I am proud of Audrey Pinkerton. There, I said it.
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Want to know how Dallas ISD "leveling" is going? Go no further than your nearest teacher facebook or happy hour.
I'm a little surprised, but not entirely. Why? There are a few reasons that I tried to work through in my head.
Today is the day where our trustees decide if voters should get to decide if and how much taxes should increase to support kids.
Democrats and Republicans are much more similar than political parties in other countries. Breaking down the two convention speeches by President Obama and presidential hopeful, Donald Trump, could be a powerful teaching tool in the classroom next fall. Putting Secretary Clinton's speeches in there will add different dimensions as well.
This is why we teach citations in school. I'm just happy there won't be some innocent intern sacrificed in this one...yet. Thanks for all the emails asking for thoughts on plagiarism because of last night's events.
Meet Mita Havlick. DISD parent and candidate for Board of Trustees in District 2. This makes the first District with every candidate having responded. Good for you D2! I hope a ton of folks show up to vote during early vote, which starts on the 25th of April and Election Day, May 7th.
Carlos Marroquin is the newest candidate to throw his hat in the District 2 ring. Get to know him. All of the candidates are so different, I'm excited to see where voters fall starting with early vote on April 25th.
Young man and DISD alum from Seagoville running for the seat Nancy Bingham has decided not to run for again.
The only incumbent running for reelection this cycle and the 15 year leader of District 5, Dr. Lew Blackburn has decided to once again run for reelection. If you don't already know him, this is your chance. He's done just about everything in education and is currently an administrator with Dallas Can Academies, a local charter school. Thank you for your service and years of dedication Dr. Blackburn.
Half way through March. Things are about to heat up. Some of the campaigns are in full swing while others are asleep at the wheel.
Taking a moment to talk about the 6th GOP debate in class could be a great way to show the many counterpoints that exist to President Obama's state of the Union address. It's the first of the new year and the number of folks on the state is starting to dwindle. Each of the candidates on the stage have their own unique spin on the issues and baggage they bring with them into the hot seat.
Trump had his best debate yet and continues to set the media on fire with his energy and controversial view points, still leads polls. Rubio has at times crossed the aisle a few times. Cruz recently told someone their face that he'd deport them and has had his citizenship question by Trump. Carson promised to play a little hard ball and way didn't. He's still a medical legend and one of the best surgeons in US history. Kasich, congrats on making the state you teachers' lounge hating so and so! There's also an opportunity here to show just how diverse the viewpoints in the Republican Party are by using Governor Haley used her rebuttal to attack Trump. Presidential election season comes only so often. There are many great opportunties here to show our students a little bit of everything to help them find some interest in the political process. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Participation is what is important. Who you support isn't is important to me as long as you get out and vote. Follow us on Facebook; Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher Related Articles: GOP Debate Transcript State of the Union discussion in Dallas Schools Current Events Discussions in Dallas Schools Happy New Year Teachers and Students Gov. Kasich hates teachers lounges Lack of Participation in DISD Trustee Elections Last night, President Obama, among other things, made a promise to continue fighting to make education equitable and affordable for everyone. For education to be highlighted in this address is encouraging for our nation and our students.
The State of the Union is a great opportunity to have yet another conversation about the issues that impact our daily lives and the concerns of our country. I'll be using it today to kick off class. You may find it fun to do the same. I've included the full transcript of President Obama's speech below. Related Articles: Transcript SOTU 2016 Dallas Teachers talking about Slavery Dallas Teachers talking about Pearl Harbor Dallas Teachers talking about 9/11 Dallas Teachers talking about Paris Terrorist Attacks Dallas Teachers talking about HIV/AIDS Current Events Discussions in Dallas Schools Happy New Year Dallas Teachers and Students I was flipping through my usual haunts for Dallas education news and realized that I hadn't seen any mention that Dr. Blackburn, long time district 5 trustee, was going to have a challenger.
