Want a Better Assessment? Start by Asking the Right Question.

In state after state, politicians, parents, advocacy groups and educators are re-evaluating the role that end-of-year tests should play in K-12 education. Given the high…

Instead of Attacking Charter Schools, How About Y’all Work to Improve Traditional Schools?

It’s silent but deadly—and I’m not talking about heart disease. I’m talking about this assault on charter schools that has flown under the radar, is…

Here’s What Children With Disabilities and Their Families Want Teachers to Know as We Start the School Year

As a mom of a child with disabilities, I know we parents can spend the early days of the school year terrified that a new…

Not to Be a Buzzkill, But Teachers Need a Reminder to Be Nice to Their Students

I couldn’t sleep the other night and found myself doing what any reasonable person would do: I turned to Twitter. There was the usual: President…

Coffee Break: Why Ramon Griffin Left Law to Change School Discipline

As a youth in Ford Heights, Illinois, Ramon Griffin grew up asking hard questions. Why did his ZIP code have so many schools on the…

Classroom Jobs Let Students Take Control of Their Own Learning

Is there anyone happier than a 6-year-old who has been entrusted with an important task? Kiddos, in my experience, like almost nothing better than to…

Before Deciding the Fate of Houston’s Schools, You Need to Listen to Parents

Last week, 2019 state ratings showed three out of four Houston Independent School District (HISD) schools made gains on test scores and got off “Improvement…

First Day Jitters? Teachers Get Them Too!

As I embark on my 15th year in public education, I’m baffled that it still happens to me. After all, this is my 15th “first…

The Suffragettes Were Not Allies to Black Women, They Were Racist

This week America celebrated the 99th anniversary of the 19th Amendment’s passage, which granted women the right to vote. However, like much of American history,…

White Teacher, Here’s How You Can Successfully Partner With Black Families

The show was going really well. We were in Pittsburgh, taping a live 8 Black Hands podcast episode at the State of Black Learning Conference,…