Being “different” has never been acceptable to conservative Americans. The perceptions and ideals we have in our society don’t make it easier for those who have physical and learning disabilities. Teachers make their experiences even more challenging, and it begins at school. Let’s try looking at the experience of Black children who have special needs differently. They, too, are overlooked…
Tag: Family Engagement
There’s a Right and a Wrong Way to Engage Black Parents in Student Achievement.
Family engagement is not a top priority for school districts, but it should be, especially for students of color and their families. We cannot continue to have underperforming schools and low parent engagement. Excuses about parents not being involved no longer fly, or being okay with bare minimum parent involvement by pointing to having a PTA is also not acceptable.…
A Black Parent’s Perspective on Public Schools
We’re too busy taking parent’s right to choose away that we aren’t listening to their experiences in public schools. “I believe in school choice and I also believe in traditional public education. . . that’s my choice!”, says long time Atlanta advocate, Keisha Spells. Regardless of what a parent decides, we should never be in a position to take their…
A Mom’s View: My Son Loves Elizabeth Warren. She Said She Wants to Fix Schools for Kids Like Him But Her New Education Plan Ignores Us!
November is National Family Engagement and to kick of an empowering month for parents, engagement and advocacy for better educational outcomes for our children, I’m featuring the voice of a fellow advocate, activist, educator and am amazing mother, Keri Rodrigues who born in Fulton County. Metro Atlanta parents, I’m looking forward to empowering you this month. Jason B. AllenJason has…
Language, Lexile Scores and Literacy Are Resources, Not Threats to Black Boys
We must be up front and realistic. Many of our struggling Black boys in schools have parents who are also struggling with how to engage them in reading. As a teacher, I create innovative ways of helping parents and families of Black boys to understand impact of language, Lexile scores and literacy on the success of their Black male student.…
Advocates for Teachers say APS Superintendent Search Needs to Be Transparent!
This article is originally covered here by Maureen Downey of AJC. Atlanta teacher advocacy group, AFT wants transparency with new search for the next leader of APS. The method use to seek out the current APS Superintendent is still a concern for APS parents and stakeholders. This includes long time voice for Atlanta teachers. AJC – Verdaillia Turner is an…
A Million Black Fathers Marching for Zion
It may seem like a cliche, but a million Black fathers marching streets across America for their Black sons is empowering. But it’s not simply a cliche, it’s a nationwide movement of Black males doing something different to change the rate of Black boys being successful. Fathers Incorporated , a non profit organization in Atlanta, Georgia. is not only changing…