We don't break news here. Perhaps the collective thought is that this isn't worth mentioning unitl closer to election day when npeople are paying closer attention. I disagree with that and think that it's part of the participation problem we have here in Dallas. Marquis Hawkins is an energetic new face in the Dallas education discussion who hopes to bring a new perspective to the district that stretches from West Dallas to Wilmer-Hutchins. We'd love to get both of them on the show. I'm excited to see where this one goes. I wouldn't count this out as the race to watch just because Lew has been in this role for roughly half of Marquis' life. Check out his Facebook Page for more info until his website goes live. Follow us on Facebook; Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher Related Articles: DISD Trustees Stop By Fireworks at a DISD Board Meeting DISD Trustees are out Allies, not Enemies Oak Cliff DISD Trustee Town Hall Lack of Participation in DISD Trustee Elections Watching DISD Board Meetings DISD Board Fails to Fire Miles DISD Trustees scream at each other What does good DISD Board Governance look like? Most of this week you had off which is great. We'll give you the best from Monday and Tuesday to chew on while you enjoy the rest of your break. Thanks for using your downtime to read and listen to us. We appreciate it.
Why does Teach for America get 2 weeks in a row of the Dallas Education Podcast? Because TFA isn't going anywhere, and the organization is providing a good number of much needed new teachers to Dallas area classrooms. May as well hear the TFA side of things. If you don't like it, you've been invited to say why on the show, comment section, etc. Open and eternal invitation. We like to talk to everyone. Yes, that means you. Why do we scour the internet for education stuff every week? So you don't have to. Here's what you missed. Follow us on Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher; Facebook From Us: Thanks to all Dallas Education Supporters Dallas Student Engagement Students Dallas Students don't read anymore Dallas Students don't write anymore DISD Administrators send mixed messages before breaks We have a Facebook page for our little Dallas Education Blog! Like us if you read us! November DISD and Dallas Education Rundown - November Week 3 DISD and Dallas Education Rundown - November Week 2 DISD and Dallas Education Rundown - November Week 1 From Around the Web: Using Feedback to Get Better - Starr Sackstein Goofy Administrators help kids - Cult of Pedagogy Modernizing and elevating teaching - EP Potential Implications of ESEA on students of color - EP Dr. Dryden Weighs in with TEI Concerns - DISD Blog We have a Facebook page for our little Dallas Education Blog!
This week we have a special Dallas Education Podcast with the rarely seen and heard Alex Hales, Executive Director of Teach for America DFW. Next week we will have part 2 of her interview where she debunks some of the common misconceptions about TFA. Follow us on Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher; Facebook DISD and Dallas Education Rundown - November Week 2 DISD and Dallas Education Rundown - November Week 1 From Us: Take Dallas Student Test Anxiety Seriously Discussing the Paris Attacks in Dallas Schools Teaching concepts instead of memorization in Dallas Schools Professional Development for Dallas Teachers Giving quality feedback to Dallas Students Stop making excuses for Dallas Students From Around the Web: SAGA Pod - Eric Celeste talks about some interesting topics and gives us a kind shout out - DMagazine Criminalizing Students in the US - Giroux (One of my favorite Ed Philosophers) Making Testing Work - EP Flexible classroom seating and it's merits - Cult of Pedagogy DISD Money talk - DMN Teachers shouldn't help the belief gap - Ed Citizen Dallas Teachers still touching Dallas Students - DMN In our weekly Dallas Education News and Blog rundown, we had quite a bit of DISD Bond talk. Why? Because it's an important vote that will determine the future of our district and our students.
Not only did I vote, but I brought a friend to vote. Vote "Yes" or vote "No." Just VOTE. Early Voting goes through Friday 10/30. All of the Early Voting Locations will allow you to vote there even if it isn't your polling location on your voter registration card. You just need a valid license and to be registered to vote. Election day is November 3rd. Go vote and bring a friend. So few people actually vote that every person that shows up makes a difference. More people read this blog than vote in any single school board election. The same is true for many city council elections too.
