15 Questions That Predominantly White Schools Should Ask When Engaging in Non-Performative Anti-Racist Work

Last week, I had a consulting call with a potential client (a white teacher), who teaches in a predominantly white school/neighborhood and wants to engage…

We All Hate Professional Development, But Some of Y’all Need It

Teachers enjoy the summer break, too. However, depending on when school gets out, summer vacation may be winding down already. If that is the case…

6 Questions Every Black Teacher Should Ask When Joining a New School

For many teachers, the end of the school year not only serves as an opportunity to deeply reflect on how the year went, but also…

The System Is Not Built for Teachers to Have an Opinion

At the close of the 2020-2021 school year, I experienced the most significant “break-up” of my life. The following is my unexpected farewell to teaching…

When We Talk to Our Students, Let’s Focus Less on ‘Learning Loss’ and More on Their Learning Leaps

In the winter and spring of 2021, as the year of remote and hybrid learning continued, I started to notice a drop in attendance, particularly…

Teachers Are the Best Experts on How to Spend the American Rescue Plan Money

The American Rescue Plan is sending an additional $128 billion in federal dollars to elementary and secondary schools to help students recover from the difficult…

Here’s How Student Curiosity Can Advance Racial Justice…If Teachers Just Let It Happen

Curiosity is oftentimes the beginning of learning. When we’re curious, we begin to ask questions. Our questions prompt us to investigate, and our investigations lead…

We Never Learned About Black Wall Street. So, What Else Is Missing From Our Curriculum?

Did you ever learn about Black Wall Street and the Tulsa, Oklahoma Massacre? I know I did not. It was not until I was an…

I Managed the Stress of Teaching This Year by Reminding Myself That I Work With Adults, but for My Students

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. If there’s one thing we know for certain, this school year has been difficult for everyone. I recently caught…

Students Should Know What’s in Their IEPs

If you work in special education, then you have likely worked on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). IEPs are plans developed to ensure that students…