Chris Stewart

An award-winning writer, speaker, and blogger, Chris Stewart is a relentless advocate for children and families. Based in outstate Minnesota, Chris is CEO of brightbeam, a nonprofit media group that runs campaigns to highlight policies and practices that support thriving kids. He was the founding Director of the African American Leadership Forum, was an elected member of the Minneapolis Board of Education, and founded and served as the CEO of Wayfinder Foundation. Above all, Chris is a serial parent, a Minecraft enthusiast, and an epic firestarter on Twitter where he has antagonized the best of them on the political left and right. You’ll often see Chris blogging at citizenstewart.com and “tweeting” under the name “Citizen Stewart.”

Posts By Chris Stewart

Achievement Gap

Integration Is a Noble Goal, But Obsessing Over It Shouldn’t Distract Us From Improving Teaching and Learning

Another week, another headline about the urgency of jettisoning efforts to improve teaching and learning for all kids and instead laser-focusing on ending segregation in public schools. This time...

public schools

I’m a Public School Parent and I Have Every Right to Complain

When someone speaks poorly of public institutions there is probably a story there. To that point, if you read the millions of words I've written about education, you might wonder if I harbor ill will...

Achievement Gap

I Hate to Inform You, but Not Everyone Is Above Average in Wobegon

Wherever you live, there is a high probability that Minnesota is low-key superior to your state. We are the safest state in America, we have the best-rated healthcare facility in the country, the...

Achievement Gap

The Biggest Threat to Public Education Is Still Its Insidious ‘Belief Gap’

For a long time school reform seemed to be winning the public argument about the failure of schools to prepare students academically. During that run, reformers successfully stigmatized the...

Parents

The Three R’s of Parents Who Want to Raise Free Children

This week’s column has also been cross-posted over at our new sister blog, Project Forever Free. One of my favorite Gandhi quotes is, “There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal...

Teaching

If We Care for Kids, We Can’t Shut Down Teachers Who Truly Want to Do Better by Them

This teacher said a thing and I thought all hell would break loose. It happened last week when my 8 Black Hands crew recorded a live podcast at a gathering of educators who came together for the...