P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
| Practical how-to's for successful change |
How we got from our disgraced superintendent's multiple court appearances--
according to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, Jack Patton was our state's
first public records conviction--to placing all five of our PEAK$ candidates on a
seven-member school board in one election cycle in May 2004 is quantifiable and
replicable and the steps are outlined below. You can do more, and better.
according to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, Jack Patton was our state's
first public records conviction--to placing all five of our PEAK$ candidates on a
seven-member school board in one election cycle in May 2004 is quantifiable and
replicable and the steps are outlined below. You can do more, and better.
| Above, former Llano ISD supe Jack Patton (far left) in court with the DA (center) and then-LISD CFO Carol Voit (far right). Below, Llano ISD school reform pioneer Pat Donahy with PEAK$ candidates Owen Walker (left) and future LISD board president Bill Jennings (far right) at a PEAK$ campaign--what else, this is Texas--BBQ. |
There's a lot of ranting going on about public education, on both sides. There are clarion
calls for vast systemic changes in the form of vouchers, separation of school and state.
Throw in the cacophony of taxpayer outrage and parental frustration and you get a lot of
anger and noise. But there's very little in the way of practical, first-steps-first here's how's.
My experience and history both show that massive change starts with baby steps. You grab
a piece of whatever's closest at hand, and fix it. When that's done, you grab another piece.
If all of us grab the piece closest to us, this is our greatest chance for changing public
education here in the U.S. It's how our first American revolution started.
The following will lead you to where you want to be. If these steps don't work for you, please
email me and we'll work it out together.
calls for vast systemic changes in the form of vouchers, separation of school and state.
Throw in the cacophony of taxpayer outrage and parental frustration and you get a lot of
anger and noise. But there's very little in the way of practical, first-steps-first here's how's.
My experience and history both show that massive change starts with baby steps. You grab
a piece of whatever's closest at hand, and fix it. When that's done, you grab another piece.
If all of us grab the piece closest to us, this is our greatest chance for changing public
education here in the U.S. It's how our first American revolution started.
The following will lead you to where you want to be. If these steps don't work for you, please
email me and we'll work it out together.
| More about the 5 Rules below. |
Before you make a single move towards organizing, think about WHY you want to organize. Most
folks are gregarious and team-oriented so calling a meeting is a natural first step. Come up with a
reason and a goal. "Upset High School Parents" or "Mad as Blazes Taxpayers" isn't enough. You
will be attacked for your negativity by your superintendent and his minions and those benefiting
from his reign. And in the end you will not win community support. No matter how bad things
are, find something positive to unite behind and keep that front and center of everything you do
and say.
I will admit freely that I do not like meetings. I do not recommend calling a meeting without
being very clear in your own mind and with your group what the purpose is. Everybody's too busy,
and if you waste their time with a purposeless meeting, they won't come back. I will also freely
admit that I think most meetings are the scourge of the devil and his playground to boot.
folks are gregarious and team-oriented so calling a meeting is a natural first step. Come up with a
reason and a goal. "Upset High School Parents" or "Mad as Blazes Taxpayers" isn't enough. You
will be attacked for your negativity by your superintendent and his minions and those benefiting
from his reign. And in the end you will not win community support. No matter how bad things
are, find something positive to unite behind and keep that front and center of everything you do
and say.
I will admit freely that I do not like meetings. I do not recommend calling a meeting without
being very clear in your own mind and with your group what the purpose is. Everybody's too busy,
and if you waste their time with a purposeless meeting, they won't come back. I will also freely
admit that I think most meetings are the scourge of the devil and his playground to boot.
religious but because it was the only building in town large enough to accommodate our group
without our having to post the meeting publicly as we would have had to do at the local library.
We knew the administration would want to gate crash our group and try to take it over, and so
felt a strong need to protect our new group. Because we were meeting at a church, we asked the
pastor to give us a blessing first, which practice I feel elevated our thought and I commend to you;
we continued to pray briefly together at the beginning of all of our PEAK$ meetings.
After we organized we got both concessions from the school district. This was the first time that
parents had organized in a very long time and the 95 Questions (see below) were an effective tool.
We next lobbied for a state audit; within ten days of the state comptroller's announcing the audit,
both the supe and an ass't supe had announced their departures, as did another ass't supe a year
later. Also, three board members (with a total of 30+ years on the board among them) whom
many of us felt had stayed too long at the ball all suddenly saw fit to retire from the board.
without our having to post the meeting publicly as we would have had to do at the local library.
