Why I’m Unapologetically Pro School Choice

This article was first published on https://indy.education I am unapologetically pro school choice. Right now parents’ right to choose the best school for their children is under attack. All parents, especially parents of color and parents living in poverty, need to pay attention to the foolishness taking place in California and the education plan shared by presidential candidates like Bernie Sanders. In California, legislators want to limit charter schools. The 74 recently reported,… Read More

Sorry, We can’t let you in.

The day is finally here. Your baby is graduating from high school! You are so excited to see him walk across the stage to get his diploma you rush out of the house and realize you forgot your car keys! Now you’re running behind. It’s ok because you know you will get there in time to see your graduate. At least, thats what you thought. You arrive at the venue and the… Read More

Even Within Integrated Schools Black and Brown Students Are Left Behind

At every step of the civil rights movement, there were specific goals. Usually something high leverage that would have a huge impact. At first it was voting and the repeal of some Jim-crow laws but then the focused shifted to segregation. The theory being that if they could just integrate the schools, educational outcomes would improve. Spoiler alert: They were successful in getting integration legislation through, but almost 65 years after Brown… Read More

THE SILENT TEARS OF BLACK MOMS AS REALITY SETS IN – OUR BLACK CHILDREN HAVE BECOME THE NEW COTTON IN PUBLIC EDUCATION

This article was first posted on www.realtalkgwensamuel.com By Gwen Samuel I am in a self-reflective mood this evening in need of God’s wisdom and guidance. Why? I’m in deep thought about parent rights, particularly Black parents and the erosion of their Constitutional rights and of Black children and the total dismissal of their educational rights and social emotional well-being.   We, as Black parents are crying entirely too many tears of desperation in our daily… Read More

We Need to Better Equip Our Children of Color With the Tools to Overcome Trauma and Toxic Stress

If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far. -Daniel Goleman Creating conditions that generate healthy and successful outcomes for our society will require meeting the social and emotional needs of the most vulnerable among us…. Read More

Not a good look for the New Beginnings Schools Foundation

Falsifying board records to justify a school bus contract, inflating students grades. What is really going with New Beginnings Schools Foundation. “Specific allegations under review include: allegations of grade changing, allegations of retaliatory acts against an employee and allegations of open-meetings law violations,”  Read more here

Opinion: Nola’s One App School Placement System Does Not Leave Parents Much Choice at All

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s been a full week since the EnrollNola One App school placements have been posted and yet there is no end to the parental anguish and anxiety in many households across the parish, perhaps even more so than during the month after month…after month of waiting. I am still flabbergasted at numerous times in the past few days alone that I have heard parents reacting to this process… Read More

Howard Alumna: Dear White People, Get off My Lawn!

Over the past 10 to 15 years, the news that the neighborhood surrounding my Alma Mater, Howard University in Washington, DC was “changing” to a more affluent one was never surprising to me because the EXACT same thing has been happening in my hometown of New Orleans. Both cities are plagued with gentrification. It’s hurtful, but I am dealing with it.  However, when I read that Howard’s Yard has become a site… Read More