First there was The Office. Jim Halpert: [imitating Dwight] “Fact: bears eat beets. Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.” (From “Product Recall episode" in 2007). Then there was Sarah Palin. “This mama grizzly … has more reason than ever to protect our young” – Sarah Palin, 2008. There’s always been the references to Russia as a bear. “Don’t poke bear.” … Continue reading Bear This In Mind, Grizzlies Were Not Preying on Public Schools – Remembering Betsy DeVos’s “Grizzly” Defense Of Guns In Schools

That "slide" above is from a 2019 presentation about the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) Retirement Planning. 2019 was before the current pandemic. It would be interesting and predictably disheartening to question LEA HR directors about how many calls they are fielding from veteran teachers concerning retirement and early retirement requirements and possibilities. … Continue reading After This School Year, NC Won’t Have To Just Worry About Recruiting Teacher Candidates. It Will Need To Worry About Retaining Current Teachers.

Over the past couple of days, much has been said about the need for civility and constructive dialogue. The lead article for EdNC.org this morning asked an interesting question. Relationships. Teachers know about relationships and how to build them. Can't very much become an effective teacher or one who stays in the profession without building … Continue reading Civil Discourse in Public Education “Reform” Cannot Happen If You Refuse to Involve Teachers – Even If There Is Coffee Involved

Many have asked me over the years if a teacher can be a school board member and still be in the classroom. At least in my LEA, one cannot. Many teachers over the years have run for positions on the school board, but each has had to stipulate that he/she would step away from the … Continue reading Every Local School Board Should Allow A Public School Teacher To Serve

This picture is rather brilliant, eerie, humorous, yet foreboding. And it’s appropriate because Betsy DeVos WAS our Dolorous Umbridge. (Credit:?) I do not know who the credit should go to, but if you find out, then let me know. Here are two women who had no real experience with public education (or the education of … Continue reading The Centaurs Are Coming – Betsy DeVos WAS Our Dolores Umbridge

Dear Mrs. Truitt, It is not a secret that I didn't vote for you. In fact, I actively campaigned for the other candidate. You were the senior education advisor to a governor who championed policies that I believe did more harm in NC than good. You stood on stage with candidates for other offices who … Continue reading An Open Letter To The New NC State Superintendent

If you are an educator in the public schools of North Carolina, you might have received this missive from the state superintendent yesterday: Educators,Today, I had the pleasure of dropping my daughter off at school for the first time since the pandemic closed all classrooms. Her excitement, and the joy of other students, to be … Continue reading Mark Johnson’s Version of the “American Dream” Always Neglected the American Reality For Many of Our Students

Simply put, it’s hard to build bridges in this state with those who are making the very divides that separate us. Before the 2008 Great Recession took hold of the country, North Carolina had what was considered one of the more progressive public school systems in the Southeast. That is no longer the case. While … Continue reading This Teacher Does Not Want To “Build Bridges” Or “Have A Seat At The Table” With Berger & Moore; I Want Them Out Of Power

Today doors will start opening in WSFCS schools for selected students for in-person instruction. One of those students is my younger child. Below is the latest NC DHHS Covid dashboard. Below is the latest info on Forsyth County from that same site. The following headline appeared in the Winston-Salem Journal last week detailing a reporting … Continue reading About This School System’s COVID Dashboard

“Of the two of us, I’m the only one who actually has direct experience working with the governor’s office and the State Board of Education and local superintendents.”-CATHERINE TRUITT, SEPTEMBER 10TH AT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATE FORUM On September 10th in a socially distanced manner, both Catherine Truitt and Jen Mangrum participated in an open … Continue reading Catherine Truitt and Jen Mangrum “Debated” & One Cited Her “Direct Experience.” Might Want To Look At That.