Who is the LISD WOW Team? By Jesus Amezcua, CPA

Decision Making Parameters Data Driven Learner Centered Collaborating Performance Based

(1) Purpose of WOW Team –Primarily to MOTIVATE and Challenge the Staff –Provide for Data Driven Decisions Collaborative Performance Based

(2) MOTIVATION Motivation to WORK on WOW Projects: Creative, Successful, Beyond Ordinary….JUST BASICALLY……….. WOW

(2) COLLABORATION (1) Develop a forum to collaborate, manage, lead, interchange ideas and work a team to get things for the benefit of students …….. (2) Principals Meetings and Instructional meetings do not provide for such means…….. (3) Staff Meetings for Finance and Other Staff…….as their time permits….

Types of Research Presentation made on March 28, 2000 by TOM PETERS…. Author of ………….In Search of Excellence, The Pursuit of WOW, The Circle of Innovation, Thriving on Chaos, and A passion of Excellence….. tompeters.com Slides from seminar

TOM PETERS’ LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP San Antonio 28 March 2000 (Day #88 of the New Millennium)

Why are there no books on how to create a “Cool, Rocking, WOW-producing Finance Department”?

WOW Project Anatomy I. Create! II. Sell! III. Implement! IV. Exit!

WOW Project “Acid Test” Can you explain it - with zest - to your 14-year-old?

I. Create! Reframe! THERE ARE NO “SMALL” PROJECTS! Observe & Record!! Head for the trenches! You gotta love it! Measure: WOW!, Beauty, Raving Fans, Impact! Build a no-baloney Business Plan Create community. Now! Obsess on … the End User. Now!

II. Sell! Master “The Pitch”! Build Buzz. Consciously. Network maniacally! Preach to the choir! Forget your enemies. [Surround and marginalize!] Money kills! SELL, SELL, SELL!

III. Implement! - Live, eat, sleep … Quick Prototype! - Play! - Keep on recruiting! (Sell!) - Obsess on the End User Community! (Sell!) - Become a Milestone Maniac! / a Timeline Tyrant! / a List Freak! / find Ms. Last 2%! - Appoint a Marketing Director! - Keep the WOW! front and center!

IV. Exit! “Sell out!” / Embrace “The Suits”! Recruit a passionate Ms./Mr. Follow-up! Seed your freaks into the mainstream! Celebrate! Exit!

SOOOO … HOW MANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE “BACK HOME” AT WORK ON NO-BALONEY … WOW* PROJECTS! * WOW = Will be remembered fondly/ bragged about 5+ years from now

Epitaph from Hell … Joe T. Jones HE WOULDA DONE SOME REALLY COOL STUFF BUT … HIS BOSS WOULDN’T LET HIM!

[We are not trying to “WOW you up.” We think you are/have WOW. We are trying to give you permission to be WOW.]

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. Michelangelo

“Well-behaved women rarely make history.” Anita Borg, Institute for Women in Technology

When you love what you do, you’re alive. jobs.com

“I don’t think there’s anything worse than being ordinary.” American Beauty

“You do not merely want to be the best of the best. You want to be considered the only ones who do what you do.” Jerry Garcia

Amen! “The Age of the Never Satisfied Customer” Regis McKenna

“Leadership is a performance. You have to be conscious of your behavior, because everybody else is.” Carly Fiorina

“If things seem under control, you’re just not going fast enough.” Mario Andretti

Finance WOW Staff Meetings Monthly Agenda Hosted by a separate director No public funds used to purchase food –unlikely campuses and other departments Action items to collaborate and motivate and share ideas that are normally not channeled by Supt.

See Agenda Attached …….that includes Staff that need to come together to collaborate and go beyond departmental lines to work together…..

What does a meeting like this accomplish? Idea interchange Trust and Link between staff members Move the Cheese Gung Ho attitude..WOW Projects

Other Meetings held D-WIDE Cabinet Meetings Construction Meetings Principal Meetings Instructional Meetings Counselors Meetings Librarian Meetings Technology Trainer Meetings Master Teacher Meetings DEIC Meetings CEIC Meetings Department Staff Meetings Campus Staff Meetings Supt. Retreats Principals Retreat

WOW Accomplishments Five Budget Awards Projects Four CAFR Awards Projects Energy Conservation Project Construction Projects $144 to $175 Projects QZABs Projects New computer system Projects Record Tax Collections Project WOW Website WOW Trainings for Staff

Summary But most of all a WOW Project has a sense of accomplishment for the individual to know that they are part of a winning team that comes together to provide opportunities for students in the Laredo Independent School District………Well……my staff is just WOW………