Black Excellence Does Exist and It Lives in Our Kids

I’m guilty of saying Black boys and girls are failing in school—a good chunk of us are. Going forward, I’m committing to correcting that language…

It Is Absolutely Necessary for Kids to Have Free, Reliable Internet Access

Earlier this week one of my friends posted a Facebook status that said her daughter started distance learning and during one of the class sessions…

Parents Are Rebuilding School, And Systems Must Follow Their Lead to Create Equity

As we prepare to send our children back to school in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis—a unique and terrible event I hope we never…

Teachers, If You Haven’t Been Giving a Damn About Your Students, We Definitely Don’t Need You Now

Before I stroll into my routine of being a habitual line stepper, let me state my usual disclaimer. Educators, I love and appreciate y’all. I…

The Only Thing Certain About Reopening Schools Is Black and Brown Kids Will Be Screwed Again

I don’t know if y’all have noticed, but nobody knows what the hell they’re doing with this school reopening thing. And look, I don’t envy…

Let’s Focus on Our Students’ Health and Humanity, Not on ‘Getting Back to Normal’

I almost forgot we were stuck at home. My daughter’s pre-K class was on a field trip to the zoo through a Zoom meeting and…

If You Really Want to Make a Difference in Black Lives, Change How You Teach White Kids

The latest episodes of police murdering Black people have my chest burning like a building set ablaze. My heart is hot, my stomach churns. My…

Here’s Why This Year’s AP Exams Never Should Have Happened

High school students are graduating into an uncertain world. As a high school physics teacher in Boston Public Schools (BPS), I have seen the many…

Let’s Make America More Just for Our Immigrant Students and Families

When we think of education equity, we typically think of issues along the lines of traditional opportunity gaps disproportionately affecting children of color. As equity-minded…

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…