Primaries are in the past. The real thing happens in a little over two weeks. School Board Elections. Listen to the words and then try and match their claims with the reality of schools. The less a candidate has actually been in our schools and seen the realities of public education, the more prone that … Continue reading Do You Really Know Who Has Endorsed These School Board Candidates?

From an NPR / IPSOS poll reported last spring: “By wide margins – and regardless of their political affiliation – parents express satisfaction with their children’s schools and what is being taught in them.” As a teacher, it is rather mind-boggling that in an age of heavy standardized testing, technological advancements that allow for remote … Continue reading Maybe Something To Consider Before You Vote For School Board Candidates

It sounds a little nonsensical to tell people to not vote a straight party ticket or use all of your votes when voting for school board members. And there are good reasons why, at least for this veteran high school teacher. To say that all people in the same political party want the same things … Continue reading You Don’t Have To Vote A Straight Ticket Or Use All Of Your Votes In This Next School Board Election

The new NC Portrait of a Graduate as highlighted today in EdNC.org offered a little explanation of the new competencies that DPI and the state superintendent expect of our new graduates. Here are those seven "competencies": And on that topic of EMPATHY, this was reported: That's a mature student with an insightful take on the … Continue reading So Catherine, Can EVAAS Measure Empathy?

Seen the new North Carolina Portrait of a Graduate initiative out of DPI this week? Here's a closer look at Truitt's graphics. Look who helped to create this. Yep. Fresh off their work with the TeachNC initiative and that licensure / pay proposal. The same person who wants to ram this through the General Assembly … Continue reading Seen DPI’s “New Portrait Of A Graduate” Initiative? Funny, But Nothing To Do With Test Scores At All.

From PBS Newshour: The WSFCS school board elections has a candidate touting Flynn's endorsement.

When a candidate for the local school board posts a picture of the highest ranking GOP politician in the state, it's hard not to infer that the candidate is looking for some sort of political boost with the association. Maybe an endorsement of sorts. Here's one such posting: Sarah Absher has been high on charged … Continue reading This Person Should Not Be On The WSFCS School Board

Have your local school board candidates made a public statement about where they stand on the LEANDRO court decision? Then ask them. It’s hard to look at how this state could have sat on a large manufactured state surplus and extended more corporate tax cuts while conditions in the public schools exist to the level … Continue reading Hey School Board Candidate, What’s Your Position On The Leandro Report?

When a really bad draft of an already terrible essay makes baseless arguments with no evidence for an indefensible claim, then maybe it should never be turned in for a grade. Consider the new teacher licensure / pay proposal championed by State Supt. Catherine Truitt, DPI, and PEPSC. You can take a look at the … Continue reading No Amount Of Revision Can Improve This New Teacher Licensure / Pay Proposal. It’s That Bad.

When news yesterday revealed that NCDPI had hired Dr. Terry Stoops from the libertarian think tank John Locke Foundation to be an advisor to Supt. Catherine Truitt, of course it sent shock waves around the state. It doesn't feel so shocking this morning. Actually, it makes total sense. Look at this tweet: "I'm heading over … Continue reading A Fox In The Hen House: DPI’s New Hire Really Wasn’t Hired – He Was Placed