A couple of Sundays ago, my grandfather passed away, two days before his 91st birthday. He shared his birthday with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. My grandfather, like Dr. King, also grew up in a very segregated Alabama. My grandparents always expressed to us the importance of voting and obtaining our education. I know I…
As 2018 comes to a close, I have been thinking about what I want to see happen in education next year. Below is my 2019 education wish list. High academic standards Parents, like myself, would like to know that our goal for our children is for them to be proficient math and reading. That standard…
I had the pleasure of attending School Choice is the Black Choice town hall hosted by Roland Martin and The 74 on Sunday, December 1. It always feels good to see so many people, especially people of color, interested in improving education for our poor and minority students. My children’s K-12 years, thankfully, have been…
This fall, I dropped my twins off at two separate colleges. Like most parents, I had a multitude of emotions. On the top of the list was, “Are they ready for college-level coursework?” I would soon find out. They both have gone through their share of adjustments to college life. Like most college freshman, they…
Like many parents across the country, we dropped our twins off at their perspective college campuses. It is undoubtedly a time with many emotions for parents and children alike. I feel like I have spent the past month just reminding them of little things they need to do. One add-on as a black parent is…
What’s with all the homework? I’m going to just be honest. I despise homework. Like many parents, I work all day and when I finally get my son picked up and home the last thing I want to do his help him with homework. I’m tired and so is he. Is it really necessary? That obviously…
Cheryl Kirk with her children. Indy/Ed, an education blog that is part of the Citizen/Ed network is adding a new series focusing on parenting black children. This series will continue indefinitely and highlight the struggles and successes of our writers who are parenting black children. I am a mother of three black children, two are…
Cheryl Kirk (center) with her children. My twins finished their official last day of school and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. They completed all requirements and are graduating high school. It has been a journey and has definitely taken a village. It seems like just yesterday I was searching for the place where…
I’m the proud parent of two graduating seniors who are college bound. Right now, we are approximately one month away from graduation and the mood in our home is celebratory. The journey has not been easy for them or me. Making sure my son was staying on track in high school during his freshman and…
Unlike most people in the discussion on school choice, I am not a teacher, administrator or legislator. I am a parent, who like most other parents just want quality education options for my children. A few years ago, The Institute for Quality Education asked parents to come and talk about how school choice has made…