Here’s What Students Stand to Gain From the Chicago Teachers Strike

On Wednesday, the Chicago Teachers Union’s (CTU) House of Delegates approved a tentative agreement in a tight vote. The CTU deal includes good pay and holds the line…

If You Are Latina and They Say You Can’t Achieve, I’m Here to Say Si Se Puede!

As a sixth-grader, I stood near my new school’s entrance, trying to find solace in a corner. It was my first day attending school in…

The ELL Population Is Growing, But Where Are the Teachers to Help Them Excel?

Your first year of teaching isn’t usually filled with victories, but I’ll never forget the brightest moment of mine. It was a Friday in early…

I’m Latina, and That Matters for My Students

I sat in my third grade classroom staring at the board with panic in my chest. I was worried that the kids would think I…

My School’s Dual Language Immersion Program Helps Immigrant Students Blossom Into Leaders

It’s the first week of the 2018-19 year in my second grade classroom at Munger Mountain Elementary School, and one girl sits apart from the…

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…

Teaching English Language Learners Starts With Putting Yourself in Their Shoes

When teaching English Language Learners (ELLs), the most important and beneficial thing you can do is put yourself in their shoes.  Imagine moving to a…

To Defeat Implicit Bias, Try Project-Based Learning

Project-based learning is a very powerful practice for accelerating important learning for Black, Brown, and low-income kids. It provides “voice and choice” for the students…

This County Made History and Elected Its First School Board Member of Color

On a cold December evening in Gwinnett County, Georgia, my mother and I rushed to find good seats in the auditorium of the J. Alvin…

When Advocating for Students With Disabilities, It’s OK to Be Wrong Sometimes But It’s Not OK to Be Quiet

I remember the first time I spoke up at a national conference in front of my colleagues. We were at a national meeting of a…