Indianapolis Public Schools is cash strapped. There are a lot of reasons for this. Like many other urban school districts around the country, they are serving significantly less students than they did in the past and less students means less funding. They have recently unveiled their plan to save money and predictably the plan includes…
The 21st Century Scholars Program allows more students to access college. Most students who qualify for free and reduced lunch are eligible. Too many students miss this opportunity because they do not enroll. Students must enroll during their 7th or 8th grade year. The deadline to enroll this year is June 30. The Indiana Commission…
It is no secret to any teacher that some students come to school hungry. At least, during the school year, teachers see the students and can take steps to ensure they eat at school. The summer, especially if students are not attending summer school, is a time when teachers worry if some of their students…
There are a variety of reasons you might have landed here today. Regardless of why you came here today, you might wonder why I would say anything about Roe v. Wade, the federal right to have an abortion that was recently overturned. What does this have to do with education? I will tell you if…
Students need to see themselves in the curriculum. Students need to be exposed to diverse texts from authors of a variety of backgrounds. All teachers should believe this. However, actions speak louder than words. Based on actions, it is not clear if teachers really believe this. Maybe it is not about the belief. It could…
Earlier this month, I attended a going-away party for a friend. My friend also invited my husband and sons to come along as well. Inside the place where the party was held, there were rainbow flags everywhere. As I was talking to the man at the front desk to determine the location of the party…
Stop me if you have heard this before: Your history curriculum is largely ignoring a marginalized group. This time we aren’t talking about women or ethnic minorities. We are talking about members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Contrary to what some prominent figures would have you believe, homosexual, transgender, and non-binary individuals have always been among…
On the heels of the elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas lawmakers tossed around dozens of ideas to curb future shootings. Most of those ideas centered on conventional methods like more gun control, more security or mental health services. However, a few people suggested more guns … in the hands of teachers. Earlier this week,…
Many Americans found themselves shocked and appalled as details rolled in about the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Me, I could only be appalled. I have lost the ability to be shocked after a school shooting. There was a time when that was not the case. I am old enough to remember the…
I refer to the month of June as freedom month. Summer begins and we celebrate Juneteenth, Father’s Day, Black Music Appreciation, and Pride month in June. But even with the foundation of what’s taught in Black and brown communities on faith, freedom, and fatherhood, many Black people aren’t able to truly be free. “It’s hard…