I have only felt the terrible sting and discomfort of pepper spray one time, and that was when I was teaching and coaching teachers in the high school setting. The last lunch had dismissed. Students filed out of the cafeteria and were rowdy and noisy. The police officer followed the students upstairs and asked them…
This week, some Indianapolis students will begin the 2020-21 school year. This includes my twin sons. Their district, Washington Township, has decided to reopen remotely. The difference between the upcoming school year and the previous school year is that we have all had some experience with remote learning whether that was students completing packets or…
When school buildings closed in Indiana back in March, schools shifted from in-person education to remote education. The burden for educators who are also parents was doubled. Educators had to figure out how to serve the students at their school while simultaneously ensuring their children were learning and not falling behind in their academics. I’ve…
The tweet that has been pinned to the top of my Twitter account since 2018 are the words of Rep. John Lewis, the Civil Rights activist and icon that passed away yesterday. In 2018, Lewis came to Indianapolis on the 50th anniversary of Robert Kennedy’s speech when the world learned that Dr. King had been…
Hamilton Southeastern Schools has reevaluated its reopening plans due to the uptick in coronavirus cases. Students will begin virtual instruction on August 6 and buildings will remain closed until at least Labor Day. HSE parent, Alice Stockton, has mixed emotions. “I’m glad that my girls will be home because their father is currently working remotely,…
This morning the MSD of Washington Township voted to shift from in-person education to classes being implemented 100% online. Instruction will remain online until the board votes for students to return in-person. Extracurricular activities and athletics are suspended until further notice. The use of facilities will be suspended on August 1. The following statement was…
Right now, in Indiana, parents, including my husband and I, are making a difficult decision. We have to decide whether we will keep our children at home to participate in remote learning or send them back to school during the coronavirus pandemic. My husband and I do not like any option, and we know we…
#DecolonizeYourCurriculm was the hashtag that I saw added online when my piece, “It’s Time to Revise the Curriculum; Let’s Start by Adding Juneteenth” was shared across social media. I was glad I put something into the world to make people think. It’s easy to share a call to action, but harder to see how you…
Educator Barnes offers a response and steps of action to the community members who are outraged by her teaching experience in Brownsburg Community School Corporation.
Recently, I wrote that the revolution must take place in the places where we are located. This means anti-racist, diversity, equity, and inclusion work should be happening because you are present. If it is not, real change will not come. A true revolution turns everything, everywhere, on its head. How do you actually do this…