I Didn’t Think Personalized Learning Would Be Right For My Classroom But I’m So Glad I Was Wrong

In my first year of teaching I had the opportunity to teach in a school that was piloting personalized learning. As I got more comfortable…

What It Feels Like to Lose One of the Two Black Teachers at Your School

Last week I got an email that one of my son’s two kindergarten teachers, Ms. Ashley, is starting her maternity leave and he’s getting a…

While Betsy Was Trying to Throw the Special Olympics Away, Democrats Were Busy Attacking School Choice

I’m on a mission to call everybody out who’s not working in the best interest of kids, all 2019. On this week’s list is Secretary…

Betsy DeVos Wants Larger Class Sizes and Fewer Teachers

In our society, there are so many hot takes offered each day that it’s almost impossible for any single statement to cut through the clutter.…

The High School Play Everyone’s Talking About Shows Why We Need More Arts Funding in Schools

The sun can’t reach you but face-hugging and acid-spewing aliens can. Welcome, you’ve arrived at LV-426. Or have you? for their self-funded stage adaptation of…

Going to a Women’s HBCU Inspired Me to Fight for College Access for Everyone

At my small high school in East St. Louis, Illinois, going away to college was not accessible to all. The few most promising students were…

Yes, We Can Meet the Needs of Every Student in the Classroom Even When Their Needs Are So Different

Imagine teaching a classroom of 25 students. It’s an English class. You have to assign an essay based upon a grade-level text and are planning…

When I Failed My Student, Restorative Justice Picked Us Up

During one of my daily writing warm-up exercises Alex, a sophomore in my remedial English class, decided to exercise his defiance by yelling, “Get off…

Detroit Charter Leader Chanavia Patterson Knew Her School Had Improved When She Was Ready to Enroll Her Own Kids

Chanavia Patterson always knew she would become a teacher, but she didn’t know she would become an outstanding mentor, coach and principal. In 2013, she…

Even as a Disability Advocate I Still Did Everything Wrong When My Daughter Was Diagnosed With Autism

November 6, 2018, is the day my daughter was officially diagnosed with autism. That’s the day my world collapsed. For the first hour of her…