Over the past weekend, I visited some friends in California. The most common questions were around the successes (or lack thereof) of Dallas ISD in educating our students and political engagement in the process. Most of these folks are politically involved and focused. In Los Angeles, school board races draw HUGE donations and community involvement compared to Dallas. Political engagement is a huge problem here. Regardless of which candidate you support, many of the most frustrated people don’t even vote in the elections. Many more never attend or speak out in front of the board. Election season is coming and always gets here a little sooner than you'd think. Be involved this time around. Over the weekend, Diane Birdwell via Facebook said “When DISD teachers want to get off their butts and do something about TEI, let me know. Until then, QUIT complaining about it, because doing NOTHING yourself is worse than useless, and it tells the public and the board of trustees that all is fine.” She’s right about the relationship between engagement and frustration. If you aren’t speaking out and speaking up, you’ll get ignored. She’s a long time, very vocal, educator. I don’t always agree with her, but her passion is something I respect and admire. When you go to board meetings and briefings, you see the same hand full of people. Their messaging is tight, familiar, and sincere. The problem is that it is the same people time and time again. If you agree with them, stand with them. I understand that people don’t think their votes matter. The board is set up where most of the members vote together and the ones that the most frustrated people champion have votes that in practice don’t matter. Joyce Foreman, Bernadette Nutall, and sometimes Dr. Lew Blackburn have come together in the past to try to create, or stop, the changes that their constituents like / dislike. The problem is that those efforts are often times against the grain and are already defeated before they begin. If you disagree with that then the only way to make a change is by getting involved during election time. How bad is voter turnout? Let’s look at a few numbers. Turn and Talks Blog Readership : +11.8k May 2015 Elections District 1 Total Votes – 6267 – Dr. Edwin Flores wins with 60% of the vote May 2015 Elections District 3 Total Votes – 4655 – Dan Micciche wins with 72% of the vote May 2015 Elections District 1 Total Votes – 3918 – Bernadette Nutall wins with 54% of the vote May 2014 Elections District 6 Total Votes – 756 – Miguel Solis wins with 68% of the vote May 2014 Elections District 6 Total Votes – 2357 – Bertha Whatley and Joyce Foreman advance to runoff May 2014 Elections District 6 Runoff Total Votes – 2436 – Joyce Foreman wins with 65% of the vote May 2013 Elections District 7 Total Votes – 2683 – Dr. Lew Blackburn wins with 61% of the vote May 2013 Elections District 5 Total Votes – 3679 – Eric Cowan wins with 60% of the vote May 2013 Elections District 4 Total Votes – 1404 – Nancy Bingham wins with 60% of the vote Source: 2015, 2014, 2013 Don’t get me wrong. It feels pretty good that more people read our blog than almost the entire ’13 and ’14 election cycles combined, or that voted to elect former Board President Miguel Solis or Current/Former Board President Eric Cowan combined. Clearly we’re doing something right if more people visit our site than voted in the two most contested DISD school board races of 2015. That’s great for our blog but not so great for DISD. Stand up. Speak out. Vote. All of that participation is a good thing for everyone, but most importantly, our students. Not a good sign that more people are listening to us than showing up at the ballot box. Side note: Hey Trustees, apparently people read this thing. Want to hang out? I got new microphones that need testing… Related Articles DISD Trustee Candidante interviews "If I were not president, but if I were king in America, I would abolish all teachers lounges, where they sit together and worry about, oh woe is us." - Ohio Governor John Kasich
Wow. Way to attack a group of people not even at the center of the majority of presidential discussions. Why teachers? Are we easy targets? Is he grabbing for anything and everything Donald Trump is NOT talking about to try to catch a few headlines for himself? Who knows. The point is he doesn't know what he's talking about. At least not entirely. Do many of us know teachers who complain all day everyday? Sure. Do we know teachers who have burst into tears and wallowed in self pity in the lounge? Yep. The part people don't like to tell is the high level of positivity and support that can also come from the teachers' lounge. My time in the lounge, even when i'm venting, is usually full of laughter and accompanied by helpful tips and tricks from my peers. A lot of new teachers get the advice that they should avoid the lounge. I say nay. If the DFW Teachers Lounge facebook group is any indication, there's a lot of fun to be had in the lounge. Sometimes that's equally as important if not more than anything else. Related Articles: DISD Teachers Lounge Original Huffpo article |
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