We knew the administration would want to gate crash our group and try to take it over, and so
felt a strong need to protect our new group. Because we were meeting at a church, we asked the
pastor to give us a blessing first, which practice I feel elevated our thought and I commend to you;
we continued to pray briefly together at the beginning of all of our PEAK$ meetings.
After we organized we got both concessions from the school district. This was the first time that
parents had organized in a very long time and the 95 Questions (see below) were an effective tool.
We next lobbied for a state audit; within ten days of the state comptroller's announcing the audit,
both the supe and an ass't supe had announced their departures, as did another ass't supe a year
later. Also, three board members (with a total of 30+ years on the board among them) whom
many of us felt had stayed too long at the ball all suddenly saw fit to retire from the board.
The second time we organized as PEAK$ because we were disgusted
by various scandals in our district* including the supe's arrest over
a public records violation and our trustees' writing checks to
themselves each month for selling to the district-- insurance,
furniture, appliances, plumbing, you name it. We had a very lean
organization with no officers, only the clear goal that we wanted to
get all five of our candidates elected to a seven-member school
board during a single election cycle. We got every one of
by various scandals in our district* including the supe's arrest over
a public records violation and our trustees' writing checks to
themselves each month for selling to the district-- insurance,
furniture, appliances, plumbing, you name it. We had a very lean
organization with no officers, only the clear goal that we wanted to
get all five of our candidates elected to a seven-member school
board during a single election cycle. We got every one of
the candidates we were endorsing to sign a pledge that they wouldn't do business with the school
district during their tenure; given the tenor of the time, this was an idea the community could get
behind. Our detriment was that while our southeastern corner of the county generated 53% of
the school district's budget, we had almost no kids; also, we're a place that people come to as a
resort and to retire and play golf so in addition to the fact that the vast majority of our voters had
no kids in the local public schools, they also had no stake in either the past or the future of the
schools because they came here from somewhere else and their offspring all live somewhere else.
But we overcame both obstacles and all five of our candidates won their races. I have looked and
looked and not found another school board race anywhere where five reform-platform candidates
won their seats in a single election. The closest was St. Louis a few years back where four trustees
won their seats, although they had Bill Roberti and the financial muscle of Alvarez & Marsal
behind them. If you know of another seven-member local school board where five candidates ran
together and won in a single election under one reform name and banner, please let me know.
district during their tenure; given the tenor of the time, this was an idea the community could get
behind. Our detriment was that while our southeastern corner of the county generated 53% of
the school district's budget, we had almost no kids; also, we're a place that people come to as a
resort and to retire and play golf so in addition to the fact that the vast majority of our voters had
no kids in the local public schools, they also had no stake in either the past or the future of the
schools because they came here from somewhere else and their offspring all live somewhere else.
But we overcame both obstacles and all five of our candidates won their races. I have looked and
looked and not found another school board race anywhere where five reform-platform candidates
won their seats in a single election. The closest was St. Louis a few years back where four trustees
won their seats, although they had Bill Roberti and the financial muscle of Alvarez & Marsal
behind them. If you know of another seven-member local school board where five candidates ran
together and won in a single election under one reform name and banner, please let me know.
Our budget for the five-person race was almost
nil; we placed one large newspaper ad in two
local papers featuring community members'
names as endorsements, plus put a few signs
up. The rest was word-of-mouth, neighbor to
neighbor, friend to friend.
At the heart of our success were our
volunteers. John Monahan gave us invaluable
insights at the crucial beginning stages and he
and his wife Gayle opened their home to our
parties and celebrations. Paul Langston made
up small business cards with all five
candidates' names which he generously printed
up by the hundreds; neighbors like Katie
Baker and Holly Holder and a dozen other
volunteers handed them out in front of the
local post office (above)--the single most
important distribution point in our area,
nil; we placed one large newspaper ad in two
local papers featuring community members'
names as endorsements, plus put a few signs
up. The rest was word-of-mouth, neighbor to
neighbor, friend to friend.
