As a disclaimer, this piece does not serve as an endorsement of Kanye West’s “Slavery was a Choice” stance or his friendship with Donald Trump—or even his failed presidential campaign. We can say what we want about his antics and political views but his genius has ALWAYS been undeniable! Even though I’ve fallen out of love with Kanye West in recent years, watching “jeen-yuhs” reminded me of why I became a fan in the first place. It takes me back to my junior year in college when I rushed to the record store to purchase a copy of Kanye’s classic debut album, “The College Dropout.” I can re ..read more

In this moment, shaped by both the global pandemic and enduring racial inequities, excellent educational opportunities that communities are rightly demanding have never been more important. And NACSA is in a position to do something about that. Working to ensure excellence in authorizing and charter schooling is not new for NACSA. We have and always will be focused on excellent educational opportunities for all students. But over the last two years, as we have worked with and supported a wide diversity of stakeholders, it’s clear that more and different work is required from all of us. As we h ..read more

“Pop-Pop, did Black soldiers like you actually fight in World War II?” My grandfather, a WWII U.S Army combat veteran, lifted his shirt to reveal the scar left by the shrapnel that destroyed one of his kidneys. He looked at me and said, “I lost a lot of friends.”  Until my conversation with Pop-Pop, I wasn’t sure if Black soldiers fought in the war. In school, I had been learning about WWII through the lens of a white soldier. My history textbook displayed the heroic pictures of white soldiers charging the beaches of Normandy and white Marines raising an American flag on Iwo Jima. There w ..read more

Back in 2018, I ran across a story from the 1950s that seemed to illuminate some of the ugly political fights we were living through.  True to the zeitgeist, I made a podcast episode about it. And when I recently re-listened I realized that, if anything, it has become more relevant in the past couple of years—in part because it illustrates one of the reasons critical race theory was formulated.  In September of 1954, a few months after the Supreme Court ruled in “Brown v. Board of Education” that segregated schools violated the 14th Amendment, eleven African American tenth-graders en ..read more

Like many of my students, I look forward to Black History Month in February, when schools and organizations across the country celebrate and honor the contributions of Black Americans and others of African descent. In my 21 years as an educator in one of the largest urban districts in Pennsylvania, which serves a predominantly Black student population, I have enjoyed door-decorating contests creatively displaying the greatness of Black lives, inspiring Black History programs, and wax museums with students dressed up as their favorite African American leaders. These activities are exciting for ..read more

Many educators and researchers approach the relationship between education and health as a linear one, where greater academic attainment leads to better student health (mental, physical and emotional well-being) and wellness (living a healthy lifestyle) over time. Get good grades and, the thinking goes, you’ll be happier and healthier. This thinking fuels an emphasis on addressing “learning loss” as a result of the pandemic. Others take the opposite view with health as the predicate, arguing that poorer health constrains educational attainment. But it’s not that simple. Serving Black students ..read more

The parent and community groups across the country who are scared of losing their power and control are convincing legislators to create laws that match their fears. The repeatedly banned book, “1984,” by George Orwell is being followed with surprising accuracy and coming to life in our nations’ schools. The irony is palpable. The same folks who are trying to limit what kids learn are unwittingly using a banned book as a blueprint to create a totalitarian regime. The impact is furthering the divide, hurting our students, and causing teachers to quit at record-high rates.  Closeted wh ..read more

I attended Mary Evelyn Castle Elementary School, Craig Middle School, and graduated from Lawrence North High School (Go Wildcats!). These are all schools in the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township. As a graduate of the district, I keep up with what happens in the distinct, and I was disappointed to learn about an assignment that students received during Black History Month. Lawrence Township confirmed that students at Fall Creek Valley Middle School were learning about life in both the northern and southern states in the 1800s. For part of an assignment, students were instructed ..read more

In late December, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) announced that the Women’s World Championship for players 18-years-old and younger would be canceled for the second year in a row. This championship, which Sweden was to host in January, showcases the top women players in the world, many of whom go on to represent their countries in the Olympics and other international competitions. The cancellation of a hockey tournament may seem trivial in a world dealing with a raging pandemic, threat of war, and other problems. But it’s part of a pattern of women’s hockey being an afterthough ..read more

It is no secret that education in America finds itself in a moment of dire reckoning. According to the NEA, more than half of teachers anticipate leaving the profession earlier than they had intended—more than 80% having seen colleagues leave the profession, leaving those behind stretched thin as they cover multiple classrooms.  This is a nationwide phenomenon. Indeed, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that America has lost more than 500,000 teachers since the beginning of the pandemic and teacher vacancies remain unfilled. But, what if instead of a crisis, we look at this moment as an ..read more