NYC Wants More Teachers With TESOL Experience
NYC is looking for more teachers with TESOL certification, due to problematic teacher numbers for students who are English Language Learners. It’s clear that immigrant populations face challenges in schools, navigating cultural difference, lack of opportunity, and often language barriers. In school, language often is the largest obstacle. It hurts both learning and socializing. The […]
Dads Can Read Too! How one Pre K is Battling Stereotypes
Every week ‘Learning Through Play’ pre-K center in the South Bronx invites dads to read to their classes. Assistant Principal Anthony Tucker is trying to combat stereotypes that being involved at school is primarily the responsibility of moms, while also building his students’ love for books. Read the full story at ChalkBeat. His view is, “Kids […]
Inspiring Story of a Career Change Teacher in Special Ed
Career changes can be challenging. As anyone knows who has started a new job, or left an old one, deciding to change the course of one’s career is a big decision. This was the same mindset that Danielle Felicissimo, former bookkeeper and accountant, had when her son was diagnosed with autism. Read the full story […]
Principals Union Pushes Back on Cuts
Read the full story at Chalkbeat. At 71 of New York’s most disenfranchised schools, an extra hour in the school day means a lot. This translates to support to students who are struggling, help reinforce community building and even help students avoid gang violence. At least that was the idea before budget cuts plan to […]
Report Finds Link Behind Principal Pipeline and School Success
The Wallace Foundation and The Rand Corporation funded a study to determine the value of having a ‘principal pipeline,’ and how that kind of structure and support for creating principals could perhaps improve a struggling district. Their findings are thought provoking. The thesis is not new: principals are the backbone of a successful school. It’s […]
Parents Shocked by Plan to Defund Special Ed Health Centers
In case you missed it: Parents across New York are deeply upset by the plans to change the way Special Ed Centers operate. Currently these centers support parents by helping them find resources for children with disabilities from birth until age 21. The centers can help parents find providers of required special education evaluations, figure […]
Brooklyn Families Adjust to Middle School Admissions Process
Applying to a school, any school, can be daunting to both parent and child. Grades, tests, attendance records, interviews, all factors that can determine a child’s trajectory. Or do they? Following approval of a diversity plan that has done away with all of the above, School District 15 is instead asking, “what will this do to help […]
The Renewal School program is coming to an end. What now?
As many know, The Renewal School program that was started in 2014 is coming to a close after spending nearly $750 million dollars on “community schools” throughout NYC. Chalkbeat wrote an interesting piece on the intricacies surrounding the history of The Renewal Program, as well as identifying the larger issue: even with the program coming […]
