3 Questions Every Teacher Should Ask Parents About Their Child

I have spent nearly 5 years in education. Before that I worked for a non-profit working with students encouraging them to pursue a career in the medical field. Since graduating from college, I have been committed to seeing the success of children. I have worked in three different school settings and seen a wide variety of students. As a result, I have also had my encounters with a wide variety of parents…. Read More

Time to Burst the Bubble

Maybe we should just be honest and admit that we are kidding ourselves. We say that the election of Trump is surprising but we have seen the writing on the wall for many years now. Voter suppression, a Congress that has refused to work on behalf of the people, and a constant barrage of social injustices have left far too many Americans feeling alienated, grasping at straws and willing to throw anything… Read More

Inspiring Progress

Della Hasselle, of the Advocate, writes about the progress of a struggling charter school after a major change in management. And while these kinds of takeovers remain controversial and difficult for all involved, this one has certainly led to dramatic improvements. Andrew H. Wilson Charter School in Broadmoor has moved from a state rating of F to a C in one short year. And while there is still much work to be… Read More

Helping our children regain certainty

Like many other people, the day after the election, I was feeling shock, fear, and despair about the outcome.  I was en route to a conference on equity in Detroit with a colleague who works with me in education justice. She is also a 10th grade English teacher, and I could tell she wanted to be with her kids. She talked about the lessons she had reviewed with them in class, including… Read More

Did We Pass?!

Well, we didn’t exactly fail. According to a Daniele Dreilinger in The Times Picayune, the state has released the annual capstone results and unfortunately, the trend is a downward one with Louisiana dropping from a B to a C. This comes as a bit of a surprise after hearing Superintendent John White say that “schools actually grew on almost all measures.” So what happened? Here’s how department officials have explained it: “The… Read More

Black Teachers Feeling Tolerated, Not Celebrated.

Where are all the black teachers? This is a question I’ve asked myself and others for the last few years now. But it wasn’t until recently that the answer to this burning question finally came to me.   Education Trust recently released a moving and qualitative report called Through Our Eyes: Perspectives and Reflections from Black Teachers. The report summarizes the unfiltered perspectives of black educators from all across the country. After reading… Read More

I choose choice and it’s not up for discussion

“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom”        -George Washington Carver We’ve all seen the scenario played out time and time again. For wealthy people it’s an array of choices about where to send their children to school. Money is no object. For those who have a little extra money to spare, perhaps there are a couple of choices from which to choose the right school for their children…. Read More

The Elusive Pursuit of Equity

Should per student funding at every school be exactly the same? That’s a question of equality. But should students who come from less get more in order to ensure that they can catch up? That’s a question of equity. (EdTrust, 3.12.14) For a long time, parents have understood their role in preparing a child for school to be buying the proper uniforms and school supplies, ensuring that their children know education is… Read More