At the heart of our success were our
volunteers. John Monahan gave us invaluable
insights at the crucial beginning stages and he
and his wife Gayle opened their home to our
parties and celebrations. Paul Langston made
up small business cards with all five
candidates' names which he generously printed
up by the hundreds; neighbors like Katie
Baker and Holly Holder and a dozen other
volunteers handed them out in front of the
local post office (above)--the single most
important distribution point in our area,
| John Monahan (left) and Paul Langston (right) standing in front of the Llano ISD administration bldg. |
I will post more later on what happened after our candidates wee elected and some otherwise sane
and apparently responsible adults caught the dread disease that seems to afflict most folks elected
to public office: EVERYBODY-WANTS-TO-BE-LOVED-ITIS.
and apparently responsible adults caught the dread disease that seems to afflict most folks elected
to public office: EVERYBODY-WANTS-TO-BE-LOVED-ITIS.
1. Be nice.
2. Develop a thick skin and let the personal attacks and insults run off your back like you're
made of Teflon. IT'S NOT PERSONAL. When you rattle Education, Inc.'s cage, you're
threatening jobs and careers. Remember that wonderful line from The Godfather, "It's not
personal, Sonny. It's strictly business." Lacking facts and truth, your opposition will do anything
they can to discredit you, including attempt to smear you with personal attacks. Let them.
Rejoice. It's a sign you're on the right track.
3. Get everything in writing. Document, document, document. Verify, verify, verify. If the
superintendent wants to visit with you in his/her office about your concerns--don't, unless you have
a tape recorder with you and are following your state's laws for recording meetings. Email's better
so that you have their words in writing. It's easy enough for the superintendent to promise to look
into the situation and give you a hug on the way out the door--then drop the ball. If you're
emailing, you can ask, "When may I expect to hear back from you?" and then you have his/her
response in writing.
4. Speaking of which, set responsibilities and dates and times for everything, whenever you
interact with another person or persons, whether it be a two-person meeting or a hundred.
Confirm by email in writing. Never leaving a meeting of any kind with a vague, "Let's do
such-and-such, great idea!" Otherwise, you've wasted your time.
5. Don't repeat gossip unless you have a sheet of paper in hand to verify. Citing some
numbers at a school board meeting that you got from a friend that turn out to be wrong will hurt
your credibility; yet another reason for the importance of public records.
6. If the atmosphere at your district's head office becomes too unfriendly or otherwise
threatening, take a trusted friend with you--don't go alone. If he's a linebacker from the local pro
football team or your husband's third cousin, Vinnie the Hulk, so much the better. Provided it's
legal in your state, wear a small I-River or similar recording device, and keep it running from the
time you exit your car until you exit the parking lot heading back home. I've had parking lot
encounters I wish I'd recorded. Take a small digital camera with you for just in case or a camera
phone.
7. Pace yourself. Too many good people wear themselves out in a year or two with all their
work for naught because they grew frustrated. Develop patience and a sense of humor.
8. No matter how provoked or how righteous your indignation, keep cool. If nothing else, it's
a good exercise in self-control.
9. Do what you do for the highest and best good of the children and the parents and the
teachers and the taxpayers in your district. Don't expect a parade down Main Street or your statue
in the town square. This is what differentiates us from the cheerleader moms and the football dads.
10. Moms and dads are often afraid to get involved because they're afraid it will hurt their kids.
If you make your case big and public, and make it not about just your kid but all the kids in that
category--choir, special ed, gifted and talented--you will have more community support. I was as
noisy a mom as any at our local high school, and our daughter not only won the coveted lead her
senior year in the high school musical but also received the faculty-awarded scholarship for
strength of character. In no way was she hurt by my activism--and my activism never had her
name on it.
2. Develop a thick skin and let the personal attacks and insults run off your back like you're
made of Teflon. IT'S NOT PERSONAL. When you rattle Education, Inc.'s cage, you're
threatening jobs and careers. Remember that wonderful line from The Godfather, "It's not
personal, Sonny. It's strictly business." Lacking facts and truth, your opposition will do anything
they can to discredit you, including attempt to smear you with personal attacks. Let them.
Rejoice. It's a sign you're on the right track.
3. Get everything in writing. Document, document, document. Verify, verify, verify. If the
superintendent wants to visit with you in his/her office about your concerns--don't, unless you have
a tape recorder with you and are following your state's laws for recording meetings. Email's better
so that you have their words in writing. It's easy enough for the superintendent to promise to look
into the situation and give you a hug on the way out the door--then drop the ball. If you're
emailing, you can ask, "When may I expect to hear back from you?" and then you have his/her
response in writing.
4. Speaking of which, set responsibilities and dates and times for everything, whenever you
interact with another person or persons, whether it be a two-person meeting or a hundred.
