"Urgency." "Status-Quo." "Innovation." "Transparency." Of all the words that Mark Johnson claims to not only talk about but adhere to in his actions, the word "transparency" seems a lot more murky of late when it pertains to DPI's actions. He talks about "transparency" with school report cards. “This brand-new website provides the transparency parents and educators need into … Continue reading Mark Johnson, Where is Your !@#$%^& Transparency?

Long before Mark Johnson was elected state superintendent, people like Phil Berger and those he controlled began to institute "reforms" into public education without fear of reprisal. Those reforms turned a once progressive state system of public education into one of regression. Eliminating longevity pay, taking away graduate degree pay and career status from newer … Continue reading Privatization, a Petri Dish, And a Possible Patsy – A Look at North Carolina Public Education

If anyone has any doubts as to the educational policies that Dan Forest would champion if he were to be elected governor, then this picture that was tweeted out this week should remove those doubts. This from the man who tried to pass along the raising of teachers' salaries through private donations. One of those … Continue reading “One Tweet to Rule Them All” – Lt. Gov. Dan Forest’s Education Policies in One Picture

In February of 2018, Rep. Larry Pittman offered his own legislative opinion on how to increase school safety in out public school system. As reported by the Associated Press on Feb. 16, 2018, A North Carolina lawmaker says allowing teachers to bring guns to school would save lives in situations such as the deadly school shooting in … Continue reading HB499 – A Bill to Bring More Guns Into Schools?

According to the 2011 Education Week Quality Counts Report, North Carolina's public school system ranked 19th out of 50 states and D.C. Then Sen. Phil Berger and others of his ilk decided to "reform" public education in NC. They did the following (and more): revamped the teacher pay scale removed due-process rights for newer teachers … Continue reading Thank You Sen. Berger – NC Schools From 2011 to 2018 Went From 19th to 40th

After thousands of teachers and education advocates marched on Raleigh on May 16th  of 2018 calling for better treatment of public schools, the GOP super-majority invoked what was akin to a “nuclear” option in passing its budget. Rather than allowing for debate on matters of money from elected representatives and the opportunity of amendments, Phil … Continue reading Remember The March Last Year? It’s a Big Reason This Year’s Budget Can’t Go Nuclear

Consider this – a corporate attorney who taught for two school years through a program that historically does not place many long term teachers into the public schools and who did not complete a full term as a school board member was elected in the most contentious election year in recent memory to become state … Continue reading The Head of DPI is Not Mark Johnson – He’s Just the Most Enabled Man in Raleigh

Senate Bill 681 is entitled the "Rural Health Care Stabilization Act." It is a bill that provides an $18 million dollar "bailout" for rural hospitals in financial peril outside of the UNC Healthcare system that have been affected by the stalemating of certain NCGA lawmakers in expanding Medicaid. Simply put, people like Sen. Phil Berger … Continue reading The NCGA Needs The Economics and Financial Literacy Class More Than Students – Concerning SB 681

With news that an economics and personal finance class could possibly be mandatory for NC public school students and course standards for that class would be developed by DPI, it seems that maybe the very person running DPI might practice his own "financial literacy" and provide a more positive model. Johnson called for an audit … Continue reading Actually Mark Johnson Needs The Economics & Financial Literacy Class

From Adrian Harrold Wood - posted on her blog Tales of an Educated Debutante: NC Public Schools Are in Danger Attorney Mark Johnson, also NC’s Superintendent, has once again made a decision that directly contrasts with what expert committees recommended to him. His announcement to replace mCLASS/Amplify with Istation leaves districts gravely concerned. One superintendent shared, “No … Continue reading From “Tales of an Educated Debutante” -NC Public Schools Are In Danger