Vesia Hawkins

Top Democratic Candidates’ Disrespect for Parents of Color Has Me Wondering If I Fit Into This Party Anymore.
Politico reports today that Elizabeth Warren’s support among Democratic and left-leaning Independent primary voters “plunged 50% over the past month, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.” …

Our Collective Blackness No Longer Has Value to You Once We Cross Your Party Line
After a month of not writing, I took to Twitter to share some thoughts about the nasty fallout from the protest of a large group of Black…

How to Throw a Big Ass House Party and Change the Game for Our Kids
Got you with the title, didn’t I? LOL! But since I have you here, let me tell you how to throw a big ass house…

Thank God for Parents Who Refuse to Be Gaslighted by the Failing Education System
Last week I attended a community town hall in Nashville organized by my friend Vesia Hawkins, a relentless and faithful community servant who brought together…

This Isn’t an Endorsement But Let’s Just Say We Need More Teachers in Congress
Outrage: Fewer Susans The National Motto in the Classroom Act was passed in Tennessee last week. Basically, all schools in the state will now have…

I May Not Like Teachers Unions’ Politics But I Respect How They Hold Teachers Down
Outrage: Teachers Already Deal With Enough Right after the Janus decision dropped, I had this conversation with an associate who’s an educator: “I had to…

Here Are the Real MVPs of National School Choice Week
It’s National School Choice Week (NSCW)! All week, we’re celebrating those who work to provide available and accessible, high-quality options for students and families. Though the…

Education Reform in 2018 Is Going to Need a Parent Seal of Approval
A few years ago, at a convening of education advocates, one veteran in the reform movement highlighted the lack of racial diversity in the room…

VIDEO: My Mom Overcame Her Drug Addiction and Gave Me a Chance at a Real Education
I grew up in a home with my mom and two younger siblings. My mother spent most of my childhood in the throes of drugs…

Everything You Need to Know About the NAACP’s Stance on Charter Schools
This post is continually updated with up-to-date information. In a scathing article by the Wall Street Journal, the NAACP is called out for "taking orders from its union backers"—those union backers being the United Federation of Teachers and National Education Association—"to oppose charter schools."…