As momentum was building for the Rally for Students and March for Respect organized by the North Carolina Association of Educators, some lawmakers talked of their disapproval of the "protest" and the fact that it was happening on a school day. Others, like Rep. Mark Brody, made more memorable statements. That will forever be etched … Continue reading Lessons Learned on One School Day – The Education of Rep. Mark Brody

The question "So, where does it go from here?" seems to be the most asked question since the end of the May 16th Advocacy March and Rally in Raleigh. Ironically, this is not just a question for the General Assembly, but for many teachers in NC. That "where we go from here" isn't just about … Continue reading May 16th Was Just the Beginning – Now the Work Really Begins – Red4EdNC

Remember when lawmakers in Raleigh like Chad Barefoot and Phil Berger told you that the class size mandate was a good thing and had already been funded, and then you realized that they were lying? Straight through their teeth? With a smile? If either one of them looked outside their office or the legislative chambers … Continue reading So, This Is What Class Size Chaos Looks Like

Almost four years ago, Sen, David Curtis delivered a rather uneducated response to a letter from a young teacher in which he outlined a close-minded viewpoint of the teaching profession (http://wunc.org/post/teacher-email-legislators-draws-harsh-reply#stream/0). Needless to say, it garnered quite a response from teachers around the state. Other public education critics have gone out of their way to … Continue reading Dear Sen. Berger and Rep. Moore, Exactly What is the Job Description of a Public School Teacher? Because You Seem to Have All the Answers

“When I took office as State Superintendent, I embarked on a statewide listening tour to hear directly from educators, parents, and community and business leaders. Now I am able to focus on priorities highlighted by teachers from Murphy to Manteo. I believe appreciating teachers means listening to their concerns and working to support them” – … Continue reading The Part Of The “Listening Tour” The State Superintendent Refused to Attend

One would hope that the current General Assembly is a little scared of us public school teachers and our supporters. Look what happened today: And they should be very concerned; aside from the Women's March of 2017, this might have been the largest demonstration on the NCGA in history. What had originally looked like an … Continue reading Mark November 6 As A Day To March And Rally For Our Schools – At The Ballot Box

The powers that rule in the North Carolina General Assembly have been waging a war against public schools in our state for the last four years. Under the guise of “reform,” GOP conservatives driven by ALEC-crafted policies have successfully enabled and instituted privatization efforts in many forms: unregulated charter school development, expansive growth of unproven … Continue reading Rep. Tim Moore and the North Carolina General Assembly’s Quest to Make Veteran Teachers Extinct

I believe Rodney Ellis would be proud of us. While it has been over a year and a half since we lost this leader, father, and tireless public school advocate, there is still his unmistakable presence among us here in North Carolina. Think of all that has occurred in past few years with the continued … Continue reading Remembering Rodney Ellis – He Would Be Fighting For Public Schools in Raleigh on May 16th

There are no “silver bullets” or “magic pills” when it comes to changing a school. There is no one thing that can be done, no standard blueprint, no Harry Potter spell that can be executed that will make a struggling school turn its fortune around overnight. Rather, transforming schools is a process – one that … Continue reading Human Capital: People Make Schools Work – Ask the NCGA to Invest in Them (Reason #34 To March For Students & Rally for Respect On May 16th)