It’s a special kind of cruel irony that the only state in the country with the lowest legal minimum wage, no collective bargaining rights, delayed Medicaid expansion, loosely regulated vouchers and charter school expansion, a school performance grading system that measures achievement over growth, and the lowest corporate flat tax in the nation cannot even … Continue reading UNIONIZE! NC Teachers (And All Public Employees) Should Have Collective Bargaining Rights

When the state audit of the WSFCS finances was released in response to the budget crisis of 2025, it combed through years of financial statements. What was found was not a one time incident that set the district astray, but a series of mistakes that compounded upon each other to create this storm of a … Continue reading The Most Frustrating Thing About The WSFCS Budget Crisis

It's not the news one wants to hear, especially with no raises. And just remember, there is no new budget passed this year. If a budget is not passed, then the state automatically reverts to the previous budget’s recurring spending levels which is exactly what has happened this year. The only “budgetary” item that has … Continue reading So, We’re Going To Pay More For Insurance?

One of the common "loose mantras" being thrown around during this recent WSFCS financial crisis is, "We are in this together." No we aren't. Some voices are louder than others. Some are just hearing and not listening. Some things are being planned behind closed doors. It is hard for a veteran teacher who still sends … Continue reading In This WSFCS Financial Crisis, We Are Not “All In This Together”

The most current numbers for the following: Average Gas Price Average Milk Price Average Egg Prices Average Bread Price Consumer Confidence Presidential Approval Rating Federal Interest Rate Dow Jones Index Inflation Rate NC Tax Rates NC Minimum Wage Unemployment Rates Unemployment Benefits Number of People Who Enrolled in ACA coverage Number of Students in NC … Continue reading August 2025- Numbers To Consider

I do not envy any part of the job that the WSFCS Interim Superintendent is tasked to do. She came into a situation whose negative inertia is still allowing it to create more havoc. It's been nearly five months since the first concern over WSFCS's finances became public. Since that time, it seems that the … Continue reading Yet Another WSFCS Budget Update (And The Stages Of Grief)

Despite what lawmakers and reformers may say, you can’t really be measured. Not even EVAAS scores that will arrive well after school starts come close to attempting to measure you. In fact, those who are measuring you do not have instruments complex enough to really gauge your effectiveness. They are too busy trying to disparage … Continue reading Dear Fellow NC Public School Teachers – What We Do Cannot Really Be Measured

The fact that many teachers in this state (and others) have set up Amazon Wishlists is a strong indication of the NCGA’s unwillingness to fully fund public schools. The NC General Assembly has acknowledged the fact that teachers need fully funded schools and resources as well as the professional license to pursue what they know … Continue reading A Teacher’s “Amazon Wishlist” For The NCGA

Year 28 in a public high school classroom. I have seen the comings and goings of many an initiative - NCLB, ABC, PLAN, RttT (Race To The Top), Common Core, ASW, AMO, EVAAS, etc. I have taught with Betsy DeVos as the highest ranking education official in the country. Linda McMahon has not been in … Continue reading This Year Might Be The Toughest School Year Yet. And It Hasn’t Really Started.

It's cruelly ironic that a man who used to lead the WSFCS school board and retired from heading one of the largest hospitals in the state to literally say, "Hey. I can't help. You're too late." Or maybe it is not cruelly ironic, but rather should be totally expected. Here is how the man who … Continue reading Hey, Donny. Berger Tell You To Say That?