Blog

September 12, 2019 Building Hope for Equity This School Year

As a veteran teacher of thirty-three years working in a turnaround high school, I often think about the following quote from Hal Lindsey: “Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one...

September 5, 2019 State Assessment Data is a Tool to Help Educators Raise Student Achievement

I am a data nerd. I love to analyze all kinds of data, both at home in rural Wyoming, and at work in Lincoln County School District #2. As an educator, data helps me reflect on what I have done, how effective it was, and...

August 29, 2019 Taking Materials for a Test Drive

Ask any teacher who has been involved in the curriculum adoption process about their experiences and you’ll likely hear versions of the following: “How do I know all of the curriculum and related materials are REALLY standards-aligned and rigorous?” “When will I have the time to review...

August 16, 2019 Backpacks, School Supplies, and Data: Begin the School Year with Purpose

It’s back-to-school time, and teachers are expressing their gratitude on social media as friends, relatives, and other supporters purchase items to donate from their classroom wish lists. These small gifts are helping to create dream classrooms for teachers to have the supplies and materials necessary...

August 12, 2019 Educator Voice in Policy: ESSA was just the Beginning

There is something about finding your voice as an educator and using it to advocate for student-centered policies that brings a sense of satisfaction and motivation to advocate even more. All stakeholders’ voices should be heard and encouraged when creating policy and making decisions for...

August 7, 2019 Adequate Funding for Our Schools is an Investment in Our Future

Earlier this week, PDK International released results from their 51st annual poll of public attitudes towards education. The report “Frustration in the Schools: Teachers Speak out on pay, funding and feeling undervalued” revealed that for the 18th year in a row, the public feels a...

July 31, 2019 “Fairness” in School Spending

As an educator, I so often hear my students lament, “That’s not fair!” As we become adults, the concept of fairness becomes much more nuanced, and we often view situations from an equity perspective instead of fairness. This is generally the case in education, where...