Teachers Must Hold Themselves Accountable for Dismantling Racial Oppression

This week began with a hike in the woods for my family and me in the Shenandoah Valley State Park. Pre COVID-19, our outings consisted…

Toni Morrison Was the Brave and Honest Storyteller of Our Vexed History

As a high school English teacher, I had the privilege of teaching Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” a novel I’ve read and taught time and again, and…

If You’re Still Wondering What Equity Means for Our Students, These 10 Edu-Tweeters Will Expand Your Thinking

My professional life changed the day I discovered the power of a well-considered Twitter feed. No longer stuck in the bubble of my school or…

I Knew It Was Time to Leave My Classroom. I Hope 20 Years Was Enough.

Every tough decision comes with some measure of remorse for what could have been. As I finish out my 20th and final year as a…

How We Build a Pipeline of Teachers That Know How to Talk About Race and Social Justice

Nearly 60 years ago, our nation’s students watched as leaders of the civil rights movement pushed back against entrenched Jim Crow laws and re-defined American…

I’m Trying to Teach My Students That Mass Shootings Aren’t Normal, But It’s Getting Harder

At 7:30 Monday morning a faculty announcement rang out over the PA system. “Report to the cafeteria for an informational meeting.” When that particular, unplanned…

Our President Is Wrong on Race and Our Kids Need to Hear Us Say It

I need to say it. You need to say it. Teachers need to say it. School leaders need to say it. We all need to…

The Big Gay Way to End the School Year

Happy Pride, y’all! June 1 marks the start of a month-long celebration of LGBT history and culture and of our extraordinary leaps forward in terms…

Remember When I Said Trump Wouldn’t Have a Bigly Effect on Our Schools? I Was Wrong.

Last Wednesday I went to my daughter’s school to celebrate her second-grade teacher’s recent wedding. But it was a hard day for celebrating. When we…

After Dallas and Orlando, We Need Schools Like This That Teach Tolerance

Perceived bias is killing people. Dallas, Baton Rouge, Falcon Heights, Orlando, Cleveland—and so many other places. Our public education system can play a central role…