James E. Ford

James E. Ford is the 2015 North Carolina State Teacher of the Year and a member of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year. He currently is the Principal Consultant at Filling the Gap Educational Consultants and is a first year doctoral student at UNC-Charlotte. Ford earned a bachelor of science in mass communication from Illinois State University in 2003 and a master’s degree in teaching from Rockford University in 2009. Before deciding to become a teacher, Ford’s early career cemented his connection to children and youth. He worked as a truancy intervention specialist in high schools and director of a teen center that provided educational and after-school activities for youth at risk of dropping out of school. Ford was recognized as Charlotte Magazine’s Charlottean of the Year, and the National Alliance of Black School Educators’ Teacher of the Year.

Posts By James E. Ford

Achievement Gap

We Need More Teachers Like Black Panther’s T’Challa, Now!

I am not an avid comic book reader. In fact, I don’t think I own any at all. But I’m going to see the film based on Marvel superhero “Black Panther,” if for no other reason than how completely and...

Teaching

We Need to Start Telling the Truth About White Supremacy in Our Schools

“If we would start telling the truth in schools, we would not have racism. We could cure racism in this country” —Jane Elliott These words by anti-racist educator Jane Elliott are taken from her...

Teaching

It's Time for Teachers to Take Some of the Blame for Trump

It’s been nearly a month since the election and I’m still not over it. I’ve probably gone through the full spectrum of emotions. Some of my teacher friends were tugging at me to speak or write my...

Charter Schools

I Want to Talk About What Betsy DeVos Isn't Going to Do for Black Students

The school choice debate has perhaps never been more central to the national conversation than right now. With the NAACP’s recent call for a moratorium on charter schools and President-Elect Donald...

Poverty

In Charlotte, Children Still Wear the Garment of Disadvantage

The bustling Southern city of Charlotte, North Carolina, is once again grappling with segregated schools, a problem we had all but conquered nearly 40 years ago. Unfortunately, for too many poor...

Achievement Gap

Stop Using Parents as an Excuse Not to Teach Our Children

My skin starts to crawl whenever I hear the issue of parental involvement raised in discussions about education equity. Not because I don’t believe it’s relevant or has any bearing on educational...

Support Education Equity

Your donations support the voices who challenge decision makers to provide the learning opportunities all children need to thrive.

donate

Ed Post is the flagship website platform of brightbeam, a 501(c3) network of education activists and influencers demanding a better education and a brighter future for every child.