Special Education
Here’s What Children With Disabilities and Their Families Want Teachers to Know as We Start the School Year
As a mom of a child with disabilities, I know we parents can spend the early days of the school year terrified that a new classroom teacher won’t know how to support our children. In hopes of showing...
Teaching
Not to Be a Buzzkill, But Teachers Need a Reminder to Be Nice to Their Students
I couldn’t sleep the other night and found myself doing what any reasonable person would do: I turned to Twitter. There was the usual: President Trump had insulted someone again, Congress was arguing...
Charter Schools
Coffee Break: Why Ramon Griffin Left Law to Change School Discipline
As a youth in Ford Heights, Illinois, Ramon Griffin grew up asking hard questions. Why did his ZIP code have so many schools on the academic watch list? Why did his community have so few resources,...
Charter Schools
Classroom Jobs Let Students Take Control of Their Own Learning
Is there anyone happier than a 6-year-old who has been entrusted with an important task? Kiddos, in my experience, like almost nothing better than to be taken seriously. They’re smart and capable and...
Teaching
First Day Jitters? Teachers Get Them Too!
As I embark on my 15th year in public education, I’m baffled that it still happens to me. After all, this is my 15th “first day”! I have my first-day handouts copied and I’ve spent the last two weeks...
Politics
Before Deciding the Fate of Houston's Schools, You Need to Listen to Parents
Last week, 2019 state ratings showed three out of four Houston Independent School District (HISD) schools made gains on test scores and got off “Improvement Required” status. As a parent advocate in...
