Author Archives
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NASHVILLE SCHOOL BOARD RACE: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Sunday morning I sat down to write another post about my visit to the recent 2016 National Charter Schools Conference. I really need to share information about the Achievement School District panel that I attended while there. Unfortunately, I opened… Read More ›
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A Dad Walks into a Charter School Convention
Two weeks ago as I was settling down to watch the latest episode of Game of Thrones, I got a call: “Did you know that the National Convention of Charter Schools was going to be held Monday, right here in Nashville, Tennessee?” I did… Read More ›
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An Educated Parent Voice is a Stronger Parent Voice.
Earlier this week, I commented on the education reform movement’s brilliant use of language. This week, another component of their modus operandi revealed itself. Over the years, I’ve noticed that the education reform crowd seems to have incredibly thin skin. If they feel… Read More ›
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The Importance of Parent Voice
The thing I admire most about the education reform movement is their brilliant co-opting of language. They use language to frame their manifesto in a manner that is extremely difficult to counter-argue. Take, for example, their heavy reliance on phrases… Read More ›
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Unemployed
Last Friday, after the morning meeting, my company’s CFO casually asked if I was going to be around that afternoon. With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I replied yes. He said he was going to come see me later… Read More ›
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Coming to a Nashville Polling Place Near You
At some point in the mid-1970s, the idea of the summer blockbuster was born and our movie watching habits changed dramatically. Previously, winter had been movie time. Summer was reserved for outdoor activities and family vacations. But then, studios discovered… Read More ›
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Time for TNDOE to Trade in for a Better Model
A number of years ago, I bought a Toyota 4Runner from a friend. Man, I loved that car. To this day I miss it. I’d had it for about 6 months when I realized that it had some issues. I… Read More ›
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Welcome to Nashville Dr. Joseph
It’s been a long and arduous trip, but Nashville finally has a new Director of Schools. The Metro Nashville Public School Board offered the gig to Dr. Shawn Joseph, currently the deputy superintendent from Prince George’s County Public Schools in… Read More ›
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Challenging a Manufactured Perception
Way back in the days of yore, I was a communications major at Penn State University. I didn’t have much interest in production work, but communication theory really appealed to me. Agenda setting and subtle ways that narratives were established really… Read More ›
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Tennessee’s Accountability Problem
Not long after my first child was born, I came to the realization that children were expensive and that I was going to need to find a means to make a little extra income. Luckily, I had worked as a… Read More ›
Dad Gone Wild 