Of the many incredibly clever, spot-on, and ingenious signs from the May 16th, 2018 march and rally in Raleigh, this one has remained my favorite. “Can Anyone Here Proctor?” This gentleman was everywhere. That’s what made this sign so powerful – there is always a test to be administered and there is always a need for  … Continue reading Every North Carolina Lawmaker Should Be a Proctor for a State Exam

It all started with HB17 that was “passed” in a special session of the North Carolina General Assembly after the 2016 elections and before the new terms began. That bill gave the office of the state superintendent more power over the public school system than any previous state superintendent had and removed part of the … Continue reading How Mark Johnson Transformed DPI Into The “Department of Private Interest”

“Administrative resistance to ‘embarrassing’ students, and the education bureaucracy’s refusal to explain why a child is unable to read, has been allowed to trump providing children with the basic skill necessary for success. It’s nothing short of malpractice and another example of the ‘soft bigotry of low expectations.’” - Sen. Phil Berger, January 8th, 2020 … Continue reading “The Soft Bigotry Of Low Expectations” – Phil Berger’s Comments On Read To Achieve

Yesterday, a memorial service was held in honor of the life and spirit of Esteban Garcia whose physical life in this world seemed much too short to fully express the love he possessed and gave to others. It was a little over six years ago that we lost his wife Sarah to breast cancer. Sarah … Continue reading A Prayer For Milo Garcia

It is perfectly lawful to donate to a political campaign, and with the Citizens United case decision from the Supreme Court a few years back, it is now lawful for corporations to donate money through political action committees (PACs) and Super PACs. However, while it is lawful, it doesn’t mean that some interesting ethical questions … Continue reading Speaking Of Mark Johnson’s “Emergency” Purchase, Let’s Revisit The Political Contributions Among Those Involved With The iStation Contract

Kevin Siers is a Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist for the Charlotte Observer. He has dedicated two of his latest works to the iStation / Read to Achieve controversy that are very worth highlighting.    

The next time our State Superintendent has a need to get money for an "emergency" maybe he could take his own advice that he "gave" to us teachers at the beginning of the school year when we had that budget stalemate and a big budget surplus. Wait, we still have that budget stalemate and budget … Continue reading Dear Mr. State Superintendent, The Next Time You Have An “Emergency Situation” That Requires Money Use This

From June of 2016 concerning the Achievement School District, now the Innovative School District (ISD): With just days remaining in the N.C. General Assembly’s short session, leaders on the Senate Education Committee have given their approval to achievement school districts, a GOP-backed model of school reform that may clear for-profit charter takeovers of low-performing schools. Committee Chair Jerry Tillman, a … Continue reading The Model For NC’s Innovative School District Has Officially Failed. Time To Shut Down Our ISD.

Remember when Mark Johnson announced that reading teachers in K-3 would receive a brand new Apple iPad to use in classrooms? That was in the summer of 2018. On the surface, it seemed like a positive notion. But… From Travis Fain at WRAL in August of 2018: Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson announced the plan … Continue reading The Wasted Millions Due To Mark Johnson’s Ineptitude & #ActualEmergencies

This is really Mark Johnson's fault. Halfway through his last full school year as a state superintendent and teachers, students, and parents are left in doubt about the reading assessment diagnostic tool that is to be used to measure reading levels. From NC Policy Watch: Superior Court Judge Mary Ann Tally made no decision Tuesday … Continue reading This Whole iStation Debacle Is The Fault Of One Person: Guess Who.