Confirm by email in writing. Never leaving a meeting of any kind with a vague, "Let's do
such-and-such, great idea!" Otherwise, you've wasted your time.
5. Don't repeat gossip unless you have a sheet of paper in hand to verify. Citing some
numbers at a school board meeting that you got from a friend that turn out to be wrong will hurt
your credibility; yet another reason for the importance of public records.
6. If the atmosphere at your district's head office becomes too unfriendly or otherwise
threatening, take a trusted friend with you--don't go alone. If he's a linebacker from the local pro
football team or your husband's third cousin, Vinnie the Hulk, so much the better. Provided it's
legal in your state, wear a small I-River or similar recording device, and keep it running from the
time you exit your car until you exit the parking lot heading back home. I've had parking lot
encounters I wish I'd recorded. Take a small digital camera with you for just in case or a camera
phone.
7. Pace yourself. Too many good people wear themselves out in a year or two with all their
work for naught because they grew frustrated. Develop patience and a sense of humor.
8. No matter how provoked or how righteous your indignation, keep cool. If nothing else, it's
a good exercise in self-control.
9. Do what you do for the highest and best good of the children and the parents and the
teachers and the taxpayers in your district. Don't expect a parade down Main Street or your statue
in the town square. This is what differentiates us from the cheerleader moms and the football dads.
10. Moms and dads are often afraid to get involved because they're afraid it will hurt their kids.
If you make your case big and public, and make it not about just your kid but all the kids in that
category--choir, special ed, gifted and talented--you will have more community support. I was as
noisy a mom as any at our local high school, and our daughter not only won the coveted lead her
senior year in the high school musical but also received the faculty-awarded scholarship for
strength of character. In no way was she hurt by my activism--and my activism never had her
name on it.
File a request to view public records. It's your right to see your district's written records detailing how they spend your tax dollars and how they make curriculum and other decisions. Go to my Accountability page for detailed instructions. |
| Something else we campaigned for--and got: After the election, for the first time ever, LISD board meetings were held in our part of the county. REASON: Our seniors were hesitant to get out on the highway at night in deer country for a 90-minute round trip. Why not have the supe and the trustees come to the community? |
The 95 questions idea I borrowed from Martin Luther. In 1517 the Church was very corrupt and
he wanted to clean it up. So Luther came up with 95 Theses which he nailed to the door of his
church at Wittenburg, Germany. The theses begin, "Out of love for the truth and the desire to
bring it to light." Thus was born the Protestant Revolution.
Regardless of your religious views (I am not a Lutheran), the 95 Theses were and still are an
effective PR tool.
Several years ago in our small school district in Texas we adapted the idea of the 95 Theses to "95
Questions."
These were the questions we'd all been asking ourselves and each other, at football games and
across the produce section at the grocery store.
Some of us gave the questions form. We copied and pasted together emails, not bothering to
make the fonts or type faces uniform, although we did remove our names and email addresses. It
was an obvious round-robin effort. Then we xeroxed and distributed them around town.
The one rule we had was to not get personal or snide.
It was a VERY effective agent of change and helped galvanize the community.
Someone in our group even taped our 95 Questions to the front door of the administration
building.
There was in Luther's day and still exists a great power in the printed word. While emails are
very potent in other venues, for the 95 Questions you really do need paper copies.
For distribution you can drop off a dozen at the local coffee shop; the bench where people sit
while waiting in line is good. Pin a set to the notice board at the post office. Tape them to the
mirror in the women's restroom at your local grocery store. Be sure to not break any laws.
Generally at this stage of activism there's a curious blend of terror and bragadacio and mostly
you're afraid so it's something you do in the dead of night.
The important thing is that at least you do it and don't allow your fears to paralyze you or freeze
you into apathy. Getting the truth out is a noble cause which will energize you.
Draw upon your highest and best impulses and ask and distribute your 95 Questions "out of love
for the truth and the desire to bring it to light."
he wanted to clean it up. So Luther came up with 95 Theses which he nailed to the door of his
church at Wittenburg, Germany. The theses begin, "Out of love for the truth and the desire to
bring it to light." Thus was born the Protestant Revolution.
Regardless of your religious views (I am not a Lutheran), the 95 Theses were and still are an
effective PR tool.
Several years ago in our small school district in Texas we adapted the idea of the 95 Theses to "95
Questions."
These were the questions we'd all been asking ourselves and each other, at football games and
across the produce section at the grocery store.
