Although today is the last day of Native American Heritage Month, it should not be the last time Native Americans are included in teachers’ lesson plans. Native Americans are still here, and it is important to learn about them. Even if teachers don’t have Native Americans in their classes, they can at least ensure that…
Most people probably would have assumed that after we developed a reasonably effective preventative treatment for COVID-19 the stories would die down. That has not been the case. In fact, one could argue that the vaccine has actually caused more disagreement than the virus itself. There are the two distinct camps of pro-COVID vaccine and…
Several news outlets and teachers on social media have noted the increase in misbehavior this school year. The pandemic has been labeled the culprit. Although schools are mostly seen as a place for students to learn academic content, any good teacher will tell you that you cannot teach content with a room full of students…
A few weeks ago, my husband and I attended our twin sons’ parent/teacher conference on Zoom. Our boys are in fifth grade and in the same class. The teacher shared how our sons were reading 6th and 7th grade level books. This did not come as a surprise to us. Our boys have been reading…
I consider myself an education advocate and activist. It is easy to become discouraged in the work of ensuring better outcomes for all children. Some days it seems like one step forward and two steps back. That frustration and anger can consume you. It can lead to burnout, and burnout can turn into hopelessness. Today,…
Since the peak of the “Red For ED” movement teachers nationwide have been demanding higher pay. In some places they got it. In others, pay still lags behind. Teacher pay is always a sensitive subject because most schools are not for-profit entities. They are paid for by taxpayers. If recent referendums are any metric to…
It is that time of year again. It is time for some teachers somewhere to completely botch incorporating Thanksgiving and Native Americans into the curriculum. However, this does not need to occur. Teachers can take the time to research and plan to avoid being the next teacher to go viral for missteps in the classroom….
In 2018, voters in Marion County approved nearly $220 million for Indianapolis Public Schools. The intent of that money was to help with teacher pay, student services, and maintenance. IPS will begin sharing the money from that 2018 property-tax referendum with its charter school partners. This is a big deal. It is not just because…
Not only is there a teacher shortage, but there is also a substitute teacher shortage. Last year, when I was a school administrator, I was troubled when I saw a text coming in from a teacher late at night or right before the school day started because many times it was because the teacher was…
The use of deadly force by police on unarmed Black Americans has led to civil unrest and political pressure to enact comprehensive police reform. Given racial disparities, debates are also raging about the necessity and usage of school resource officers (SROs). The term “student voice” has gained increasing attention as a phrase that describes the…