Talk about setting oneself up for failure. Publishing former MNPS teacher Scott Bennett’s exit letter yesterday really raised the bar for the week. It seems his words resonated with y’all, and as a result, that post has grown to become… Read More ›
Month: February 2018
WORDS FROM A RECENTLY DEPARTED MNPS TEACHER
I didn’t write a post today because I was off attending STEM Summit III at MTSU in Murfreesboro. It was a fantastic experience, and I’m extremely grateful to Connie Smith for inviting me. Expect more details on the Summit tomorrow…. Read More ›
OF TITLE I, TESTING, AND WEEKEND POLL QUESTIONS
Today’s blog post comes with a little warning: this is going to be a bit of a heavy lift. I want to try to translate into layman’s terms some issues surrounding Title I funding and increased standardized testing. But before… Read More ›
WILL ENOUGH EVER BE ENOUGH?
Last night, as I drove my 7-year-old home from Jiu-Jitsu class, a voice came from the back seat: “Why did that kid want to shoot those other kids?” “Huh?” It took me a minute to realize what he was talking… Read More ›
TOO MUCH
This post isn’t this week’s usual early week update. I was too busy enjoying President’s Day with my kids to write that. But I saw this, written by an MNPS teacher, and I felt it deserved wider recognition. So I’m… Read More ›
PULLING PAPERS
Over the last decade, I have been, what I guess you could call, a community activist. My wife and I bought a house in Woodbine shortly after our marriage in 2005, and I immediately dived into community activism. I was… Read More ›
A PROMISE TO TRY DENIED
One of the primary goals of this blog has always been to amplify the voice of teachers. Amanda Kail is one of the most dedicated teachers you’ll ever meet. She’s one of those people who you sometimes have to stand… Read More ›
LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT
Once again the week begins with a heavy heart due to the loss of a child’s life. The Oliver Middle School family is in mourning this week over the loss of 8th grade student Ariana Binave as a result of a… Read More ›
A QUESTION OF FOCUS
When writing these pieces, I often feel like a curmudgeon shouting “Get off my yard” to the kids. I don’t think of myself as a negative person by nature, but I am driven by an overarching desire to have honest… Read More ›
A PUSH FOR EXPANDING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN MNPS
I hope everybody enjoyed their Super Bowl festivities yesterday. The NFL did not have a very good season this year, but I think yesterday’s game redeemed the season. It was wall-to-wall action with seldom a dull moment. My MVP award… Read More ›
Dad Gone Wild 