No doubt that I am biased for the team that represents my school. I have taught some of those players. My daughter sits in class with some of them. But they are all my "students." Walking into Reynolds Coliseum yesterday on the campus of NC State University will be an experience not easily forgotten - … Continue reading Every NCGA Member Should Go to a NCHSAA Championship Game (And Pay)

It is not uncommon to drive through a town or municipality and observe under a “city limit” sign a nod to a local public high school’s (or schools’) accomplishment in winning a state championship. It is a sign of pride. It is a way of honoring schools and the students. It also shows that the … Continue reading “Village of Champions” – Clemmons, NC Needs One More Sign

I am convinced that some of the most unsung heroes in our schools are our coaches. They not only teach students inside of classrooms; they teach them outside of classrooms. Those same coaches take the blame when teams do not win or compete as they are expected to. They deflect credit when teams win. But … Continue reading 111 Miles To Raleigh. 1 Team, 1 Goal, and 1 More Game.

In October of 2017, the venerable James Ford of the Public School Forum delivered the keynote address at the North Carolina English Teacher’s Association. It was more than exceptional as Ford highlighted that what hurts our schools most are external factors that are not being dealt with such as systemic poverty. Part of his presentation … Continue reading Why Teachers Should Be Wary of EVAAS and SAS

On February 28th, Douglas Price had an op-ed posted on EdNC.org entitled "Three ideas for addressing key charter school problems." As the Charter School TOY, what he explained and argued in this piece was valuable, well-explained, evenly tempered, and was well-researched. And it took guts. Price is a teacher; he did what great teachers do … Continue reading In Defense of the NC Charter School Teacher of the Year

I imagine most of you have seen the movie Remember the Titans about a public school in Virginia the 1970’s being desegregated and how its football team became a vehicle for positive change. I watch it every chance I get. There’s a hopeless romantic still inside of me that likes a feel-good movie that actually is based … Continue reading Remember, You’re The Titans

"The FBI and federal prosecutors have uncovered a massive bribery scheme to get students admitted to elite universities as recruited athletes and help them cheat on college entrance exams to gain admission. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston says the scheme, which it dubbed "Operation Varsity Blues," includes 50 people, including college coaches, actresses and … Continue reading Why This College Admissions Scandal Should Really Make High Schools Mad

Mark Johnson's recent budget proposals for the next biennial budget cycle are simply proposals. They are requests for monies attached to "reforms" or investments in resources. Some deal with mentoring and helping younger teachers become more acclimated to the education profession. Some deal with "advanced roles" for teachers. Some deal with curricula that focus on … Continue reading One Resource All Teachers Need But is Never “Funded” For : TIME

In the summer of 2017, BEST NC released an op-ed on EdNC.org about Shamrock Gardens Elementary School and their use of "advanced roles" for educators. And the piece made reference to BEST NC's Education Innovation Plan, a bit of which is outlined below. The key to Shamrock Gardens’ remarkable success is not based on just one … Continue reading When Education Reformers in NC Talk About Advanced Roles, Did They Mean This?

A little over three years ago, an extended editorial appeared in newspapers across North Carolina concerning public education. I happened to read it in the Winston-Salem Journal. It was written by Walter McDowell, a board member of BEST NC. McDowell, a former executive with Wachovia, talked of the dire need to transform education in North Carolina. … Continue reading Mark Johnson Wants To Reduce Over-Testing? Then Do Not Let the ACT Have This Much Power Over NC High Schools.