James Baldwin in front of book shelves

James Baldwin’s ‘Talk to Teachers’ Is Just as Relevant Today

As I sit here, processing my thoughts on the severity of events that are currently grappling our nation, I reflect on the historical circumstances that con

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White Teachers, Our Whiteness Is Getting in Our Way

White Teachers, Our Whiteness Is Getting in Our Way

Since the murder of George Floyd, teacher leaders across America have sought to prove the necessity of antiracism in public education. And rightly so: from

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What If We Radically Reimagined the New School Year?

What If We Radically Reimagined the New School Year?

Monday night I sat on my back patio staring up into a rare, starry Chicago night. I squinted and made out each point of The Big Dipper and then turned to s

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Getting Pepper-Sprayed by School Police Shouldn’t Be a Part of My Job

I have only felt the terrible sting and discomfort of pepper spray one time, and that was when I was teaching and coaching teachers in the high school sett

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Teachers, If You Haven’t Been Giving a Damn About Your Students, We Definitely Don’t Need You Now

Before I stroll into my routine of being a habitual line stepper, let me state my usual disclaimer. Educators, I love and appreciate y’all. I think you hav

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It Will Take More Than a Name Change to Rid Your School of White Supremacy

There is a myriad of disparities and gaps that exist in our society, placing people of color at a disadvantage. We are seeing this play out in real-time wi

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Black Lawmakers Must Prioritize Educational Opportunity for Black Families

For millions of K-12 students, the pandemic has led to unprecedented interruptions of critical education and services. Many students will continue to fall

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If Keeping Great Teachers in the Classroom Is Important, Invest in Teacher Development

If Keeping Great Teachers in the Classroom Is Important, Invest in Teacher Development

After eight years as a New York City high school social studies teacher, I thought my love of teaching and leadership would naturally lead me to serve as a

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Teachers, Our Words Can Re-Traumatize Our Black Students

My educational journey started as a special education student, a label that I would maintain throughout my elementary school years. From first to fourth gr

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