INSIDE p.2 Northbound Train Spotlight p.2 ITP Finds a New Home in Houston p.2 Improving Business Processes in Education p.3 "But, This Model Doesn't Apply To My Organization..." p.3 New Model-Netics Installations p.3 Instructor Insights p.4 Calendar of Events p.4 Contact Information The number in parenthesis after a name refers to the individual's Model-Netics Associate Number.

June 2002 ITP
The Model-Netics Instructor Training Program (ITP) was held in Houston, Texas June 3-5, 2002. There were 20 Part I and 15 Part III participants. Special guests attending the graduation luncheon included: Ramiro Cano (2231) City of Houston, James D’Agostino (1039) Encore Bank, Frank Haley (2524) Houston Airport System, Tom Hook (1774) Hilcorp Energy Company, Jonita Kuykendall (2387) HISD, Mark Miranda (2355) HISD, Gary Reddick (1237) AIG, Erasmo Teran (1955) HISD.

Sponsoring Organizations
Instructor candidates participating in Parts I and III of the June ITP represented the following sponsoring organizations:

Part I Speaker
Dr. Kathy Tinius, Administrative Officer - Planning Improvement for the Mesquite Independent School District spoke on behalf of the Part I group. Kathy explained how Mesquite ISD came to be introduced to Model-Netics and the role that it will play within the district. She shared that the journey of her district is one toward excellence and quality. In support of that objective, she contacted other educational organizations. Her research led her to Houston Independent School District which had incorporated Model-Netics and other MEM Systems into their quality initiatives several years ago. In short order she was introduced to Main Event Management Corporation and the Model-Netics program. Kathy took the Model-Netics Basic Course using the Computer Based Training (CBT) program. This experience convinced Kathy that “[Model-Netics] might be something that we could incorporate on our quest for excellence and be helpful on our journey.”

Part III Speaker
P. R. Harbin (2588), Director of Project Control and Communications at Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, spoke on behalf of Part III.

P.R. mentioned his first introduction to Model-Netics occurred while with a Nashville-based consulting firm. “Model-Netics had become a real part of the culture of that organization. As I began to learn it, I began to love it and see the value that it could bring to an organization.” P.R. noted that in his new position with the school district he has already seen many changes. These changes include a new superintendent who envisions the district becoming the top performing school district in the United States. P. R. believes that Model-Netics will be an important component in achieving that vision.

P. R. also reflected on Model-Netics as a lifetime learning tool. “Model-Netics is described as a lifetime learning tool. As you go through the program, especially as an instructor, you learn just how true that is. You learn all the situations where models can be applied even far beyond business settings.”

Featured Speaker
Dr. Margaret Stroud (1927), Deputy Superintendent of the Houston Independent School District was the featured speaker at the June graduation luncheon. Margaret is responsible for the management of 13 district superintendents who in turn manage the individual districts within HISD. These individuals supervise the district’s 295 schools. Margaret’s speech provided some historic perspective on the introduction of Model-Netics at HISD, and the role Model-Netics plays within their organization. She reminisced that the Model-Netics journey was initiated by then Superintendent Rod Paige (current U.S. Secretary of Education) in 1996 while the district was in the midst of great change. Margaret went on to say how Model-Netics was exactly what was needed to help ensure “order amid change.” “It increased our capacity to manage numerous projects through this transitional period.” In explaining how Model-Netics has helped HISD to perform better, she shared, “I could tell you about 151 ways but will focus on two: Accountability and the Selection Process.”

Accountability: - Margaret explained that with the district’s decentralization, school principals are held accountable for finances, school planning, staffing considerations, etc. Though the principals had knowledge in some of these areas, “they had only surface knowledge about what it means to be a chief executive officer. Model-Netics taught us the definition of being that person (CEO), and gave us the necessary tools and skills. Through Model-Netics we learned how to cope with change and incrementally bring those along with us who resisted change.”

Continued on Page 2