Lt. Gov. Dan Forest’s Statement On The Vote To Not Extend Contract With iStation – Another Reason He Should Not Be Governor

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

A One-Question EOC Test For The NC General Assembly

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

Seven Graphics That This Epidemic Shows Should Be Changed For Our Schools & Communities

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

Last Friday iStation Received Their Own “Cease & Desist” Order

Remember this from last July? Three people received those letters. Those individuals had in their calling as public school advocates and as tax payers sought information and exposed the reasonable doubts surrounding Mark Johnson’s unilateral decision to award iStation a contract. All three Cease & Desist letters were published in WRAL. Here is the text … Continue reading Last Friday iStation Received Their Own “Cease & Desist” Order

Dear High School Senior, …

Good morning. Let's state the obvious. This is not how it should have happened. A little over two months left in your senior year of high school and a few things were supposed to occur before graduation - maybe prom, some sports, definitely hanging out with friends. And now you have virtual classes amidst a … Continue reading Dear High School Senior, …

It’s Time To Eliminate The Read To Achieve Program

In 2012, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation for the “Read to Achieve” initiative. Over seven years later, it has not really achieved. From an October 2018 Charlotte Observer report: The General Assembly passed Read to Achieve legislation in 2012. It was modeled on literacy efforts in other states, including the “Just Read, Florida!” program created by … Continue reading It’s Time To Eliminate The Read To Achieve Program

Dear Educational Resource Vendor, Now Is Not The Time To…

...flood my school email inbox with offers to try a new educational technology that aligns to curriculum for standardized tests. Not all of my students have the resources to access the technology if I was even in a position to purchase and use it. Most all of my time now is devoted to just providing … Continue reading Dear Educational Resource Vendor, Now Is Not The Time To…

What This Teacher Misses Most? The Organized Chaos Of School

I am a teacher. By the third year of teaching, my daily routine outside of school was marked by a schedule that centered around teaching. Bells go off in my head during the summers. No matter what day it is, I naturally awake at the same time. When there is complete silence, I sometimes have … Continue reading What This Teacher Misses Most? The Organized Chaos Of School

HB17, Deep State, Common Core, Class Wallet, and iPads – The State Board of Education Should Not Listen To Mark Johnson’s Recommendation For Paying iStation

Today at 11:00, a meeting will convene with the State Board of Education to discuss a variety of issues surrounding the closure of public schools in the state and how to offer instruction to students to complete the school year. Hidden in that agenda is a request from State Superintendent Mark Johnson to pay iStation … Continue reading HB17, Deep State, Common Core, Class Wallet, and iPads – The State Board of Education Should Not Listen To Mark Johnson’s Recommendation For Paying iStation

Spend $1.2 Million On The Program We Didn’t Like Or Use The One We Do Like For Free? More About iStation

Dr. Chelsea Bartel has been following the controversy concerning Mark Johnson's unilateral decision to purchase iStation and exposing its lack of transparency longer than most anyone. She posted this tweet today. iStation wants $1.2 million for us to keep using their platform during the prolonged school closures. Amplify is offering theirs for free. Justin Parmenter … Continue reading Spend $1.2 Million On The Program We Didn’t Like Or Use The One We Do Like For Free? More About iStation