I’ve Educated All Over North America and Now I’m Bringing That Experience to My Own Los Angeles School

Growing up it was difficult to escape discussions about education. Whether it was homework projects at the time or the future investments in my college…

Trying to Promote Equity in Your School? Here Are 5 Things Anyone Can Do.

I just got back from an amazing professional learning session delivered by Kentucky State University’s Dr. Roger Cleveland. In the session, he had us do…

The Lesson Schools Should Be Teaching About the Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing

Like just about everything, the Kavanaugh hearing was a teachable moment. But it seems to me that many of us are teaching the wrong lessons.…

Take It From a White Suburban Mom, Grade Inflation Is Real and We Can’t Deny It Anymore

Arne Duncan found himself in hot water a few years ago when, in reference to the higher standards of the Common Core, he said, “It’s…

Before I Come to Your Classroom, Let Me Show You Mine

Hi. I’m going to spend the rest of the year traveling to classrooms all over the country and talking about the things we are doing…

I Can’t Spare My Son His Struggles, But I Can Be There When He Triumphs

The other day, I had to drag my son kicking and screaming into kindergarten. His anxiety had taken over, his mind spinning in perseveration. Kindergarten…

Even When Teachers Don’t Feel Safe, They Don’t Support Guns in the Classroom

Hear us teachers loud and clear: We do not want to be armed, and we do not want to work in prison-like school buildings. We…

Poor Kids Deserve Kickass Schools with Kickass Teachers, Too

As the Illinois Teacher of the Year, I meet fellow educators at events all the time. We exchange funny anecdotes about education in our respective…

We Need to Keep Talking About Serena Williams and the Dignity of Black Children

By now we’ve all seen the headlines after the most recent U.S. Open in which Serena Williams lost to Naomi Osaka. Yet the headlines weren’t…

Here’s What Hurricane Florence Is Teaching My Kids

The other day I found myself, just like all the other teachers in my school, leading a monthly character lesson. This one happened to be…