on Recognition & Reinforcement, Small Group Purposeful Talk, and Critical Writing.  But Lesson Framing and the Power Zone would still remain in play.  Regardless of how much student control there is of the learning, as educators, we still have a role in making sure that the learning has focus and meaning

See you soon.

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 May 29, 2016

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of May 29, 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, Tra Hall! He is the new Principal at Wright Elementary!! Who will be next? (By @LYSNation)

2. How many people have full-time, high paying jobs whose sole function is to convince us that American schools suck? Seems like a lot... (By @jerseyjazzman)

3. Opponents are working very hard to defeat us. Let's not do it for them by defeating ourselves from within. – John Wooden (By @CoachMotto)

4. It's hard to argue that school accountability is too much and unfair when doing nothing in the classroom is accepted with any weak excuse. (By @LYSNation)

5. “In the classroom learning to communicate is critical, because speech is power: speech persuades and compels.” (By @DrRichAllen)

6. You can't predict the output of your processes unless you have repeatable processes. To predict performance, have consistent practices. (By @DrKing_BBJH)

7. We're criticized for being too pro-teacher. Guilty as charged. It's impossible to be for public school children without being for public school teachers. (By @pastors4txkids)

8. The substitute teacher having nothing for the class to do isn't the fault of the sub. The absent teacher and campus leadership own the wasted day. (By @LYSNation)

9. "Let us dare to read." -John Adams (By @DrMetz_MHS)

10. Nothing communicates to the student, "You're not welcome in my classroom," better than sarcastic wall hangings. (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

Legendary Leadership Badge (May 2016)

There are those that don’t understand the power of reflective observation.  They mistakenly believe that there is nothing to learn after a few cursory visits to a classroom.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  In fact, the most important key to building insight and deeper understanding about teaching and learning is to engage in a steady volume of daily classroom observation.  What we have learned over the past ten years is that after about every 300 classroom observations, the observer will notice, discern, and/or learn something new... something that was previously hidden. It is the “Eureka” moment, and there is nothing else like it in instructional leadership.

In this pursuit, there is the PowerWalks Legendary Leadership Badge that is earned every 300^th PowerWalks Observation. The following instructional leaders earned the Legendary Leadership Badge for the 2015/2016 school year. Congratulations!

