On September 18, 2017, the Board of School Commissioners for Indianapolis Public Schools will decide whether to accept or reject the school closure recommendations. The recommendations include converting Arlington Community High School and Northwest Community High School into middle schools beginning the 2018-19 school year and closing John Marshall Community High School, which will be…
Author: Educator Barnes
It’s Full STEAM Ahead for Youth at Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration
Indiana Black Expo, Inc. (IBE) kicked off its 47th annual Summer Celebration on Thursday, July 6th. Events run through Sunday, July 16th. One event that has been part of IBE’s Summer Celebration for the last 28 years is the Youth Leadership Summit (YLS). This event, open to middle and high school students, give youth the…
IPS School Closures: Teachers Devastated; Families Look for Other Options
“They’re making the announcement today.” I was sitting in a room in Oldenburg Hall on Marian University’s campus with fellow Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) teachers and academic coaches. Many of us already have our master’s, so this was the last class we needed to take in addition to passing the school administration licensing exam to…
Indiana Releases First Draft of ESSA Plan
Back in May, I traveled to Chicago and saw Hamilton: An American Musical about founding father Alexander Hamilton. During act two, Hamilton’s adversary Aaron Burr was upset because he was excluded from “the room where it happens.” He wanted to be involved in the important decisions, the policy decisions. Knowing my 18 month Teach Plus Policy…
What, to a Slave Descendant, is your 4th of July?
Without fail, when certain U.S. federal holidays come around each year, the debate begins about whether or not the holiday should be celebrated especially by people of color. Franchesca Ramsey, host of “MTV Decoded,” details in two videos, “Everything You Know about Thanksgiving is Wrong” and “Columbus was a Genocidal Rapist” some of the reasons…
School Issues Report Card without Grades after Teacher Quits
When I’m in the community or around family, people tend to ask me education questions. I’m asked about education topics in the news or my thoughts about what is happening inside our local schools. Earlier this week, I received an inquiry on my Facebook wall from a parent of an IPS third grader. I have…
Parents, Teachers Aren’t Miracle Workers; Your Child Needs to Be Present to Learn
Indianapolis is a city with various school choice options. I could live in Pike Township, but choose to send my children to a Washington Township school. I could live within the boundaries of IPS, but choose to send my children to another school within the district instead of my neighborhood boundary school. I could live…
We Strap Roller Skates on Their Feet and Push Parents Out the Door
At the recent Citizen Education Blogger Training and Media Meet-up, titled “A Discussion of Education, the Media, and Our Communities in Washington D.C.”, there was a panel discussion on education, poverty, racial justice, and the media. Panelist Pat Brantley, CEO of Friendship Public Charter Schools, when speaking about parents exercising choice said, “Parents when they have…
Mindfulness & Wrap Around Services Support Student Success in Schools
It was Saturday, May 14, 2016, and it was the first time I met Rondell Sarver who was five years old at the time. He was standing next to his brother Noah Sarver who was lying in a casket. Noah passed away on Sunday, May 1, 2016, at ten years old from an…
IPS Plans to Expand Online Literacy Tutoring Program
During the 2016-2017 school year, Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) piloted the online literacy program TutorMate in five elementary schools. Many schools across the nation using TutorMate have seen literacy gains in their students. Based on the benefits and results of the pilot, the program will expand to more IPS elementary schools next school…