School Leaders, Not Politicians, Should Be Making Decisions about How to Teach Our History

Everybody’s gettin’ bands, we just dance to different drums. I like who I’ve become. -Jay Z,“Sorry, Not Sorry” Allow me to apologize in advance because…

This Black Father Is Making a Difference for Students With Special Needs at School and at Home

There is a unique bond between fathers and sons, especially when they each must navigate an educational system where they are both equally and extremely underrepresented.…

Pharrell Williams’ New School Offers a ‘Room Without a Roof’ to Low-Income Students

When you visit the Team Yellow website, a powerful statement appears:  We will even the odds through education.  The site, the movement, and the concept…

A Teacher’s Power to Stop Violence Is Rooted in Relationships

During my 15 years of teaching, I have broken up many fights. I have been hit in the ear so hard that it rang me…

Teachers, I Hate Feedback as Much as You, but Sometimes We Need to Hear It

Once, many years ago, I was arguing with a colleague. I have no idea what we were arguing about. I am sure, however, that I…

We Can Unleash the Genius of Our Students by Putting the Arts at the Center

This essay is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Patrick Pritchard from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, who recently passed away on March 6, 2021.…

We’re Not Even Close To Realizing Dr. King’s Dream

Two years ago I was fortunate enough to attend a showing of “Hamilton” in my hometown of Atlanta. A huge group from Atlanta Public Schools…

I Can’t Expect Some Magical Black Character to Declare Me ‘Good White People.’ I Have to Do the Work.

It was a year ago that I tried sweet potato pie for the first time. Now, I am white and, though I have lived in…

ZIP Code May Not Be Destiny, But It’s as Hard to Fight as Gravity

One Saturday I was picking my daughter up from a birthday party at one of those modern-day upscale arcades, and I was surprised to run…

We Can’t Return to Status Quo When This Pandemic Is Over

Just by way of introduction, let me begin this post the way I have begun most conversations in the past month: I am both exhausted…