Donald Trump Will Never Give Us the Smart, Nuanced Conversation We Need About Going Back to School

As COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the end of the 2019-2020 school year, parents and politicians nationwide sang the praises of teachers across the country—and it…

I Was the Only Black Teacher, And I Quit My First Job After Six Months

Why would a teacher submit her resignation for her first teaching job out of college in February of that school year? The answer is racism, mistreatment, and…

Gianna Was Right, Her Daddy Changed the World

Four weeks ago, a Black man was lynched. In 2020. I remind myself of that fact each day so that I do not forget what…

With a Little Radical Imagination, We Can Prepare Our Students to Become Leaders

Early in the school year, after our daily Pledge of Allegiance, my fifth grader, Cassandra, asked, “Why are people mad when Colin Kaepernick kneels during…

Schools Must Prepare Now to Address Student and Teacher Trauma

My students and I are entering our tenth week of remote learning, all of us isolated from one another and from our shared classroom space.…

I Got a Call From Betsy DeVos. Here’s What I Wish She Had Said.

Every year, I look forward to the first week of May, Teacher Appreciation Week. The week is usually filled with handwritten cards and drawings, a…

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…

Let’s Show Teachers We Appreciate Them by Valuing Their Expertise

This year, Teacher Appreciation Week has taken on a whole new dimension. With many states, including Illinois, now shuttered for the remainder of the school…

In Brownsville, Texas, a Pandemic Won’t Stop Students from Learning

The national media rarely focuses on communities like Brownsville, Texas. When they do, border communities are often painted in black-and-white, used as a backdrop to…

I Know What Can Happen When a Teacher Never Gives Up on a Student

This Teacher Appreciation Week, I am reminiscing about Ms. Holmes, my fifth grade teacher. I never could understand why this woman made so many sacrifices…