Sure. Most people here in North Carolina might think of the beginning of the school year as being closer to the end of August, but it actually begins much earlier. Well before students will begin roaming the halls to re-acclimate themselves to a bell schedule, teachers will report to school for "pre-planning," which is a … Continue reading Actually, School Starts In One Week
Month: July 2017
About That BEST NC Perspective on Shamrock Gardens Elementary – It Was the Community, Not the Model
This past week, BestNC’s president and CEO Brenda Berg published an op-ed on EdNC.org focusing on Charlotte’s Shamrock Gardens Elementary School and its success at transforming itself into a school where all teachers are high-performing and student proficiency has risen “by 15 points – from 42% to 57% – an achievement reached by fewer than … Continue reading About That BEST NC Perspective on Shamrock Gardens Elementary – It Was the Community, Not the Model
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SB599 on Steroids – The Fast Tracking of DeVos and Johnson
This past month, I wrote about SB599 in a post called The Stench of SB599. In it I stated, “The overall premise of this bill is to ensure that we have a proper teacher pipeline going into the schools.” - Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, R- Wilkes, in response to questions about SB599 on House floor in … Continue reading SB599 on Steroids – The Fast Tracking of DeVos and Johnson
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A Letter to Secretary DeVos from a Special Normal Public School Student
Malcolm will be thrilled with this! Thanks.
Stuart Egan teaches high school in North Carolina. His son Malcolm was born with Down Syndrome. He is in third grade in public school and is thriving. Stuart helped Malcolm compose this letter to Secretary Betsy DeVos. Malcolm wonders if she cares about kids like him.
The letter starts like this:
“Dear Secretary DeVos,
“My name is Malcolm and I just finished third-grade in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School system. I have vibrant red-hair and blue eyes like my mom, wear cool glasses, have a wicked follow through on my jump shot, and am quite the dancer. My dad also wears glasses, but he does not dance very well nor has much hair. My sister is in high school. She is very smart and she helps me with my homework.
“I also have an extra chromosome because of a condition called Trisomy 21. You may know it as Down Syndrome. It…
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Betsy DeVos and Mark Johnson – Social Vegans in a Job For Omnivores
I came across this picture of a restaurant’s sign located in Texas, and while I am not in any way trying to criticize people’s dietary choices, I did have to chuckle. God knows anyone who knows me knows the dietary adventures that I have had in my life. But what this sign is saying … Continue reading Betsy DeVos and Mark Johnson – Social Vegans in a Job For Omnivores
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The Best Spirit Wear You Can Own Comes From Your Local High School
Sometimes you can get a glimpse of the culture of a school by the amount of garb students, faculty, and community members wear that dons the name, mascot, or colors of the local high school. At my school, they call it "West Wear." And I have a closet full of it much to my wife's … Continue reading The Best Spirit Wear You Can Own Comes From Your Local High School
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Dear Secretary DeVos, From Malcolm, A Special Normal Public School Kid
Dear Secretary DeVos, My name is Malcolm and I just finished third-grade in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School system. I have vibrant red-hair and blue eyes like my mom, wear cool glasses, have a wicked follow through on my jump shot, and am quite the dancer. My dad also wears glasses, but he does not dance … Continue reading Dear Secretary DeVos, From Malcolm, A Special Normal Public School Kid
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The Most Enabled Man in Raleigh – North Carolina’s State Superintendent
The July 14th ruling by a three-judge panel in favor of State Supt. Mark Johnson may have been a huge victory on the surface for Johnson’s supporters and those who seek to exert their influence through him and his inexperience. But it is not a real victory for Johnson himself. While the office of the … Continue reading The Most Enabled Man in Raleigh – North Carolina’s State Superintendent
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The Power of the Student Section
Last night I caught a tweet from my school's spirit club about "theme nights" for the upcoming football season. Hawaiian Night Jersey Night Toga Night White Out Camo Night Neon Night America Night Green & Gold Night Pink Out Lights Out! Tie Dye Those themes are for all of the games - home and away. … Continue reading The Power of the Student Section
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The UnFAIR VANITY of Betsy DeVos
I have never read the William Makepeace Thackery Victorian novel Vanity Fair. Never will. But I would like to meet someone whose middle name is Makepeace. My understanding is that it is a somewhat satirical look at English society, but when I look at the title, I immediately think of the iconic magazine Vanity Fair … Continue reading The UnFAIR VANITY of Betsy DeVos
caffeinated rage 