Many students (including myself when I was in school) have been impacted by an amazing counselor. School counselors and psychologists are the key component for mental health in K-12 school districts. They’re responsible for advocating for students’ well-being, mediating conflicting, spearheading violence and drug prevention programs, and much more. As I’ve been writing about teacher…
This past week, we received a message from our child’s teacher that we needed to sign the 4th Grade Grading/Behavior policy form. As we looked through the contract we noticed the following section about late work: This raised all sorts of questions in our minds as parents and the practicality of using an academic measure…
As I enter my 24th year in education, I have been reflecting on all the different starts to the school year I’ve had. You know, those few days before the kids get back where we try to cram in all the latest state mandates or blood-born pathogen talks? As a teacher, I always felt a…
To write poetry that is not meant to be read Can be daunting, so we’ll do this instead. On a special Monday night, 12 poets will gather. There will be laughters and tears, as they share things that matter. Why poetry you ask? Nothing strips away our surface like powerful words exclaimed on a stage….
Editor’s Note: This the second in a series of blog posts reimagining how schools should move going forward. Taking to account the current state of K-12 schools, the increase in teachers and leaders leaving the field and the tools we have available to us. Check out the overview post here. During a recent panel at…
Editor’s Note: This the second in a series of blog posts reimagining how schools should move going forward. Taking to account the current state of K-12 schools, the increase in teachers and leaders leaving the field and the tools we have available to us. Check out the overview post here. This “Forward to Different” series…
Editor’s Note: This the first in a series of blog posts reimagining how schools should move going forward. Taking to account the current state of K-12 schools, the increase in teachers and leaders leaving the field, and the tools we have available to us. Check out the overview post here. There is a long-standing…
Teachers and school leaders have been through the wringer during the pandemic. First they were praised for spinning up remote learning in mere days. Then, they were ostracized for not making the remote experience as good as the in-person one. After that, it was COVID protocols, CRT, and fights about what books our kids should…
Every year I embark on this tradition of trying to be “bold” in my predictions of what the twelve months ahead will entail. Some years I hit the mark, such as in 2015 when I predicted that the state of Texas would end its testing contract with Pearson. Or like in 2019 when I said…
Wow. That year flew by! Like many of you, we have been teetering in and out of pandemic stress in the Hooker household. We kept our youngest kids out of school until they were vaccinated making it the longest Spring Break ever. I started going back out to conferences, but I’m already seeing some cancel this spring….
