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While schools across the country struggle to fill vacant teaching positions, one Texas district is capitalizing on groundwork it laid in 2019 that has led to a near-zero vacancy rate. When Ector County Superintendent Scott Muri took over the 33,500-student district in the summer of 2019, there were 356 teaching vacancies—the equivalent of 18 percent …

A District’s Long-Term Investment in Cultivating Future Teachers Is Paying Off Read More »

When friends suggested I include charter schools among the places to visit during my recent trip to see innovative learning models in New York City, I was skeptical. I was focused mostly on spotlighting microschools, learning pods, hybrid homeschools and similar experimental programs created by entrepreneurial parents and teachers who are reimagining K-12 education in …

We need a new school of thought about charter schools Read More »

Faced with the undeniable fact city kids attending charters schools do far better on state exams than those stuck in the regular public-school system, critics routinely complain that charters “teach to the test” — as if that’s somehow a bad thing. Tests, after all, measure what kids are supposed to learn. Schools that don’t “teach to the test” effectively …

Charters succeed at teaching — that’s why their enemies hate them Read More »

In all of my language-learning experiences, whether that’s taking Japanese in college or learning Spanish in high school, I often ponder what a challenge learning a language actually is. At the time, I would question, “How did I even learn English as a kid?” Well, in many cases, children are better language learners than adults. …

OPINION: America should take a multilingual approach to education Read More »

The deterioration of boundaries, compounded with poor teaching conditions, leads to a myriad of problems. It’s difficult to create connections, let alone teach content, while being cursed by students. I usually don’t care to talk about my experiences teaching. I’m afraid that I would paint a deficit-based portrayal of my students and families (unless, of …

As threats against teachers increase, we need to redefine what’s off-limits in public schools Read More »

Standardized tests should be used as “a flashlight” on what works in education not as “a hammer” to force outcomes, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said during a speech last week. The statement reflects a shift in thinking since annual testing became federal law more than 20 years ago, and it echoes past comments from Cardona, who …

Education Secretary: Standardized Tests Should No Longer Be a ‘Hammer’ Read More »

It’s January, the middle of the school year, and yet tenth grader Lala Bivens is preparing for her first day at a new school. Bivens started fall classes at One City Preparatory Academy, a new charter middle and high school in Madison, Wisconsin, but on January 13 a teacher shortage forced the school to shut …

Teachers are leaving, forcing this school to cancel classes. Lowering professional qualifications does not fix shortage, educators say Read More »

First-year teacher Tamir D. Harper wanted to be an educator so that he could help the community he grew up in and to give his students a chance of having a better education system than he had. Harper teaches eighth-grade students in English and social studies at the Henry C. Lea School in West Philadelphia. …

Focus shifts to expanding Black male teacher pipeline Read More »

In each of these educators, students said they found a friend, mentor, role model, and more. “Abbott Elementary,” a wildly popular television sitcom centered on an optimistic Philadelphia school teacher, will return with new episodes this week — just in time for a new school year and following a successful Emmy Award run. Chalkbeat asked readers to …

What students told us they love about 5 stellar teachers Read More »

Follow the teacher’s lesson plan. Form relationships with students. When all else fails, use your acting skills. I am a non-licensed central office district employee. There are times over the past years when I have been required to substitute in schools.  What is the best way to establish relationships with the students and have a …

I’m not a licensed teacher. How do I do a good job when I have to sub? Read More »