Some of us gave the questions form. We copied and pasted together emails, not bothering to
make the fonts or type faces uniform, although we did remove our names and email addresses. It
was an obvious round-robin effort. Then we xeroxed and distributed them around town.
The one rule we had was to not get personal or snide.
It was a VERY effective agent of change and helped galvanize the community.
Someone in our group even taped our 95 Questions to the front door of the administration
building.
There was in Luther's day and still exists a great power in the printed word. While emails are
very potent in other venues, for the 95 Questions you really do need paper copies.
For distribution you can drop off a dozen at the local coffee shop; the bench where people sit
while waiting in line is good. Pin a set to the notice board at the post office. Tape them to the
mirror in the women's restroom at your local grocery store. Be sure to not break any laws.
Generally at this stage of activism there's a curious blend of terror and bragadacio and mostly
you're afraid so it's something you do in the dead of night.
The important thing is that at least you do it and don't allow your fears to paralyze you or freeze
you into apathy. Getting the truth out is a noble cause which will energize you.
Draw upon your highest and best impulses and ask and distribute your 95 Questions "out of love
for the truth and the desire to bring it to light."
SAMPLE QUESTIONS |
* How PEAK$ came to be involved in two separate school districts across two separate counties:
Although we live in the far southeastern tip of Llano County and our property taxes go to Llano
ISD, because Llano High School was 35 minutes away and we live in deer country we didn't want to
be dodging deer on the highway twice a day and so sent our daughter to Marble Falls High School,
out-of-district tuition and all, because it was only 15 minutes away. And it was at MFHS that I
began volunteering in 2000 and helped found PEAK$.
A few years later, some of our neighbors became upset over our part of the county's orphan-child
status, including poor bus service for the kids, many of whom boarded at six in the morning and
didn't get back home eleven to twelve hours later (another reason our family opted for MFHS).
Also, by then Llano ISD's supe had been arrested, and news had begun circulating that several
trustees had been benefiting financially from their board positions--LISD was winding down a
massive building and remodeling program. Our neighbors recalled our success in MFISD and so
they asked me to help them organize a PEAK$ group in our part of the county.
Although we live in the far southeastern tip of Llano County and our property taxes go to Llano
ISD, because Llano High School was 35 minutes away and we live in deer country we didn't want to
be dodging deer on the highway twice a day and so sent our daughter to Marble Falls High School,
out-of-district tuition and all, because it was only 15 minutes away. And it was at MFHS that I
began volunteering in 2000 and helped found PEAK$.
A few years later, some of our neighbors became upset over our part of the county's orphan-child
status, including poor bus service for the kids, many of whom boarded at six in the morning and
didn't get back home eleven to twelve hours later (another reason our family opted for MFHS).
Also, by then Llano ISD's supe had been arrested, and news had begun circulating that several
trustees had been benefiting financially from their board positions--LISD was winding down a
massive building and remodeling program. Our neighbors recalled our success in MFISD and so
they asked me to help them organize a PEAK$ group in our part of the county.
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
| P E A K $ For every school district decision, does it promote: P - Parent and community involvement. E - Excellence and equality. A - Accountability. K - Is it for the Kids? $ - And of course, an eye to finance$. |
mostly because most of Horseshoe Bay, Texas has to come to the post office to get their mail. So
this is where the candidates' signs went up also, and a few on the highway.
Rather than elect officers, we had only an ad hoc steering committee composed chiefly of four or
five of us at any one time; our modus operandi was that we agreed on everything or we wouldn't do
it. This took a fair number of phone calls but we achieved a remarkable degree of harmony in this
way.
NOTE: I would have preferred having no budget but some of the men felt we had to and so I went
along with it although I recommend not taking in money as it gets very complicated; you have to
form a PAC and nobody wants to keep up with the serious paperwork involved. Ironically in our
case the same person that insisted loudest that we take in money wouldn't accept responsibility for
handling it. If I had it to do over again I would have kept the campaigning branch separate from
the money branch and let the candidates handle the money for their ads and signs themselves.
Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.
this is where the candidates' signs went up also, and a few on the highway.
Rather than elect officers, we had only an ad hoc steering committee composed chiefly of four or
five of us at any one time; our modus operandi was that we agreed on everything or we wouldn't do
it. This took a fair number of phone calls but we achieved a remarkable degree of harmony in this
way.
