Teacher autonomy isn’t something that I see many people advocating for in conversations on equity in education. However, it’s definitely a topic that warrants more in depth conversation if we plan on reducing the numbers of teachers not just leaving classrooms but leaving the profession each year. The teacher crisis was happening before COVID-19! It’s important to state and restate…
Why Aren’t We Prepared to Manage Increasing Cases of COVID-19 in Schools?
Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, I have watched school boards across the Metro Atlanta area struggle with preparedness of how to protect our students and. When I speak of protection, I mean protecting their health and wellness, educational growth, professional growth and support of families. One of the most asked questions of back to school has been,…
Back to School, Back to Reality
The options for how children will attend school has been a heated debate in recent months at public school board meetings across the nation. Organizations such as the National Parents Union have participated in parent surveys to elevate parent voices in the conversations around how schools will reopen and provide educational opportunities for learning this school year. See the parent…
If We Say No to all Discussions of Race, What are We Saying to Black and Brown Kids?
Kira Tookes is an experienced and recognized leader in the organizing space, responsible for educator impact in federal, state, local, district, and school-wide policy and opinion-shifting. Kira is a proud alumna of Howard University in Washington, DC.
Rushing to Re-Open Schools As Usual Places the Protection of Exceptional Learners on the Backburner
Jason B. Allen is a Special Education Teacher in Clayton County, Georgia. He is a member of the Association of American Educators (AAE) and an AAE Foundation Advocacy Fellow.
The Recruitment of Teachers in the Teacher Shortage Isn’t the Issue, So What Is?
Teacher recruitment has become a major focus of school districts, universities, and educational organizations. However, I’m old school, and I believe what my grandfather told me. He said, “what you do to get them is what you’ll have to maintain to keep them.” As local school districts deal with the growing teacher shortage, how we are recruiting teachers has become…
3 Ways to Engage Families in Gaining Equity in Public Schools
If public schools really want to do the work of equity, we should see the three things inside the article done.