Not to toot my own horn (although I clearly aim), but I think that I do a great job when facilitating a professional development session; that’s what the attendees say on the evaluations. After each PD I facilitate, I always run down what worked and what didn’t work to improve for the next session I … More Ingredients of a Great PD
Are you curious about how to address students who are failing classes? I have a few suggestions. There is a catch: you must (1) have an open mind, (2) err on the side of common sense, and (3) have the capacity for human decency. If you can check all of those boxes, you’re ready. If … More How To Address Failing Grades
One of the more toxic places in school happens to be the teachers’ lounge. The teachers’ lounge is supposedly a safe haven for teachers to go to without fear of being pestered by students or administrators. But that safe haven often becomes a den of venting teachers. Venting can be therapeutic, however, a therapy session … More Surviving the Teacher’s Lounge
Many educators, particularly school leaders love to use data to inform teacher instruction. The data movement is a popular one; particularly in the age of school reform. Decisions about curriculum, instruction, and assessment tend to be shaped and determined by data. Well, what is the data? Generally, the data consist of student test scores from … More Doing Data Mindfully
Disclaimer: This post is for the administrators, however, teachers can gain something from it. Use this knowledge well. Thanksgiving is about three things. First, it is about teaching children the truth; that White settlers gave thanks for the slaughtering of the indigenous. Second, it is a time to actually be thankful for those things that … More Beware of the Unseasoned
[Disclaimer: If you are not a first-year teacher, please pass this along to a first-year teacher that you know. However, there are some gems that you can utilize also.] As a first-year teacher, there’s so many things you must learn in order to do your job well. When you agree to teach at a … More For the First-Year Teachers
One of the things I dreaded most as a teacher was attending professional development sessions offered by my schools. PD sessions were supposed to be a time where I could refine my craft; a time where I could learn from administrators and specialists in the field during workshops where I and my colleagues could strategically … More Doing PD The Right Way
When it comes to education reform where Black and Brown children are concerned, I always ask one simple question: are the best interests of Black and Brown students top priority? In particular, this question frames the way I look at the charter v. traditional public school debate. As a Black educator, I find myself between … More Unsure About Running the Relay
The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone
Where Race and Sport Intersect at the Point of Commentary
A blog on race, equity, and urban education
... A Strong Rhyme to Step To
"To sting people and whip them into a fury, all in the service of truth."
Navigating Inner City Ministry in Real Time
Urban Education Mixtape 