It's Women's History Month and this is your friendly reminder that black women are undermined, underappreciated, and outright mistreated in this country. Black women are the breadwinners. They are “the most active voting blocs in the US electorate.” They are community-builders and the unsung heroes of the civil rights movement. They are the United States’ … Continue reading How “woke” white folks block black women’s progress
The Segregated, Stealthy Spaces of Education Policy
As sure as the campaign signs and billboards will soon be removed across our state, the image of diverse, broad-based support and engagement presented by vote-seeking politicians will be replaced with an all-too-familiar reality: folks are most comfortable doing the business of public policy in segregated, stealthy spaces hand-in-hand with special interest groups. In the … Continue reading The Segregated, Stealthy Spaces of Education Policy
Should Delaware’s teachers’ union have endorsed Lisa Blunt Rochester on her historic run for Congress?
Photo credit: Doug Curran, Special to News Journal Lisa Blunt Rochester is poised to make history this fall. The former Delaware Labor Secretary and current Democratic candidate for Congress is super-qualified and would be the first woman and person of color The First State sent to Congress. Delaware is one of only three states that has … Continue reading Should Delaware’s teachers’ union have endorsed Lisa Blunt Rochester on her historic run for Congress?
How another police shooting reveals public education’s problems with race
As a father of a 16-month-old, I'm tired. But after enough “you don’t know what tired looks like” clapbacks and side-eye from my wife, I no longer say such silly things in front of her. The many times I am up at night with my daughter pales in comparison to the amount of sleep she … Continue reading How another police shooting reveals public education’s problems with race
Do education leaders really want parent involvement?
After four relatively flawless, under-the-radar years at the Delaware Department of Education, I made a "mistake": I invited parents to a public meeting. Education leaders were scheduled to hold a committee meeting to discuss the future of the state’s teacher evaluation system and I sent an email invitation to dozens of parents. These were a … Continue reading Do education leaders really want parent involvement?
Why Delaware education is going to miss Christopher Ruszkowski
Christopher Ruszkowski’s six-year tenure at the Department of Education (most recentlyas the Associate Secretary of the Teacher & Leader Effectiveness Branch) came to an end in April. Rumor has it he rode off into the sunset en route to a position as Deputy Secretary in the New Mexico Department of Education. His detractors likely collectively … Continue reading Why Delaware education is going to miss Christopher Ruszkowski
Do #blackvoicesmatter in Delaware schools?
Another black history month came and went and far too many students I work with were told they don't matter. Every year, I ask my students in TeenSHARP how their schools celebrated and acknowledged Black History Month. If they're lucky their school displayed their trusty Dr. Martin Luther King poster, made a few black history … Continue reading Do #blackvoicesmatter in Delaware schools?
Urgency of Now 