I’m Tired and Pissed Off About Our Sorry Education System But I’m Still Fighting

I always thought I was super smart. Until I got to college. Even though I lived in Englewood, one of Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods, I attended…

Mississippi’s Children Are Getting Shortchanged

Children in Mississippi’s capital city are getting shortchanged. The Mississippi Department of Education had been investigating the Jackson Public School District, and recently released a report which…

I Got to Be a Fly on the Wall in a Room Full of Teachers

On a recent afternoon, I spent two hours listening to eight public school teachers talk about their work. All but one of them teaches in…

It Doesn’t Take Millions to Support Students’ Mental Health

Brand-new charter school Washington Leadership Academy (WLA) has already drawn national attention for its commitment to incorporating the latest in tech, including virtual reality, into…

To All of the Educators, Love Not Money Will Close the Gap

I grew up in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Toledo, Ohio. During my time in middle school, we did not have books or resources…

I Never Thought Gifted and Talented Kids Could Be At-Risk Too, Until My Son Said He Wanted to Drop Out of School

It’s almost the end of the summer and I realize that the professional development I have been in has been pretty fantastic, and pretty awful.…

Stop Telling Students They Need to Leave ‘The Hood’ to Be Successful

“¡Mija, ya vamonos! Es hora de ir a la escuela.” I quickly shoved my notebook into my blue Jansport backpack, careful to not widen the hole…

We Can Love and Support Our Students Without Lowering Our Expectations

I remember the day like it was yesterday. The year was 2013 and I was in the Oval Office with President Obama to receive an…

CPS Succeeds, CTU Misleads

For the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), a glass that is three quarters full is still half empty. Consider the dueling announcements from the University of…

You’ve Heard About the Achievement Gap. Here’s 10 Ways Communities Can Help Close It.

During the new millennium, the United States faces a vital challenge—the challenge of closing the academic achievement gap between Caucasian and minority students, specifically, students…