“When was the first time you had a Black teacher?” or “How many Black teachers have you had?” are questions that have been asked across social media multiple times. Regardless of whether the respondents had finished school decades ago or were recent graduates, many respondents have had no Black teachers or only a few. If…
Author: Educator Barnes
U.S. Secretary of Education Resigns After Capitol Violence
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos tendered her resignation a day after a mob of President Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building. DeVos is the second member of President Trump’s cabinet to resign. In addition to the two cabinet members’ resignations, several White House officials have also resigned. In her resignation letter to Trump, DeVos…
Indy K12’s Top Ten of 2020 – Part II
It was great to recap some of our most popular pieces over the last week. Now, it’s time for part II of our countdown. Check out the top five popular articles of 2020. 5. If You Want to Keep Diverse Educators Like Me, Make Sure a Diverse Does Not Push Me Out the Door by…
Throwback Thursday: A Look Back at Our Most Popular Pieces of 2020 Not Written This Year
When it comes to the written word, some words resonate longer than others. They strike a chord in the hearts of the readers. The pieces below are our top pieces for 2020 that were not written during this year. 5. Frontloading Vocabulary is a Key to Reading Comprehension by Educator Barnes – August 12, 2019…
Indy K12’s Top Ten of 2020 – Part I
Let’s take a look back at Indy K12’s most popular pieces of 2020. 10. If You Want to Keep Educators Like Me, You Need to Think Beyond Your Diversity Quota by Educator Barnes Educator Barnes shared her experience of being called an affirmative action hire by a colleague where she ended up with a consequence….
The Struggle for Black Gifted Education and Advanced Course Placement
Earlier this month, Indy Star published an op-ed by Jordan Smith who attended Sycamore School, a private school for gifted students located on the northwest side of Indianapolis. She attended school there K-8 and was only one of four Black students in her graduating 8th-grade class. She expressed that the underrepresentation of Black students in…
Barnes: My Education Wish List
What can I say? 2020 has been quite a ride. I know we all want to leave this ride and as it been said, “throw the year away.” Before that happens, it is important to think about the year through the lens of education. As we roll into 2021, here are my wishes for education….
Our Students Don’t Deserve a Teacher Sick Out During a Pandemic
Teachers For Good Trouble is a group that has formed to push back against standardized testing. According to their website, they are a group of educators “focused on reforming schools to build safe, nurturing, and justice driven school communities by eliminating standardized testing as a tool to measure performance during a pandemic.” How can there…
Indy Students Can Return to In-Person Instruction on January 4
Due to rising COVID-19 cases, all schools in Marion county, both public and private, were ordered to return to 100% remote instruction by November 30. This order was to remain in place until January 15. Due to updated guidelines from the CDC, the timeline has changed. In a press conference, Dr. Virginia Caine, stated that…
Leaders, It’s Time to Listen to Your Teachers’ Feedback about You
If you want to see the true measure of a leader, look at how the person operates in a crisis and under pressure. This school year, many leaders showed their true colors, some for better and some for worse. Currently, I am a middle school academic dean. My role was created by my school last…