NOTE: I would have preferred having no budget but some of the men felt we had to and so I went
along with it although I recommend not taking in money as it gets very complicated; you have to
form a PAC and nobody wants to keep up with the serious paperwork involved. Ironically in our
case the same person that insisted loudest that we take in money wouldn't accept responsibility for
handling it. If I had it to do over again I would have kept the campaigning branch separate from
the money branch and let the candidates handle the money for their ads and signs themselves.
Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.
| HOW TO ORGANIZE 101 |
| 10 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL CHANGE |
MORE ABOUT THE 5 RULES These 5 rules are the result of direct and often difficult experience, and every word of every one of them is important. While they don't need to be followed in this particular order, I recommend that you not proceed past the first one until you figure out exactly what you want and can write it down on a sheet of paper in a single sentence. Otherwise you'll wind up wasting your energy and become frustrated because it doesn't appear you're accomplishing anything. With a quantifiable goal, you'll be able to recognize where you are in reaching it. Also, this gives you a useful sound byte for your community and the press. These 5 rules are not meant to restrict you but to empower you, to save you time and energy. As I tell my kids, 'Go make new mistakes. Don't repeat mine.' There's a lot of good to be done. |
| 1. Define your goal in a single sentence-- who, what, when, where, why and how. Write it down on a sheet of paper. 2. Develop allies who share your goal. Connect the dots and identify your opposition; beware shifting alliances and beware Greeks bearing gifts. 3. Gather factual data supporting your goal and stick to the facts. 4. Follow the money--and play your cards very close to your chest. 5. Stay focused, stay positive, keep your eye on the prize, and don't quit. This is not about process; you're looking to achieve an end result. |
| 1. Why are the choir parents paying for the kids' formal outfits through fund raisers but the football team gets its uniforms for free from the district? 2. What's our district's annual budget? 3. Why does our superintendent make $150,000 a year and also get a car/cell phone allowance ? 4. Why are we stuck with block scheduling? From everything I've read, it's a Bad idea--bad for finances, bad for the kids, bad for teachers. 5. How come our superintendent is always away at out-of-town conferences? 6. The school district says they want parent involvement but when I go ask questions they shut the door on me. Which is it? Or do they want parents to do what they want, is that what they mean by wanting parental involvement? 7. How come only parents friendly to my superintendent get appointed to the District Education Improvement Committee or the Site-Based Decision-Making team? 8. Why aren't the teachers at school on their "Staff Development" days? Is this just another day off for them? 9. How come our district doesn't teach phonics? My kid can't read. 10. Is it true the superintendent went to a fancy retreat at a resort and came back with the elementary school's stupid so-called 'values' program? |
| H e l p i n g A m e r i c a ' s M o m s & D a d s , s t u d e n t s a n d t a x p a y e r s |
WHAT'S WRONG ___ WHO'S RESPONSIBLE Education, Inc. & the big pot o'money Administrators on the Move, Educators in the News (Aa-Ald) (Ale-Alp) (AlQ-Anc) (And-Arz) (As-Az) Featured educator Where are they now? Lax oversight The media ___ WHAT YOU CAN DO Accountability Practical how-to's Success stories, Kindred spirits What to expect ___ Commentary/Home About Contact |
AASA - American Association of School Administrators ASA - Association of School Administrators CSD - Consolidated School District DOE - Department of Education ES - Elementary School HS - High School ISD - Independent School District JHS - Junior High School MS - Middle School MSM - Mainstream media NSBA - National School Boards Association NSPRA - National School Public Relations Association PS - Public School(s) SBEC - State Board for Educator Certification SD - School District Sup't - Superintendent TAKS - Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills TASA - Texas Association of School Administrators TASB - Texas Association of School Boards TASBO - Texas Association of School Business Officials TEA - Texas Education Agency TEKS - Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills USD - UnifiedUnited School District |
| GUIDE |
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| QUOTES |
Every battle is won before it is ever fought. --Sun Tzu, The Art of War |
| Helping parents & taxpayers implode Education, Inc. |
| I n p r o g r e s s |
| ATTENTION EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS: Every attempt possible has been made to verify all sources and information. In the event you feel an error has been made, please contact us immediately. Thank you. |
| Copyright 1999-2006 Peyton Wolcott |
| POP QUIZ: How would your supe react to finding "95 Questions" on the front door of the admin. building on his/her way in one morning? Or under the windshield wiper of his/her car after lunch? Would he/she welcome the opportunity for honest dialogue? |
David v. Goliath: How America's Moms & Dads are taking on Education, Inc. PEYTON WOLCOTT |
That said, I've helped organize two successful local groups in two local
school districts.
