4 Tips for Parents to Get Into Back to School Mode

It’s the end of July and here we are, already preparing for back-to-school. It’s a time that almost every mother—especially stay-at-home-moms— are rejoicing. We finally get our house back. I don’t know about you but my grocery bill has gone up and I finally just gave up on cleaning my house. I mean, what’s the point?  In the coming weeks, all of that will change. I will have order and structure once… Read More

Back to school: 5+5=10 ideas for connecting with your child’s school

With school about to begin in a few days, I think it’s a great time to reach out to parents and discuss the relationship they have with their child’s school. I hope that this information will be helpful in fostering a productive school year. Below, I offer five general suggestions of my own, and also present five specific ideas from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) about how to connect with teachers… Read More

Bridging the Gap: The Parent Perspective

Children learn from their parents by seeing, hearing and doing. As the last blog talked about the child’s perspective with Erikka, it’s now time to hear from the parents who entrust our children daily with educators. How can we ensure that the gap between home and school begins to come together? Speaking from the parent side of the equation I can’t help but do all I can to get this process front… Read More

Poverty Within our Schools

With the holidays coming up, you think about the families who have love, respect and support for each other but lack money. Parents always want better and more for their children than what they had as children. They want to give them the best money can buy. Most important, parents don’t want their children to see them struggle or stressed out. But we live in a time where the cost of living… Read More

How to Play the Political Game: Putting the Interest of Kids First

Education is so political and all about personal gain. The only time representatives come around to speak to parents is election time—and when I say come around, I mean they make appearances at schools their friends’ children attend. It’s a struggle to make sure your child receives the best education possible when they are in public schools. Why is it that individuals who don’t have any ties with public schools, or to… Read More

The True Definition of Educators Caring Versus Not Caring

Over the past nine months, my eyes have been opened to the world of education on another level. The research I’ve done, the things I’ve seen and heard have been really encouraging and disturbing at the same time. It has driven me to do whatever it takes to make a difference. Education is the most important part of our lives and also the most dangerous and controversial matter in America. Children’s lives… Read More

Every School Year I Had to Fight

Parents usually have to fight to get an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)or 504-plan for their children, but why? An IEP is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services. You would think that for something as important as an IEP it would be very easy and not… Read More

Valuing a Connection Beyond the Classroom

Mrs. Turner. Mrs. Brinkley. Mr. Falcone. Ms. Breaux. Coach Dixon. Mr. Ussin. Mr. Cooke. I can recall teachers who have helped to shape my life. Along with my family and key male figures on my block, I am thankful for them. My first-grade teacher, Sister Ann Joachim, still teaches in New Orleans. I am 42 years young. I can still visit her and recall great memories of my childhood. I can remember… Read More

The Transition Through Aaliyah’s Eyes

As a parent you never want to feel as though you have failed your child when it comes to their education. We were given the news that our school was issued a failing grade and would be taken over by a Charter Management Organization (CMO). Questions and scenarios run through your mind. How do you explain this to your child? Who will get your school? Will they bring all new staff in?… Read More

What Is the True Purpose of the Congressional Black Caucus?

This past week I, along with a group of parents, attended the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. This was my first time attending, so I was excited for the opportunity to express my concerns as a parent regarding the education of my child and other children across the U.S. Once we arrived at the education sessions on our first day, my opinion quickly turned negative and had me… Read More