In a recent interview with the Courier-Journal, candidate Denise Gray explained why she felt the need to run for office. “This is a time when we need to make a difference. We can’t continue to complain about a situation and not be willing to step up. I just had enough of complaining.” So did the other 50 educators who have decided to run…
Month: October 2018
It’s No Wonder Kids Aren’t Learning When Our Schools Are Filled With Myths Like This
As a kid of the early 2000s, I still remember the old-school “Hooked on Phonics” commercials that encouraged children to sound out words phonetically to increase their reading speed and proficiency. Even though my family never bought the program, this was in essence the same approach that my parents and teachers used when I was learning how to read. I…
There Are No Great Schools Without Great Principals
Principals have an insanely tough job. The number of decisions they have to make on any given day is enough to make an average person’s head explode, and of course, no principal can make everybody happy. Make one wrong move too many, and you could end up like this North Carolina principal who just lost her job for a really…
How to Talk to Your Child About Bullying
This month is National Bullying Prevention Month. As a principal, have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying. I decided to address this issue because parents need to be aware of bullying and the devastating impact it can have on children. HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO COMBAT BULLYING Have a serious conversation with your child about bullying. Physical bullying increases in elementary school…
Kentucky School Shooting Prevented Thanks To A Woman 700 Miles Away
Kentucky has had its history of school shootings. There was the tragedy at Heath High School back in 1997, and more recently, the Marshall County High shooting that brought the entire state together. Thanks to the Kentucky State Police and a New Jersey woman, the Bluegrass State narrowly avoided yet another round of heartbreak and loss. On Thursday, a 20-year-old…
Hey Teachers, Answer These 2 Questions And We’ll See Just How High Your Expectations Are
The first question is easy. Do you agree that all teachers should set high expectations for their students? The answer seems obvious. Of course, teachers should set the bar high for the kids they work with every day. It’s the second question that seems to really trip teachers up. Do you honestly believe that all students can meet those expectations?…
Educators & Diversity: How Teachers Can Tackle Implicit Bias & Create More Equitable Learning Environments
Some studies suggest white teachers have lower expectations of students of color, and it has been well documented in Kentucky and across the nation that students of color receive disciplinary remediation from school administration at higher rates, sometimes 3 to 4 times more on average, than their white counterparts. As a white former assistant principal, this statistic really hits me…
Finding Purpose In My Eastern Kentucky Roots
Growing up in Eastern Kentucky, I was often bored with small-town life. I was a rather shy and bookish girl of few words and many thoughts: thoughts about my family, my community, and more than anything, my future. I spent many days studying hard and dreaming about big cities with plenty of room for my most ambitious aspirations. By the…
What Parents Should Know About Kentucky’s New School Ratings
If there’s one thing Kentucky teachers and administrators have had on their mind this past week, it’s our new school rating system. We just got our first look at last year’s state test scores and our new accountability system, per the Kentucky Department of Education. Teachers and administrators are already in the know about Kentucky’s school ratings, but with all…