The Reference - Part 4

As reported earlier, it’s that time of year again.  The time when districts look at what their campuses are doing and then look at LYS campuses and decide that they need to make a run at those campus and district leaders.  In the course of the recruitment dance, the interested district always wants a to hear from a reference or two.  Do you want to know why the LYS Leader is different?  Here is an excerpt from a reference that I just completed.

With great enthusiasm and conviction, I recommend (MASKED NAME) for the position of Superintendent in (MASKED) District.

Like all top-tier principals, (MASKED NAME) works tirelessly to ensure that her campus is positioned for success.  Her thirst for knowledge and her personal commitment to seek out new ideas, experiences, strategies and practices are commendable.  But what separates (MASKED NAME) from her peers is her commitment to the professional growth of her staff.  She already has the Superintendent’s understanding that the key to improving student performance is to train, monitor and support staff in the acquisition of skills that directly improve the quality of instruction.  But most importantly, she brings the working experience of insuring that this actually occurs, with both urgency and fidelity.

As with any first-time superintendent, there may be aspects of the job that are new to (MASKED NAME), but she is a quick study and has never been shy in seeking out the expertise of others when the situation warrants.  However, (MASKED NAME) will be able to offset any initial learning curve with her dignified, mature, and collaborative leadership style. 

It is my opinion, the district that selects (MASKED NAME) as its next Superintendent will immediately be better off due to that decision.

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: Bushland ISD Staff Kickoff, Canadian ISD Staff Kickoff, Highland Park ISD Staff Kickoff, Sunray ISD Staff Kickoff, Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

A Reader Writes... Consolidation - Part 1

In response to the 4/24/2012 post, “The Superintendent’s Corner: Consolidation,” a reader writes:

Louisiana has county (parish) school districts. Should we aspire to have as dysfunctional a system as theirs?

SC Response.

Dr. Seabolt was making the case that a county-wide system is not an improvement over the current situation.  In the case of Louisiana, I would argue that there are two primary reasons why the quality of schools is generally better in Texas.

First - Accountability.  For over ten years, Texas has had an accountability system that requires identified at-risk student populations to be taught at a required level.  There are repercussions when schools and districts fail at this.  People lose jobs (frequently) and schools are closed (infrequntly).  In short, there is a greater disincentive to performance failure in Texas than in Louisiana.

Second – Racism (both overt and covert).  In Louisiana, it is more socially acceptable (and easier) to segregate student populations and underfund minority schools and districts than it is in Texas.  Over time, this has increased the education gap between minority populations in the two states. 

What frightens me is that our current generation of right and far right political leaders in Texas seemingly prefers the underfunded school model.  It’s up to you to decide if their motivation has a racial bias.      

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: Bushland ISD Staff Kickoff, Canadian ISD Staff Kickoff, Highland Park ISD Staff Kickoff, Sunray ISD Staff Kickoff, Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), American Association of School Administrators Conference
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

The Superintendent's Corner: The Anti-testing Resolution

A LYS Superintendent shares a concern:

SC,

I know you have seen the TASA resolution opposing high stakes, standardized testing.  They are conducting a big push to get as many districts as possible to join in support of the resolution before the start of school.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the resolution.  I agree that the accountability pendulum needs to swing back.  Yes, we need a fair, balanced and sensible accountability system and we do not have that now.

 Teac

My concern is are we sending the wrong message... That our students and teachers aren't capable of meeting these standards?

SC Response

I think we are occupying the same hill. 

On one side of us are the “reformers.” The reformers have an overt agenda for dismantling public education, as we know it.  Their tools: misinformation, reduction of public education spending, diverting public education revenue, and accountability systems designed to punish and pummel.  By now, it should be obvious to everyone that by their own words and deeds, that neither excellence, nor equity are the goals of the “reformers.”

