A Teacher’s First Year: The Good, The Bad and the Beautiful

Joining a new school community comes with a unique set of challenges. In addition to the difficulties inherent in any new school year, new teachers…

Don’t Just Invite Black Men to School on the First Day, We Need Them All Year Long

A tradition for many schools that educate predominately Black children involves welcoming the children back with scores of Black men cheering them on as they…

If We Want More Black Educators, We Need More Black Graduates

I don’t know if y’all have noticed, but there’s a growing movement of power and support for the Black educator network around the country.  In…

We Don’t Need More Black or Brown Faces Who Don’t Represent Our Voices, Especially in Education

Congresswoman Ayana Pressley said, “We don’t need any more Brown faces that don’t want to be a Brown voice” in regards to representation on issues…

If You’re Still Wondering What Equity Means for Our Students, These 10 Edu-Tweeters Will Expand Your Thinking

My professional life changed the day I discovered the power of a well-considered Twitter feed. No longer stuck in the bubble of my school or…

Here’s Why President Trump’s Tweets About ‘The Squad’ Are Nothing New for Black Women in Education

On Sunday, the 45th president of the United States told four congresswomen of color to “go back” to the countries from which they came.  ….and…

Teacher Diversity Matters and Charter Schools in North Carolina Are Getting Results for Students of Color

Seth Gershenson’s research on the impact of teacher expectations and their effect on students has made waves across the country. With the support of the…

What It Feels Like to Lose One of the Two Black Teachers at Your School

Last week I got an email that one of my son’s two kindergarten teachers, Ms. Ashley, is starting her maternity leave and he’s getting a…

Black Lives Matter in Schools This Month and Every Damn Month

On Wednesday, February 6, 2019, I had the honor of speaking at the Black Lives Matter in Schools Week of Action rally. The audience was…

From Just Being Woke to Doing the Work of Recruiting Diverse Teachers

The data, the research, the demographics are all staggering and compelling. But nothing is more compelling than the actual experiences of teachers of color, who…