Three Badges

Denise Poland: December 2015; February 2016; May 2016

Glenn Barnes:  November 2015; January 2016; April 2016

Van LeJeune: October 2015; January 2016; April 2016

Shelia Ochoa: December 2015; March 2016; April 2016

Steve Sherrouse: October 2015; March 2016; April 2016

Janie Snyder: November 2015; December 2015; April 2016

Nassrin Spencer: October 2015; January 2016; April 2016

Cody White: December 2015; February 2016; April 2016

Pattie Myers: October 2015; December 2015; March 2016

Two Badges

Jeff Groseclose: February 2016; May 2016

Michael Hannum: February 2016; May 2016

Grezelda Ligons: February 2016; May 2016

Rebecca Osborne: April 2016; May 2016

Pete Armstrong: December 2015; April 2016

Teresa Bodey: January 2016; April 2016

Charlotte Goudeau: December 2015; April 2016

Shirley Jenkins: November 2015; April 2016

Sheila Stephens: November 2015; April 2016

Tamika Washington: December 2015; April 2016

Shannon Clancy: December 2015; March 2016

Edward Husk: October 2015: March 2016

Karen Ivy: November 2015; March 2016

Robin Rice: February 2016; March 2016

Christina Spears: December 2015; March 2016

Wes Brown: October 2015; February 2016

Todd Durham: October 2015; January 2016

One Badge

Cedric Ivie: May 2016

Roshon Jackson: May 2016

Tom Jaggard: May 2016

Amber Reinecke: May 2016

Kathy Stephenson: May 2016

Robert Urbanowiez: May 2016

Shele Coburn: April 2016

Larry Crabb: April 2016

Lindsey Pless: April 2016

Ariel Aleman: March 2016

Joan Alvey: March 2016

Matt Ammerman: March 2016

Ashley Brauchi: March 2016

Norma Briseno: March 2016

Marianne Buentello: March 2016

Carla Butler: March 2016

DeDe Conaway: March 2016

Linda Cox: March 2016

Tonia Cummings: March 2016

Rocky Ford: March 2016

Clinton Grange: March 2016

Valerie Hammit: March 2016

Karen Hart: March 2016

Emily Laurence: March 2016

Scott Rogers: March 2016

Scott Schneider: March 2016

Elizabeth Scott: March 2016

Mindy Sides: March 2016

Jennifer Soileau: March 2016

Fred Steubing: March 2016

Twyla Thomas: March 2016

Monica Waggoner: March 2016

Sandy Williamson: March 2016

Marissa Bell: February 2016

Vernon Berckmoes: February 2016

Denise Bird: February 2016

Sean Cain: February 2016

Marisol Candelaria: February 2016

Michael Cano: February 2016

Stella Chen: February 2016

Michael Clifton: February 2016

Tonia Cummings: February 2016

Mary Giles: February 2016

Brandon Harris: February 2016

Julie Hinson: February 2016

Kathy Horvath: February 2016

Derieco Irvin: February 2016

Chris Johnstone: February 2016

David Knobloch: February 2016

Mike Laird: February 2016

Steve Lucas: February 2016

Drew McConnaughhay: February 2016

Tania Merik: February 2016

Keith Owen: February 2016

Regina Raiborn: February 2016

James Russell: February 2016

Janie Snyder: February 2016

Sherrie Tolbert: February 2016

Rose Tran: February 2016

Lisa Watson: February 2016

Brad Weston: February 2016

George Wollenzien: February 2016

Lynn Anderson: January 2016

Denise Collins: January 2016

Francisco Delgado: January 2016

Demetrio Garcia: January 2016

Donny Hearn: January 2016

Paige Johnson: January 2016

Daniel Kotara: January 2016

Chesta Schneider: January 2016

Lisa Weaver: January 2016

Anna Bryant: December 2015

Shele Coburn: December 2015

LuJean Daniel: December 2015

GayLynn Holt: December 2015

Gail Johnson: December 2015

Stephen McCanless: December 2015

Kimberly McKnight: December 2015

Edna O’Bryant: December 2015

Dawn O’Connor: December 2015

Rebecca Smith: December 2015

Marti Turner: December 2015

Pamela Williams: December 2015

Esther Boateng: November 2015

Ana Lopez: November 2015

Erica Moody: November 2015

Jeffrey Smith: November 2015

Sandra Wilson: November 2015

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

PowerWalks Hero Schools (May 2016)

In furtherance of a LYS Nation tradition, we will take this time to tip our caps to the campuses that have embraced the most important step in creating and maintaining an action oriented professional learning community.  These are the campuses that have conducted an extraordinary number of formative classroom observations in a given month.  For the month of May the PowerWalks Hero School Targets were as follows:

May Hero School Targets

High Schools – 130 PowerWalks Observations

Middle Schools / Junior High Schools – 115 PowerWalks Observations

Elementary / Intermediate / Combined Campuses – 90 PowerWalks Observations

Alternative Schools – 40 PowerWalks Observations

In May all of the schools using the PowerWalks Instructional Observation System conducted a total of 3,524 classroom observations. A commendable job, LYS Nation! Now, without further ado, here are your final twelve PowerWalks Hero Schools for the 2015/2016 school year.  Congratulations!!!

Elementary Schools & Combined Campuses (8 Heroes)	Middle Schools & Junior High Schools (3 Heroes)	Alternative Schools	High Schools (1 Hero)
Live Oak Learning Center (ACISD) - 241	Ector MS (ECISD) - 277		Cleveland HS (CISD) – 179
Southside PS (CISD) - 205	Cleveland MS (CISD) - 230
Little Bay Primary School (ACISD) - 184	Marlin MS (MISD) - 116
Duryea ES (CFISD) - 134
Poteet ES/IS (PISD) - 133
Fulton Learning Center (ACISD) - 122
Gateway ES (BISD) - 90
Northside ES (CISD) - 90

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 May 22, 2016

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of May 22, 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, Robert Webb! He is the new principal of Ballinger High School!! Who will be next? (By @LYSNation)

2. “Teach the right thing. Teach the right thing better. Teach the right thing, better, longer.” (By @DrMetz_MHS)

3. Schools across the country are coasting to the end of the year. This is neither a student nor teacher issue. This is a leadership issue. (By @LYSNation)

4. The absolute bottom line in coaching is organization and preparing for practice. – Bill Walsh (By @CoachMotto)

5. I am still hopeful our Legislators will spend as much time talking funding for public schools as they do talking bathrooms in underfunded schools. (By @TroyMooney)

6. Coaching helps craft. (By @TinneyTroy)  

7. Don't waste words on people who deserve your silence. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is nothing at all. (By @mindsetdev)

8. If you change nothing, nothing will change. (By @WiseWilbert)

9. The secondary version of the "Crayola Curriculum" is the "Crossword Curriculum." The instructional equivalent to cotton candy. (By @LYSNation)

10. Stop doing things that aren't working. (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 
• 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