“Everyone else is doing it” doesn’t cut it. North Carolina’s Students Deserve Better than Istation Chelsea M. Bartel, PhD School Psychologist, NC Licensed Psychologist (LP) 22 states and the District of Columbia. Read the full version here.  

They are called Education Freedom Scholarships, and they were introduced this past February to much fanfare. "Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, along with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL), unveiled Education Freedom Scholarships (EFS), the Trump Administration's key proposal to expand and improve the education options available to … Continue reading “A Clown Show” – DeVos Is Trying to Expand More Privatization to North Carolina

Different media outlets have already reported that legal representation for iStation has sent out at least three Cease & Desist letters to individuals who have questioned the process by which iStation has procured a contract through NCDPI. Those individuals have in their calling as public school advocates and as tax payers sought information and have … Continue reading About Those iStation Cease & Desist Letters

"There was a whistle-blower." "There were misstatements." "There was a conflict of interest." "There was not unanimous consensus." "There were nondisclosure agreements." "There is more documentation to come out." Look at all of the different "excuses" as to why State Superintendent Mark Johnson has not fully come clean about a unilateral decision to sign a … Continue reading “Honestly demean myself in the practice of an Attorney” – Mark Johnson’s Oath to “Come Clean” on iStation Contract

So much for transparency. Two articles were posted today online from both the News & Observer and WRAL.com that shed more light on the clouds that intentionally keep surrounding the iStation contract awarded unilaterally by Mark Johnson this past month. Justin Parmenter's also posted today on his blog Notes From the Chalkboard further explaining why … Continue reading Cease & Desist Letters and a “Whistle-Blower” – This iStation Thing is Getting Murkier By The Minute

iStation's COO & President sent out another email today to many NC parents and educators on their personal accounts again forcing many to ask the question, "Why is this company going to such extremes to validate itself to North Carolinians." The text of the letter follows the screenshot. In Case You Missed It: Istation Plays … Continue reading “In Case You Missed It” – From Idaho to NC, Another iStation Email to Personal Accounts

“Today is Jan. 5, 2017. There will never be another Jan. 5, 2017 ever again. No matter how we use this day, if we make the most of it, if we waste it, it’s gone. Every day we don’t take bold actions for our students is a day we lose. Every day we don’t take … Continue reading The 21 Top “Accomplishments” of Our State Superintendent – Remember These in 2020

CASE #1 Remember that time in March of 2018 when Mark Johnson all of a sudden distributed $200 to each elementary reading teacher in the state? As reported by Liz Bell of EdNC.org at the time: The Department of Public Instruction is distributing a total of $4.8 million from funds allocated by the state in … Continue reading Our State Superintendent’s Spending Habits Should Be Investigated – 3 Specific Cases And They All Relate To One Initiative

When Justin Parmenter published his post on the released iStation meeting notes from DPI through a records request on his blog Notes From the Chalkboard, he made sure to include this graphic as a summation of how the committee actually recommended mClass over iStation. Last night, WRAL posted its article on the released DPI notes. … Continue reading 166 Pages of Records In a Seven Snapshots – The Released iStation Meeting Notes

Earlier today, many teachers in North Carolina received an email from Ossa Fisher, the President / COO of iStation through their personal email addresses. It says, In Case You Missed It: What Educators are Saying About Istation  GREENSBORO, NC – This summer, North Carolina school districts started training with Istation, the new reading diagnostic tool for … Continue reading So, Did Anyone Else Get An Unsolicited Email From iStation – On Their Personal Account?