Sean Cain spent the formative years of his career working in difficult instructional settings. Recognized for the success of both his students and the systems he designed and implemented, he quickly moved up through the instructional leadership ranks. This culminated in his last public education position as State Director of Innovative School Redesign (Texas). Currently, Cain serves as the Chief Idea Officer for Lead Your School (LYS), a confederation of successful school leaders dedicated to improving student, campus, and district performance. A passionate speaker, Cain is a sought-after national presenter and trains educators in schools and districts across the county. The primary foci of Cain's current research and fieldwork are making complex problems solvable and the translation of theory into systematic practice. You can follow the progress of Cain and the educators he works with through his daily online column at www.LYSNation.com and read his daily observations at www.Twitter.com/LYSNation. Mike Laird is currently a public school administrator as well as an adjunct professor, who mentors aspiring school leaders. Along with his continuing service to public education as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent, he proudly served his country for twenty-two years as an officer in the United States Army Reserve. Dr. Laird is a well-respected presenter at both the local and national levels and continues to present at conferences, such as the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the American Association of School Administrators. His current focus is on the leadership and methods necessary to "rapidly" improve the academic performance of students in today's high stakes accountability environment.
