“Ugg. I HATE coronavirus! I just want to go to school and places!” proclaimed fellow TER writer Katie Sluiter’s young daughter. For a preschooler who loves seeing her friends, being with her teachers, gymnastics, and swimming, our current situation is quite the challenge. This is a reality that countless parents of preschool kids are facing […]
Mike Dunn
Mike currently serves as the Director of College Counseling and Upper School History teacher at a small independent school outside of Philadelphia. He teaches courses in interest/career exploration, college essay writing, college admissions fundamentals, and World History. He is also the Principal Consultant for Mike Dunn Educational Consulting.
The Boutique Schools Of Our Future
This past week I spent a few days at Northeastern University for a doctoral residency in the program I’m currently studying under. Part of this experience was spending a day interacting with the NExT community: A group of schools dedicated to Innovation and experiential learning as part of their mission. I learned about programs such […]
The Power of the School Visit as PD
Featuring guest writer Chris Horne Typical schools spend thousands of dollars each year on professional development. This could involve bringing in guest speakers to facilitate workshops or doing internal data reviews, but each school’s PD plan looks a little bit different. In all cases, these plans tend to have a focused goal: To help teachers […]
Responding to DeVos’s Negligent #SOTU19 Response
With Donald Trump’s 2019 State of the Union address in the rear-view mirror, we are left to reflect on and process the 82-minute sermon. Naturally, education received some attention in the speech, as it has for countless other SOTUs. This time, Trump shared 16 particular words about his education policy: “To help support working parents, […]
This HS Senior Was Accepted to 149 Colleges. That’s a Problem.
May 1, also known as College Decision Day to Seniors across the country, is right around the corner. This is the day by which Seniors must declare which college they plan to attend next fall. Many students see this day as the culmination of years worth of work, and a significant rite of passage in […]
As a Teacher and Michigan State University Alum, I’m Embarrassed and Hurt
When I decided to attend Michigan State University in the spring of my Senior year, I was beyond excited. I was a first-gen college student, couldn’t wait to get out of my parents’ house, and was looking forward to everything MSU had to offer. Although I secretly felt pretty unprepared, I was confident enough in […]
The Devaluation of the School Counselor
Midway through my Junior year of high school, my secondary school counselor sat me down for the first time in her office. We talked casually about my future plans, she signed me up for the standardized test to be proctored in the school library at the end of spring break, and she showed me the […]
Summer Break: An Antiquated Institution That Needs To Go
Summer break is an American institution. A time when students across the nation leave their intensive classes and venture off to the woods, the pool, the mountains, and the basement. For many students summer break has become synonymous with relaxation, spending time with their family and friends, camp, and heat waves. For educators, summer break […]