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

Richard Groves is a former pastor of Wake Forest Baptist Church and former adjunct instructor at High Point University. I met him in the Fall of 1988 as a freshman at Wake Forest. His church met on the Wake campus in Wait Chapel, the most visible structure on campus. And I enjoyed hearing him speak … Continue reading “Isolation leads to teacher love” -What One Pastor Said About The Role Of Schools And Educators

Scott Elliott is the superintendent of the Watauga County School System that includes Boone, home of Appalachian State University, one of the best teacher colleges in Southeast. Like so many superintendents in the state, not only is he having to spearhead the efforts to help feed students and provide resources for their well-being while this … Continue reading “To all the public school haters social media stars/self promoters, and critical friends” – This Superintendent Nailed It

Below is one of the several headlines and ledesacross media outlets today concerning President Trump's remarks about not wanting mail-in ballots to be used in case the country is still in an epidemic and shut-down. If schools can be forced to go to virtual learning in a matter of a day or two, we can … Continue reading If Schools Can Go To Virtual Learning, We Can Do Mail-In Ballots In November

... the two people committed to "Building Our Union" & "Reclaiming Our State." When I talk with a younger teacher hired after 2014, I make sure to inform him/her of what I have that the current North Carolina General has made sure they won't (unless it changes). I talk about due-process rights and graduate degree … Continue reading I Am A Member of NCAE. This Year’s State Officer Elections Are Important. That’s Why I Am Voting For…

Consider the following tweet: Jennifer Berkshire is a well-known education blogger. Her tweet refers to a recent post on Valerie Strauss's well-known education blog for the Washington Post called  "The Answer Sheet." That post, entitled "Many public schools never recovered from the Great Recession. The coronavirus could spark a new education crisis," includes this graphic … Continue reading NC Public Education Never Fully Recovered From The 2008 Recession. What About From This Pandemic?

Don't let it be lost that Lt. Gov. Dan Forest's response to the State Board of Education's 8-2 vote to not extend the contract with iStation was made five days after the vote occurred. Don't let it be lost that Lt. Gov. Dan Forest is a State Board of Education member and was not present … Continue reading Lt. Gov. Dan Forest’s Statement On The Vote To Not Extend Contract With iStation – Another Reason He Should Not Be Governor

Consider the following maps and data graphs below and answer the question that follows. From page 10 of the NC Justice Center BTC Report "Strong medicine: Why Medicaid expansion is the right treatment for rural hospitals, economies:" And this is the map of cases of COVID-19 and other data graphs as of the writing of … Continue reading A One-Question EOC Test For The NC General Assembly

North Carolina currently has a minimum wage of $7.25 which is the federal minimum. North Carolina is one of seven states to make collective bargaining illegal. This is a map of the economic well-being of each NC county as reported be the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The LIGHTER the shade of blue, the more economic “distress.” North … Continue reading Seven Graphics That This Epidemic Shows Should Be Changed For Our Schools & Communities