I remember watching baseball games in the 1980’s. I couldn’t tell if the Giants were playing in Pittsburgh, Cincinatti or Philadelphia. Every stadium was the same – a giant, donut-shaped behemoth meant for concerts, baseball games and football games. It
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Time to Move On
I’ll be honest I am in disbelief that it is December. How can it be that the second quarter is quickly coming to a close? How is it possible that the first semester is finished? For that matter where did
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One Thing to Know
Committing your life’s work to educating children is challenging. Educating children in Arizona often takes the idea of challenging to a new depth. Halfway through my 16th year of serving Arizona’s children, I will admit that I wonder if I
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Their, Them, Mine, and Us
I’m fortunate enough to have a staff that would be willing to have their data tied to the peformance of the whole school, support each other in improving the learning for all through flexible grouping. They are willing to sink or swim as a team. When I asked if such a unique declaration could be made, the answer was simple.
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Teacher Pay: The Opaque Fiction of Salary Schedules
There are pay inequities in teaching that are almost invisible to the public. Inequities that most teachers are not willing to discuss because salary is such a personal issue. Personal? You might ask. But I thought pay scales were public documents? Sure. They are. They are also fictional. Read on…
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White Noise
The Spanish-American War was an act of conquest. I don’t teach it that way. I do, however, offer primary sources, statistics and stories from the time period that challenge the textbook assumptions that Mexico baited the U.S. into war and
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Thankful for…
This time of the year, I think about things I am thankful for. As a principal, my list is a bit different than as a teacher. I am thankful for our custodial staff; who keep the building and grounds clean
Read MoreThe Most Wonderful Time of the Year
It is 3:03. Most of the students have left. Some are still hanging around waiting for rides, talking with friends, or looking for teachers before they head out for Thanksgiving break. Today is the day that I call "the most
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Small Answers to Big Questions
In the coming months, I will be writing on the topics below and explaining why some must be non-negotiable for sustainable improvement. If at least a few of them do not raise your blood pressure in protest, I likely have not advanced the conversation because we’ve all got it wrong. And right. The answers aren’t nestled in a list of ideas that are designed to please or appease any one ideology.
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