The first time, some upset high school parents got together because we
wanted a dress code--the kids going to the high school at 8 a.m. looked
like they were coming home from a rock concert--and we wanted drug
testing because the boys were smoking pot in the weeds out in back of
the ag building and the then-superintendent could not be persuaded to
cut the weeds back because she insisted to the parents who asked that
there was no drug problem at the high school.
So rather than calling ourselves "Upset High School Parents" we came
up with the acronym "PEAK$" and united ourselves behind a positive
banner. We met in a church not because we were especially
school districts.
The first time, some upset high school parents got together because we
wanted a dress code--the kids going to the high school at 8 a.m. looked
like they were coming home from a rock concert--and we wanted drug
testing because the boys were smoking pot in the weeds out in back of
the ag building and the then-superintendent could not be persuaded to
cut the weeds back because she insisted to the parents who asked that
there was no drug problem at the high school.
So rather than calling ourselves "Upset High School Parents" we came
up with the acronym "PEAK$" and united ourselves behind a positive
banner. We met in a church not because we were especially
| Post Office Horseshoe Bay, Texas |
During the 2004 election: Bush is playing chess and Kerry is playing checkers. -- Dick Morris |
If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve. If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way. --Sun Tzu The Art of War |
5 RULES FOR SUCCESSFUL CHANGE |
When you shake a bag of rattlesnakes, they're gonna hiss and try to bite ya. -- Texas proverb |
Walk softly and carry a big stick. -- Pres. Theodore Roosevelt |
All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable. When using our forces, we must seem inactive. When we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away. When far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. -- Sun Tzu, The Art of War |
In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them. - Sun Tzu The Art of War |
Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. --John 2:16 |
Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards ....Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows. The soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. -- Sun Tzu The Art of War |
| 95 QUESTIONS |
BABY STEPS: You only go from 0 to 60 in car ads. -- P.W. |
Work harder and smarter than your opposition. -- P.W. |
A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example. --Niccolo Machiavelli |
Attempt easy tasks as if they were difficult, and difficult as if they were easy; in the one case that confidence may not fall asleep, in the other that it may not be dismayed. --Baltasar Gracian |
I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. -- Pres. John Adams |
Doubt is a luxury we can't afford any more, sweetie. You have more powers than you realize. -- Mrs. Incredible |
Be possessed of the patience and stability to keep on moving in the directions of your dreams. --Lisa Regan |
Ask lots of questions. -- Dave Lieber Fort Worth Star-Telegram |
I'd like to print up some bumper stickers: MAKE OPEN RECORDS OPEN -- P.W. |
-Original
Message-
From: XXXXX
XXXXXXxx
To: XXXXXXxx
XXXXXxx
Sent: Sunday,
March 05, 2006
10:03 PM
Subject: The
Superintendent's
expense spending
Anybody have any
idea how to find
out how much our
superintendent
is really
spending on
himself and his
wife's trips?
=================
From: XXX XXXXXX
To: XXXXXX
XXXXX
Sent: Sunday, March
05, 2006 11:45 PM
Subject: The
Superintendent's
expense spending
When you submit your
request, make sure it's
for "the
superintendent's
expenses under admin.
code 701," something
like that.
=================
From: XXXXXX
XXXXXX
To: XXX XXX, XXXXXX
Date: Monday, March
06, 2006 8:03 a.m.
Subject: The
Superintendent's
expense spending
I thought we were
broke! That's what
he keeps telling us!
And I hear he's
staying in five-star
hotels! Which is it?
=================
TO: XXX XXXXXX
FROM: XXXXX XXX
SENT: 03/06/06
RE: The HS principal's
wife
She seems really nice,
but is she really the
best-qualified person to
be counselor at the new
elementary school?
That whole hiring
process seemed so
hush-hush. Doesn't
Texas have anti-
nepotism laws?
=================
TO: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
FROM: Xxxxxxx Xxx
DATE: March 6, 2006
10:09 AM
RE: Nepotism?
How can the trustees
whose wives are teachers
vote on teacher pay
raises? Isn't that like
putting money in their
own pockets?
=================
To: XXXXXX
From: XXXXXXXX
Date: 0306060/10:15
a.m.
Subject: Nepotism is
alive and well in our
school district!!!!
