“Good leadership requires you to surround yourself with people of diverse perspectives who can disagree with you without fear of retaliation.”
― Doris Kearns Goodwin

Vouchers and AI: The Two Policy Punchlines

Two things that suck the air out of every current education policy discussion—vouchers and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Why I’ve Changed My Mind on Vouchers

A decade ago, I’d have been out front with a pitchfork in hand, rallying against both. When it came to vouchers, I’d rattle off the talking points: they only benefit the rich, strip public schools of critical funding, and mark the beginning of the end for public education.

But now? I’m more tempered. I’ve seen too much, lived too much, to stick with simple binaries.

Public schools fail way too many kids. Full stop. Vouchers—while imperfect—ease the financial burden for families who’ve long scraped together tuition payments just to get their children into schools that work for them. And here’s the real kicker: sometimes, private school isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline.

We love to argue that most voucher recipients are already enrolled in private schools—as if that alone delegitimizes their need. But that oversimplifies things. We’re painting whole families with a brush we dipped in agenda. It’s unfair. Maybe they were scraping by before. Maybe they went private after a long, painful struggle with public school options that simply didn’t serve their child. Maybe this is the only break they’ve caught.

Last night, my wife and I argued. Not out of anger, but out of urgency—about our kids, their future, and how to give them a better shot than we ever had. I told her, I don’t want our kids to live the same life I did. I’ve managed okay, but money has been a constant struggle. I’ve had to play hurt more times than I care to count. And I don’t want that for them.

But here’s the truth: because of where I stand economically, doors remain closed. I can pry open a few more than most, but not enough. If a voucher becomes available—why shouldn’t I take it?

Is it dog-eat-dog? Maybe. But ambition and compassion aren’t mutually exclusive. If you’re not in the game, you can’t change the rules. Pledging allegiance to a system that refuses to return the favor doesn’t serve anyone.

And this idea that vouchers are robbing schools of funding? Come on. If our schools are so broke, why is there always money for executives? Nashville’s school director earns more than the city’s mayor. That’s insane.

Meanwhile, teachers grind—working two, sometimes three jobs, just to survive. When they get a raise, it comes with strings attached: more oversight, more micromanagement, more expectations. Like it’s some royal favor.

There is money in education. It’s just not going to the people doing the work.

AI Isn’t the Boogeyman

Then there’s AI—the second great panic button of education.

I’ve been exploring AI for months now. Let’s clear something up: it’s not magic. There’s a steep learning curve. If you want to really harness its power, you need to learn how to prompt it. You don’t just type “fish in the sea” and get the perfect essay back.

It’s trial and error. It’s a craft.

I still write this blog the same way I always have—several hours, 3000 words at a time. But now, instead of spending even more time proofreading, editing, and formatting, I let AI do that part. It’s no different than handing your work to a human editor. The difference? Now everyone can afford one.

You remember how rough this blog used to be—misspellings, awkward phrasing, inconsistent flow. I heard you. All of that’s changed. Time will tell if it’s for the better.

But in schools, we’re doing what we always do—freaking out and refusing to adapt. Studies warn that AI is changing kids’ brains. Adults panic. But here’s the deal—we don’t know what the world will look like ten years from now. And we definitely don’t know as much about the brain as we pretend to.

The brain evolves. It always has. When we shifted from hunter-gatherers to farmers, I bet folks thought kids were losing critical survival skills. But that shift laid the groundwork for civilization.

Our kids don’t need preparation for the world that’s fading. They need skills for the one that’s rising.

I tell my kids all the time—your comfort isn’t my priority. Your readiness is.

If a school is more comfortable for adults than for students, that should be a red flag.

MNPS Leadership: Loyalty Over Learning?

Now, about MNPS leadership. They just can’t seem to get out of their own way.

If the $6.5 million settlement was supposed to help the district “move on,” it’s already failed.

Earlier this week, I questioned the ethics of using district employees to defend the superintendent against retaliation allegations. The district’s response? “Hold my beer.”

Not only did we get the social media loyalty parade, but now principals are receiving this message:

“You will soon receive a notecard in your interoffice mail to use if you would like to share a personal message of appreciation for Dr. Battle, celebrating her leadership impact over the past 6 years. Please bring your completed notecard to the principal meeting next Thursday, 8/21 where we will have a collection box to gather all cards for a special presentation to her.”

How is this acceptable?

What happens if a principal refuses to sign? That person becomes vulnerable to retaliation, whether explicit or implicit. These cards feel less like appreciation and more like loyalty oaths.

And let’s be real—when are these cards being written? On school time? If so, that’s misuse of taxpayer dollars. Shouldn’t everyone be focused on students?

Instead, the attention has shifted away from kids and onto Dr. Battle. That should make us all uneasy.

Andrea Williams, writing in The Tennessean, echoed my take on Tuesday’s school board meeting. She highlighted the sincerity and reasonableness of PROPEL parents who voiced their concerns at Tuesday’s board meeting. Their criticisms were measured, thoughtful, and deserved a response.

But instead of listening, Battle supporters flooded the floor with effusive praise, one after another.

“Let’s be very clear,” said Jere Baxter principal Kisha Cox, “we may be imitated in MNPS, but we could never be duplicated. We are MNPS. We are building a legacy that lasts.”

And Board Chair Freda Player? She doubled down, praising Battle as a beacon of inspiration in times of crisis—like during the Antioch High shooting.

Then came Sharon Gentry, former board member, who closed the meeting by accusing critics of politicizing students from disadvantaged backgrounds. She framed them as pawns in a narrative of deceit.

Cringe-worthy.

And now principals are expected to put their allegiance in writing?

Meanwhile, there are whispers about renovations in Dr. Battle’s office—including a new executive bathroom. Can’t confirm the bathroom, but the renovations are real. Odd, considering that Bransford just underwent renovations under Dr. Shawn Joseph.

Some schools—like Haywood Elementary, once led by lawsuit plaintiff Damon Cathy—are still waiting for basic repairs.

But sure, let’s freshen up Bransford.

Say it with me: nothing to see here.

There’s an old Stan Lee quote: “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Someone asked me yesterday, “Who does Dr. Battle report to?”

Took me a second to answer. The school board, technically—but they seem to have abdicated that responsibility.

The Schwinnigans Never End

While we’re on the topic of questionable leadership, let’s talk about a couple of former Tennessee Department of Education heads.

Dr. Lisa Coons—formerly of MNPS—left Tennessee to lead Virginia’s public schools. Unsurprisingly, her tenure hasn’t been smooth. Missed deadlines, incomplete reports, delayed publication of critical teaching materials. She’s now a finalist for top jobs in Michigan and Nevada. Naturally.

And Penny Schwinn? She recently popped up in Knoxville with U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon as part of a “Returning Education to the States” tour.

Despite never securing congressional approval to be Undersecretary of Education, Schwinn is now part of McMahon’s entourage as a “special advisor.”

During her visit, McMahon praised Tennessee’s focus on early literacy, CTE programs, AI adoption—you know, all the usual buzzwords. But as always, the devil’s in the details. And with Schwinn involved, you better believe the drama isn’t over.

We’ll keep you posted on any future Schwinnigans.

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Categories: Education