Having grown up in a small town in the deep South during the 1970’s and 80’s, it was not uncommon to view televangelists on weekends, especially when only four or five channels were available to watch. Claims made by these people were seemingly noble and altruistic, but they always asked for money to do God’s … Continue reading The “Legivangelists” in Raleigh, NC

Earlier today Dr. Diane Ravitch posted on her blog a post from Terri Michal, a member of the elected board of education in Birmingham, Alabama. Ravitch reported what Michal had written. I love public education employees. They are the most resourceful group of people you could ever meet. They have to be. These employees work in … Continue reading All Certified And Classified Public School Personnel Should Be Aware Of The Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights

Below is a list of the five core issues brought into the public discourse for the “All Out For May 1st” Public Education Rally and March last year. Thousands of people showed up to advocate for these issues. Below is what Mark Johnson, the top public education official in the state, said in regard to … Continue reading We Should So Rally When This Epidemic Subsides: How Coronavirus Highlights 4 Of The 5 Issues From Last Year’s “All Out For May 1st”

This blog has highlighted SAS and its use of the EVAAS system to measure teacher effectiveness.  And every time this teacher thinks of EVAAS, he thinks of a presentation by James Ford in October of 2017. Ford delivered the keynote address at that time to the North Carolina English Teacher’s Association. It was more than … Continue reading Let’s Go Ahead And Get Rid Of EVAAS. It Can’t Measure What Teachers Are REally Doing For Students Now.

Below is a graphic put out by EdWeek this past week concerning what has now being called the COVID Slide. It is akin to what is known as the "Summer Slide," an overall term to describe the loss of learning when students are removed from the traditional classroom structure. The "Summer Slide" also shows what … Continue reading About The COVID Slide: No Standardized Test Can Measure What Students Are Learning Now

“Did You Know? During 2017, the state spent $3.3 billion on medical and pharmacy benefits. At the same time, costs have increased 5 to 10 percent while funding for the Plan only saw a 4 percent increase. In addition, the state has a $34 billion unfunded liability for retiree health care. This liability is a … Continue reading Have To Note The Hypocrisy: Remembering That Letter From the State Treasurer to Teachers About Insurance Costs

Today will mark the end of the fourth week of virtual teaching (tomorrow is Good Friday). The adjustments, the outreach, the conversion of lesson plans to another format, teh communication, the... you name it. It is all a continuing reminder of what all goes into this job that most of us do not actually call … Continue reading Dear North Carolina Lawmaker, Exactly What is the Job Description of a Public School Teacher?

I am the proud parent of  two children. One is a highly intelligent and academically driven young lady who looks like her mother. The other one is what some in the educational field might call “special.” He looks like his mother as well. Specifically, that child has Down Syndrome and is on the autism spectrum … Continue reading What My Special Needs Child With The Really Big IEP Has Taught And Retaught Me As A Teacher In This Epidemic

Over the last three-plus years, we have become somewhat conditioned to receiving emails, glossy flyers, and other forms of blanket communications from our current state superintendent about a variety of topics presented in ways that make him appear proactive, attentive, and sensitive to the needs of public schools and the communities they serve. Below is … Continue reading So, Where Is The State Superintendent? It’s Time For Him To Be That Leader He Claims To Have Been

Below are the 12 basic findings from the WestEd Leandro Report released last fall entitled "Sound Basic Education for All – An Action Plan for North Carolina." Finding #1: Funding in North Carolina has declined over the last decade. Finding #2: The current distribution of education funding is inequitable. Finding #3: Specific student populations need … Continue reading Looking At The Leandro Report Through The Eyes Of An Epidemic