I know for a fact that
the only kid who had
any real chance to be
the high school's drum
major was the band
director's son. Anybody
else thought they had a
chance was not being
very realistic.
=================
RE: Block scheduling
Any idea how we can
get rid of block
scheduling at the
middle school?
Those kiddoes are
not doing so well.
=================
TO: XXX XXXXX
FROM: X. XXXXX
DATE: Mar. 6, 06
SUBJECT: B.S.
You're right.
Here's a good
link:
www.jefflindsay.c
om. I xeroxed a
lot of it and
sent it to the
board.
=================
FROM: X.X.
TO:
XXXXXXXX X.
DATE: Mar. 7,
2006
SUBJECT: B.S.
Did any of
them ever
respond? I
wrote them
about an idea I
had and
haven't heard
a word; it's
been almost
four months
now.
=================
-Original Message-
TO: XXXX19
FROM: XX X XXX
DATE: 03/07/06
RE: Our board
members
They seem to be
ordinary people
until they get
elected. It's
like they forget
who elected them.
=================
FROM: X.XXXX
TO: XXXXX XXX
DATE: Mar. 7, 2006
RE: Our board
members
Why don't you run?
=================
TO: XXXX XXXX
FROM: XXX
SENT: 030806
RE: Our board
members
Nobody would
elect him! He
tells the truth
and he stands up
to the
superintendent!
=================
Message-
From: XXXXX
XXXXXXxx
To: XXXXXXxx
XXXXXxx
Sent: Sunday,
March 05, 2006
10:03 PM
Subject: The
Superintendent's
expense spending
Anybody have any
idea how to find
out how much our
superintendent
is really
spending on
himself and his
wife's trips?
=================
From: XXX XXXXXX
To: XXXXXX
XXXXX
Sent: Sunday, March
05, 2006 11:45 PM
Subject: The
Superintendent's
expense spending
When you submit your
request, make sure it's
for "the
superintendent's
expenses under admin.
code 701," something
like that.
=================
From: XXXXXX
XXXXXX
To: XXX XXX, XXXXXX
Date: Monday, March
06, 2006 8:03 a.m.
Subject: The
Superintendent's
expense spending
I thought we were
broke! That's what
he keeps telling us!
And I hear he's
staying in five-star
hotels! Which is it?
=================
TO: XXX XXXXXX
FROM: XXXXX XXX
SENT: 03/06/06
RE: The HS principal's
wife
She seems really nice,
but is she really the
best-qualified person to
be counselor at the new
elementary school?
That whole hiring
process seemed so
hush-hush. Doesn't
Texas have anti-
nepotism laws?
=================
TO: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
FROM: Xxxxxxx Xxx
DATE: March 6, 2006
10:09 AM
RE: Nepotism?
How can the trustees
whose wives are teachers
vote on teacher pay
raises? Isn't that like
putting money in their
own pockets?
=================
To: XXXXXX
From: XXXXXXXX
Date: 0306060/10:15
a.m.
Subject: Nepotism is
alive and well in our
school district!!!!
I know for a fact that
the only kid who had
any real chance to be
the high school's drum
major was the band
director's son. Anybody
else thought they had a
chance was not being
very realistic.
=================
RE: Block scheduling
Any idea how we can
get rid of block
scheduling at the
middle school?
Those kiddoes are
not doing so well.
=================
TO: XXX XXXXX
FROM: X. XXXXX
DATE: Mar. 6, 06
SUBJECT: B.S.
You're right.
Here's a good
link:
www.jefflindsay.c
om. I xeroxed a
lot of it and
sent it to the
board.
=================
FROM: X.X.
TO:
XXXXXXXX X.
DATE: Mar. 7,
2006
SUBJECT: B.S.
Did any of
them ever
respond? I
wrote them
about an idea I
had and
haven't heard
a word; it's
been almost
four months
now.
=================
-Original Message-
TO: XXXX19
FROM: XX X XXX
DATE: 03/07/06
RE: Our board
members
They seem to be
ordinary people
until they get
elected. It's
like they forget
who elected them.
=================
FROM: X.XXXX
TO: XXXXX XXX
DATE: Mar. 7, 2006
RE: Our board
members
Why don't you run?
=================
TO: XXXX XXXX
FROM: XXX
SENT: 030806
RE: Our board
members
Nobody would
elect him! He
tells the truth
and he stands up
to the
superintendent!
=================