TACS COMMUNIQUE’
by Barry Haenisch, Executive Director

July 5, 2016

“YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND” James Taylor, 1971
About two weeks ago my wife and I, along with a few thousand other people, enjoyed an evening with James Taylor here in Austin, Texas. Most of that throng had a few things in common; we remembered the sixties, the music of that era brought back pleasant memories, and, if the men had any hair at all, it was gray.
Now, I know some of you are probably asking, “James who?” James Taylor became known as a performer in the late sixties. If you can’t remember the sixties, and don’t know James Taylor, then here is a tutorial. He was once married to Carly Simon, and he considers Carole King to be a good friend. Still stumped? Well, you must be of a different generation and really need to hit the books for some research and study!
During the show, and as an introduction to “Carolina In My Mind”, James mentioned that 1968 was a very good year for him. He proceeded to tell the story of why it was such a good year.
In the mid-sixties, James and some friends had moved to New York City to make their fortune as performers. Their band had some early success, but that regional fame soon fizzled. James found himself directionless and depressed. He returned to his family in North Carolina despondent. Eventually, his father suggested that it might do him some good to reconnect with a good friend who happened to be living in London, England. With very little money, but with a plane ticket and his guitar, in 1968 James struck out to reconnect with this friend from his recent past.
As it so happened, his friend introduced James to Peter Asher of Peter & Gordon fame – wait a minute, you’ve not heard of Peter & Gordon? Just another sign of the deep generational gap this story has taken. Well, back to the story, Peter Asher had just taken a job with Apple Records, and Apple Records was owned by the Beatles. This was at the time the Beatles were recording their White Album. Peter introduced James to Paul McCartney and George Harrison who invited him sit in while they were producing the album. They really began to like James, and they loved the songs he had written. James was signed to a recording contract with Apple Records. The Beatles helped him produce and record his first album, and, in fact, Paul and George played on the album and sang back-up for James. From that humble and almost accidental start, James Taylor has gone on to an outstanding 48 year career, and he is still filling large performance venues almost every night when he tours!
Reflecting on James Taylor’s story, it hit me that most of us have a tale that is very similar to his. While maybe not quite as life-changing as his chance introduction to Peter Asher had been, most of us can recount a happenstance that was personally impactful for us none the less. For instance, I have gotten jobs because people unbeknownst to me interceded on my behalf with the person making the final decision. Other times I was introduced to new procedures or ways of approaching problems that dynamically changed our schools by friends who had friends who had “the secret” that I needed.
In the book THE TIPPING POINT, Malcolm Gladwell proposes that these small miracles occur because there are people who enter our lives from time to time with special gifts. He calls these people Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen. By Gladwell’s definition Connectors connect people to other people, Mavens connect people to new ideas, and Salesmen persuade people when they are unconvinced about an idea or person. I hope to be a Connector, a Maven, and a Salesman for you today. TACS is sponsoring two events in the fall that may help you make the connections you need to change your life and/or career.
The first of the two is the TACS/TCPN-National IPA Annual San Antonio Conferencewhich will be held at the Palacio del Rio Hilton on September 11th, 12th, and 13th. We have an outstanding program planned. This is a program that will inform you, but just as importantly will cause you to get your creative and thinking juices flowing. Also, it has ample time built in for networking and making those connections that may be for you, like they were for James Taylor, life-changing! We still have room for you to join us on the River Walk in September!!
The second opportunity is the AMLE2016 Annual Conference for Middle School Education which is being held in Austin, Texas on October 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th. TACS, along with several other friends, is helping sponsor this exciting event. With over 500 breakout sessions and opportunities to hear from some world renowned middle school educators, this conference may serve as the “connector” your district needs to really take-off academically. Could this be the conference where a handful of your campus leaders help take their campus to the next level because of a “connection” they make while in Austin? Also, don’t forget that educators from ESC Regions 12, 13, and 20 can get a conference discount by registering through their regional service center.
Why not go to the TACS website right now to get more information about these conferences? After all, you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Barry Haenisch
Executive Director