We need a fully diverse teacher workforce. We need racial, ethnic, and gender diversity to help our teachers look more like our students.
CPS Will Likely Share Reopening Plans Soon–Here’s What I Want to See
Last Friday, Block Club reported that the Chicago Public Schools will release more details about its reopening plans this week. It also quoted Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady as saying some students may have a chance to go back in person this fall, “if we are able to keep our outbreak basically in control, as it is.”…
White Progressives Have a Lot of Work to Do, and I’m Not Here to Help
When I ran for school board it was Betsy Hodges, the former Minneapolis mayor, who was the first elected official to endorse me. She asked me a lot of questions, offered some straight talk about the political system and spoke very clearly about what it takes to win in a Whiter than White town like Minneapolis. Later, after winning a…
Police Presence Does Not Reduce Community Violence–But Sex Ed Does!
As a Chicago Public Schools parent and a survivor of gender-based violence, I’ve seen how the presence of police did not reduce the rates of sexual violence in schools.
Chavez Elementary Students Say “Everyone Counts” in Census 2020
In the middle of all the intensity 2020 has thrown our way, let’s not forget a very important task families can do to support their schools: complete the Census 2020! Which, if you haven’t already done it, you can do right here: https://2020census.gov. Billions of dollars in federal and state money for schools, students and families is distributed on the…
It Takes Courage and Community for Teachers To See Their Own Biases
Excellent teachers do not start as the people that they believe they should be, but goal by goal, truth by truth, day by day, they can do great things for all students.
City Year Offers Schools A Research-Backed Guide to Plan for Next Year
Recovering from COVID-19 gives us a special chance to think creatively and collaboratively about how we catch students up academically while simultaneously supporting their social and emotional well-being. City Year near-peer mentors can play a key role in helping students recover.
Parents Say, When It Comes to Helping Kids Find the Right High School, LEARN Charter’s Carol Huck Gets the Job Done
Micah Peace is proud of his daughter, London, who just graduated from eighth grade and is on her way to Westinghouse College Prep. And he’s very pleased with the support he got from Carol Huck, counselor at LEARN Charter, to help London find the right school for her and for their family. (Carol Huck is pictured at the far right…