Today marks the due date for the MNPS School Board’s evaluation of the Director of Schools. Dr. Joseph has already completed his self-evaluation (SJoseph Summative Self-Eval Evidence Companion – June 2018 to Board 06.1…) and widely shared it with the public…. Read More ›
Month: June 2018
DOCTOR MY EYES
Too often, MNPS initiatives are driven by outside entities. Our literacy plans are written by outside consultants and our teachers coached by people contracted by the district. We purchase scripted curriculum from the University of Pittsburgh. We have contracted specialists… Read More ›
TELL YOU WHAT I SAY
Have you ever been at a bar or at the airport, sitting by yourself, trying to mind your own business when that guy plops downs next to you and starts talking? You know, the one who seems to have an… Read More ›
IT’S A MATTER OF CULTURE
“Books are fun, Nicholas, he says, they’re like amusement parks for readers. Yeah, well, maybe they would be fun if I got to pick the rides sometimes, you answer.” – Kwame Alexander, Booked This past weekend, I attended the very… Read More ›
PROCESS? WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING PROCESS
If you watch MNPS School Board meetings, sometimes you’ll see the oddest conversations. This week’s meeting provides a perfect example of what I’m talking about. If you don’t regularly watch board meetings you may not be familiar with the term… Read More ›
SHADES OF DORIAN GRAY
I know it’s not a perfect analogy, but every time MNPS rolls out a new presentation, it’s The Picture of Dorian Gray that comes to mind. In the Oscar Wilde-written novel, the character, Dorian Gray, wishes to remain young and beautiful… Read More ›
SUMMER IN THE CITY
Hot town, summer in the city Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty Been down, isn’t it a pity Doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city Those words by the Lovin’ Spoonful seem to be the perfect… Read More ›
JUST HOW EXPENSIVE IS READING RECOVERY?
Last night I attended the Metropolitan Nashville Council meeting and spoke out on the pending budget. I’m not going to pretend that I was anywhere near as eloquent as those who spoke before and after me. Truth is, I’m pretty… Read More ›
IN SEARCH OF EQUITY
It seems like you can’t hold a conversation these days about Metro Nashville Public Schools without also discussing race, class, and equity. On a lot of levels, that’s a very good thing. For too long, we’ve put our collective heads… Read More ›
HE STEPS UP TO THE PLATE – SMILING
I’m going to ask for a little indulgence today. You see, I coach my son’s 7-9-year-old Little League baseball team, and yesterday we won our first tournament game in what I can only describe as a matchup of epic proportions…. Read More ›