Springing up on the other side of us are the “anti-reformers.” The anti-reformers too have their agenda. Key to this agenda are the following beliefs:

1. Because of inequities in society, holding schools accountable to performance is not possible.

2. Schools and teachers are already operating at near peak levels of effectiveness and efficiency.  

3. Student performance cannot be objectively measured by testing.

4. Teacher performance cannot be objectively measured by student performance.

     

Which leaves those of us in the middle, who act and lead based on the following belief set:

1. Increasing student performance increases student opportunity.

2. Our understanding of teaching and learning is constantly evolving.  And due to that evolution, we know that we are leaving student performance on the table.

3. The push to evolve practice requires training, focus, reflection and resources.  The required level of expertise required to ensure both excellence and equity in our classrooms is greater than it has ever been previously.  This expertise cannot be retained or secured with the current level of education funding.

4. Social inequities do exist, but to ignore the fact that adult practice drives student performance is to give up on the students that need education the most to change their lot.

5. Performance can be measured.  And even if we are measuring ineffectively, measuring poorly is better than not measuring.

6. If we (educators) do not hold ourselves accountable to the success of our students, we will remain blind to those that we underserve.

Which brings us to the question of joining the resolution.  I would not sign. Like you, I agree that our new system is a shambles and an embarrassing joke.  It has been poorly thought out and is overly intrusive.  On the other hand, I know that absent of an accountability system, those without a voice and/or resources are systematically undereducated and then blamed for their lack of success.  My advice is to chart your own course.  Teach at full speed and work at getting better at it each day. Don’t worry about the district next door. As one LYS Principal at a large inner-city school pointed out to me, “As we keep outscoring schools that are more affluent than we are, the more they point out that there is something wrong with the test. I guess some schools don’t want to have to work like we do.”

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: Channelview ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Bushland ISD Staff Kickoff, Canadian ISD Staff Kickoff, Highland Park ISD Staff Kickoff, Sunray ISD Staff Kickoff, Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of July 29, 2012

When it comes to comfort level with bootleg technology, one either has it or not.  For those of us who have it, what we have to try to remember is at one time we were in the "not" camp.  So ask yourself, "What got me to move?"  

My guess it was one of four reasons.

A. Natural curiosity

B. Compelling need

C. Peer pressure

D. Someone pushed or pulled me

So what does this mean to your school?  Look at your staff; the natural curiosity people are already chomping at the bit to do more with bootleg technology.  Let them.  By doing so, they will naturally create the other three elements on your campus.  Their success and efficiencies will create a compelling need.  As more people get on board, peer pressure increases. And finally, one of the new users will be a friend with a non-user.  The user will grab his or her friend by the hand and drag that person kicking and screaming into the 21^st century classroom.

Never underestimate the power of people just trying to help each other get better.

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter.  If you haven’t done so yet, we want you to join us.  To let you see what you are missing, here are the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of July 29, 2012.

1. Congratulations to LYSer, Dr. John Jenkins! He is the new principal at Kingsville HS. Who will be next?

2. Congratulations to LYSer, Andy Peters! He is the new superintendent in Marfa ISD. Who will be next?

3. Congratulations to LYSer, Socorro Garcia! She just got married! And will be joining the staff at Corker ES. They will be amazed!

4. I have learned that when people fail in my organization the reason is likely a leadership failure. On my part. Tough to accept. (By @txschoolsupe)

5. Our district’s improvement is attracting more at-risk students. I suppose if you build an oasis in the desert you should expect thirsty people. (By @txschoolsupe)

6. Getting ready to implement The Fundamental Five. Can't wait to see the results! (By @lkpool)

7. Funding public education is my litmus test. Bothered by poor school funding? Do something about it. (By @principalkinney)

8. Elite performers are obsessives. Balance and greatness are not positively correlated.

9. There is no need to wish for the return of the "good old days." Now, is the golden age of instruction.

10. The Fundamental 5 (Cain &Laird) just blew past 14,000 copies sold! Thank you, LYS Nation!

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: Livingston ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Channelview ISD Leadership Team Kickoff, Comal ISD, Leadership Team Kickoff, Bushland ISD Staff Kickoff, Canadian ISD Staff Kickoff, Highland Park ISD Staff Kickoff, Sunray ISD Staff Kickoff, Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation