I was training a new campus on the PowerWalks system last week when an Assistant Principal made an antiquated correct statement.  You see, as many of you know the PowerWalks system is web based.  Which means observers enter their observation data on either their smart phone or tablet.  When I was explaining this to the group, the AP asked if an observer could use a paper copy of the observation form? 

I said “Yes, but unless you are one of those people who likes to take copious notes in the classroom, most people enter their data electronically.” And then I asked him, “Are you a big note taker?”

He said, “No. But since we don’t allow students to have cell phones on campus, I don’t want to set a poor example.”

That way of thinking is old school correct.  When I was a principal, I had the same rule on my campus.  No for kids meant no for adults.  We endeavored to model every student expectation.  However, in my day, cell phone were barely phones.  Now cell phones are computers.  They are quite literally more powerful than the computers in the classroom and the campus library combined.  So instead of modeling not using bootleg technology, instead model how to use bootleg technology appropriately.  The AP’s heart was in the right place, but his frame of reference was at least five years behind the times.

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 September 2, 2012.

1. Visited Tosch Elementary today. Examples of framing the lesson in every classroom. New positive behavior program in evidence. Greatness… (By @LindaHenrie1)

2. Shared the Fundamental 5 with 9th & 10th grade students today. Asked them to hold us accountable for providing a rigorous instructional program! 11th/12th next! (By @brandyjbaker)

3. Great organizations hold themselves accountable to exceedingly high internal standards.

4. No matter how much we might wish to the contrary, bad practice + an excuse still equals bad practice.

5. The power of coaching is the conversation.

6. Your organization will never be great if staff summative evaluation is based on surprise, fear and punishment.

7. As principals we earn our money when we coach our people up. Any idiot can fire someone.

8. It absolutely amazes me at the number of educators who show up to a meeting with nothing to write on or with.

9. The rural / urban school difference: Shots fired near an urban school – take cover. Shots fired near a rural school – it’s dove season.

10. The Fundamental 5 (Cain & Laird) just shot past 17,000 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: Region 10 ESC Fall Leadership Conference (Keynote), Advancing Improvement in Education Conference (Multiple Presentations), TASSP Assistant Principals’ Workshop (Featured Speaker), North Dakota Association of Secondary School Principals (Keynote), American Association of School Administrators Conference (Multiple Presentations), National Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation