America’s Rural Schools May Not Be Tragic, but They Have Known Tragedy

Maybe this is the turning point.  Education advocacy is exhausting — particularly in rural communities like mine, where our opportunities are limited and our challenges…

To Bring Lost Kids Back, We Need Schools to Partner With Their Communities

It’s no secret that students have suffered academically and emotionally throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But should the brunt of the recovery process be borne by…

Relationships Don’t Come Before Rigor, They Go Hand in Hand

I’m a sixth grade teacher grappling with the reality of teaching kids who may not have darkened a school door in over a year. Many…

Great Principals Are Strong Instructional Leaders First

School principals must feel a lot like circus performers. Just as a performer is expected to juggle multiple balls, bowling pins, or torches while dangling…

As Cities Drop Remote Learning, Some Families Want It Back

It’s no secret that the phrase “remote learning” is synonymous with frustration for many families who have been dealing with Zoom class horror stories and…

Here’s Why Teachers Pay Teachers Is Fueling Culture Wars in the Classroom

Anytime K-12 curriculum is the subject of breaking news, it’s generally a bad sign for things to come. When things like textbooks, lesson plans, and…

Will ‘Grow-Your-Own’ Teacher Programs Be Enough to Address the Rural Teacher Shortage?

“Why don’t people who live there, teach there?” That question, posed by this recent Hechinger Report story, is a troubling reminder of the unique, persistent…

Digital Equity for All Students Has Never Been a More Attainable Goal

With the American Rescue Plan (ARP) officially signed into law, the nation’s public school systems will soon have an additional $126 billion to navigate challenges brought on…

Here’s How Education and Industry Can Work Together To Close the ‘Skills Gap’

A new industry in Eastern Kentucky is sending us all an urgent reminder that workforce readiness must be an educational priority.  AppHarvest, a sustainable greenhouse…

Cardona Matters, But the Most Important Decisions Will Happen at the Local Level

President Joe Biden has certainly kept busy during his first days in the Oval Office. He has issued a call for national unity, doubled down…