There has been a debate about what is more important, academics or students’ mental health. The coronavirus pandemic has consumed the majority of 2020, and it is not clear when it will come to an end. What is clear is that schools are trying to resume some sense of normalcy. What has mostly been left…
Hispanic Heritage Month begins each year on September 15. The month begins on September 15 because this is the day five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua gained independence. Also, Mexico, Chile, and Belize’s independence days happen within Hispanic Heritage Month. This month is an opportunity to shine a light…
Annually, on October 5, World Teachers’ Day is celebrated. The theme this year is Teachers: Leading in crisis: reimagining the future. In a joint statement from UNESCO, International Labour Organization, UNICEF, and Education International, the importance and hard work of educators during the coronavirus pandemic were noted. In this crisis, teachers have shown, as they…
If there were ever a year that we needed to thank custodians and show our appreciation, 2020 is that year. October 2 each year is National Custodial Worker Recognition Day. The one secret teachers learn is the importance of custodial staff. This information is not taught in a teacher prep programs, but it is key. …
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way students are educated in schools. When school buildings closed across the nation during the end of last school year, students were forced to shift from in-person learning to remote learning. For some students, remote learning was completing packets, and for others, it was e-learning. This school year, as…
As a former English teacher, literacy coach, and elementary librarian, one of my favorite weeks of school has always been Banned Books Week. In all of my former roles, I was tasked with getting students to read. What is a better way to get students to read than to tell them a book was banned?…
Protests this summer brought to the forefront the need for social justice and racial equity. Many advocates and activists have been fighting this battle for decades. These advocates and activists aren’t only on the streets or at meetings speaking up for change; they are also inside of the classroom. Whether these educators are veterans or…
Annually, from August to November, across the state of Indiana the College GO! Campaign takes place. One of the focal events is the College Application Week which is also called College GO! Week in some schools. College Application Week takes place during the last full week of September. This year, from September 21-25, students K-12…
A few years back, I spoke at the statehouse for the school discipline bill. Part of my testimony highlighted students being excluded from the classroom. Typically when data is pulled for exclusion, in school suspension and out of school suspension data are the metrics that are referenced. During my testimony, I highlighted other ways children…
Students in Washington Township started the 2020-21 school year 100% remote. As the school year progressed, district leaders proposed a reopening plan that was approved by the school board. The plan would not be implemented until data provided on the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) COVID-19 School Guidance Dashboard showed a COVID-19 positivity rate…