Earlier this month, the Kentucky Department of Education released results from the 2022 Impact Kentucky Working Conditions Survey, the first working conditions survey given to educators since the pandemic’s onset. The results reveal the extent of the pandemic’s toll on Kentucky teachers. Among those teachers who participated in the survey, a humbling 40% indicated that they do not feel effective…
Month: February 2022
Now Is The Time To Make Global Learning An Educational Priority
The entire world is on edge right now. Millions are watching as Russia invades Ukraine, hastening what could be the biggest land war in Europe since 1945. The harmful impacts of climate change are already evident in record-setting heat waves and natural disasters. And, lest we forget, our planet is still in the throes of one of the deadliest pandemics…
For Teachers To Thrive, They Must Be Empowered
Late last year, National Teacher of the Year Juliana Urtubey used her platform to talk about the importance of young people seeing teachers “thrive.” In a recent op-ed, my state’s education commissioner, Dr. Jason Glass, expounded upon what thriving as an educator could mean. He writes: Seeing teachers thrive would mean that they have a professional and livable wage, where…
The Pandemic Will End, But Our Education Crisis May Just Be Beginning
Fellow educators, let’s start with three simple truths about this moment. Being a teacher is hard. The pandemic, coupled with other factors like low pay and stressful working conditions, have made being a teacher even harder. Even if these challenges are only temporary, a whole lot of really good people are still looking around and deciding they don’t want to…
In Kentucky, We’re Getting Creative With Staffing Schools During This Pandemic
Everywhere you go, you see “Now Hiring” signs. A lot of companies are offering large sign-on bonuses for new employees. You know who also is in desperate need of “help” but can’t offer these same incentives? The education world. No matter what school district’s website you look at, you will see that they are hiring. They are hiring instructional assistants.…