Author:Donna George, Secondary Principal, Cumby ISD When Dr. Coulter asked me to do this blog I didn’t realize the email was to me. I have no idea who I thought DG was – Let’s just say I wasn’t very observant. I asked a dear friend, “What on earth am I going to write about?” She answered, “write about your story.” Well that won’t work. Which …
HyPerformance-HyperFocus
Author: Nelson Coulter The wisest leaders I know remain hyperfocused on their intended outcomes. They refuse to be distracted by unimportant and tangential stuff that screams for time on their calendar and for their precious attention. Most of these excellent leaders have learned that too many “goals,” the constant pull to accomplish everything, typically results in achieving very little (if anything). …
The Power of Positivity
Author: Mark Raygosa Principal, Lytle Junior High School I have learned that sometimes things don’t always work out like you hoped. I never envisioned a career in education, being a teacher, yet alone becoming a principal of a campus. I credit my Associate degree, Bachelor’s degree, and Master’s degree to the people that encouraged and supported me on my journey when I …
The Right End of the Halter
Blog Author: Patina Crowder, CTE Coordinator, Iraan-Sheffield ISD As an ag. teacher by trade and an administrator by call, I often default to my livestock roots to make sense of the world. I relate human kid training to kid goat training. In fact, some of the best advice I ever received as a young ag. teacher a long time ago was, “Never forget to …
Creating a “Culture of College”
Blog Author: Dr. Dustin Breithaupt – Assistant Superintendent, Lytle ISD When I was young, my parents talked incessantly about the need for me to go to college. From an early age, it was repeated at the dinner table, in the car, at family barbecues and church functions. The only problem with my parents’ rugged determination was — they had never …
Habits of a Highly Successful P-20 District
Blog Author: Cody McDowell, CTE Director/Assistant Principal – Sunray Collegiate ISD One of my favorite books is Stephen Covey’s, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I believe the principles outlined in this amazing book are applicable to just about every situation. As I recently reread some old notes I had on the book, it made me realize just how the 7 …
Letting things go: Focusing on less, so we can accomplish more.
Author: Monica Smith, Elementary Principal, Floydada CISD Fall is upon us. Football, fireplaces, sweater weather, crisp air, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and my favorite part of fall, the changing colors of the leaves. I recently saw a quote that resonated with me. It said, “The trees are about to show us how lovely it can be to let things go.” …
Rebooting the System
Author: Glen Shinn, Principal, Global Consulting Solutions Thesis statement. “The Only Constant in Life Is Change.”- Heraclitus, c.540 BCE—c.480) I hope your morning was as beautiful as mine. Stepping outside into 63°F was a refreshing change, along with a walk and a hint of autumn in the air. Returning to the desktop, I found another change—my computer had lost my …
ControlFreak(out)
Blog Author: Nelson Coulter, Chief Organizational Learning Officer Trying to force others to change is a fool’s game. (Ask me how I know.) I’ve worked for control freaks. They made me, and all the others they were trying to control, freak out. More importantly, those control freaks generated highly committed resistors. So, if change toward betterment is a desired goal, …
All Aboard the Rigor Spectrum
Author: Kellie J. L. Seals, Ed.D. AVID Program & Research Director Roscoe Collegiate PTECH Academy As student-centered advocates, we adhere to the adage, meet students where they are. But in terms of our teaching craft, do we meet ourselves where we are? Do we expect to reach the highest heights of rigor like a caped superhero atop a mountain having conquered …
Why Become a “Collegiate” School?
Author: Regan Clement, Engagement Specialist, Hamlin Collegiate ISD If you have spent any time in a small town, you have witnessed firsthand the challenge: rural areas struggle to keep families from moving away in search of economic opportunities. When a large business closes in a city, it is quickly replaced. In a small town, however, it is a devastating blow to the economy and …
Leading Through Challenge
Author: Nelson Coulter Tough times call for strong leadership. The very best leaders I know personally (and have studied) have not only survived tough times, they have emerged on the other side of them even stronger. Here are some commonalities in the way those impactful folks led (and lead) through adversity: -They use the adverse conditions to re-focus themselves and …