9/11 Through the Eyes of Educators

By David McGuire Tragedy teaches us that in unity there is strength. Tragedy has a way of making people forget about their differences in the pursuit of a common goal. It was Martin Luther King that said, “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” Through tragedy we often see the very best in people. There are events, especially… Read More

Beyond DACA: Their parents are dreamers too

  I sometimes feel a little uncomfortable telling people I have family members who have come here illegally to the United States. I wonder if they will judge my loved ones because they did not “wait in line” or do things the “right way.” Some of them do not speak English and they are working in jobs that might have gone to Americans, so I hesitate to reveal this information. Whether or… Read More

Three Questions Every Teacher Should Answer for Their Students

By David McGuire Now that Labor Day has passed, many Indiana students have been in school for about a month and the honeymoon stage of the new school year is over. Students are settling into their schools and teachers know their students pretty well. The excitement of the new school year is over and now the work has truly begun. As teachers begin to hit their stride, they must remember three questions they… Read More

Is it DREAM deferred or a DREAM deterred?

By Shawnta Barnes You may say that I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the world will live as one “Imagine” John Lennon When I wrote “Defend DACA; don’t rip away the dream” I hoped President Trump would prove us wrong and choose not to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program implemented during the Obama Administration, but unfortunately that wasn’t the… Read More

Harvey’s TRUE Impact

Hurricane Harvey ravished Texas and surrounding Gulf areas.  The real impact on students may not be realized for years to come.  Keeping students in the classroom will make all the difference in the world in student success and longevity. “It was a disaster of such a magnitude that I think the effects are going to have to be measured not across the years but really across generations, because children lost so much… Read More

Making Room for Students

Louisiana school districts are preparing for students displace by Hurricane Harvey.  State education superintendent, John White, is encouraging all schools to welcome students with open arms. “We know that, with previous hurricanes and natural disasters, that our school district has had to jump into action to get students registered and to provide a sense of normalcy for them. We’re prepared to do that.” Read more here

NOLA Schools Helping with Harvey

Many New Orleans schools are pitching in to help families negatively affected by Hurricane Harvey. From food drives to school supply drives, NOLA teachers and students are making a difference. “The canned goods will be sent to Second Harvest, and the funds will go to Catholic Charities.” Read more here

NAACP’s Attempt at Nuance Leaves Much to be Desired

By Jacqueline Cooper, President, Black Alliance for Educational Options The NAACP released its much-hyped, and dare I say, now much maligned, report on “Education Quality” last month to mixed reviews. What’s not so “mixed” is that the organization is once again taking aim at charter schools across the country. The report claims to be “speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves” and calling for “stronger charter school accountability measures.” I thought this… Read More

How’s a Black Kid to Feel?

  For myself, growing up in New Orleans, I didn’t know what overt racism was.  For the record, I have had white teachers.  Homegrown, but white nonetheless, and they served as my only frame of reference of white people.  It wasn’t until I traveled 45 minutes North to Hammond, LA for college at Southeastern University that I experienced first hand what racism truly looked like.  I remember it like it was yesterday…. Read More

Under Control

The Orleans Parish School Board will welcome nine schools back from the Recovery School District.  FirstLine charter school network is also sending schools back to the control of the Orleans Parish School Board. “If they’re [charter management organizations] going to be accountable, they need to have control over the key levers that will lead to good outcomes for students.” Read more here