My students are a far cry from being the next Bob Ross, René Magritte or Rembrandt Van Rijn. They’re a far cry from even being a starving artist in the future. But, dang it, they’re trying – and so am I. An Assignment I Didn’t Ask For I am the Resource Director for my district […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Education Department Moves to Dissolve Office Supporting English Learners
The U.S. Department of Education is moving forward with plans to dissolve the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA), a key federal office responsible for supporting the nation’s more than 5 million English learners, as part of a broader effort to scale back and restructure the agency. The proposed closure, first communicated to Congress in […]
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On the ethics of properly grading students
I wanted to take a break from my usual cynical storytelling — don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of that — and address a very serious concern: an ethical, and yes, existential question (despite how overused that word has become) about student grading. I work as a special education teacher in an urban public high school […]
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The Transformational Vision of the Library
How many times did you visit your school library as a child? How often do you visit it now, as a teacher? For what purpose? If you ran a quick survey, you’d likely get a wide range of answers. Libraries have changed — we call them Media Centers, Information Centers, Learning Hubs — yet the […]
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Federal book ban bill advances, Drawing widespread opposition from the public
A controversial federal bill that would restrict access to certain materials in schools and libraries has advanced in the U.S. House, intensifying a national debate over censorship, student access, and the role of government in education. H.R. 7661, known as the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act,” was introduced in February and advanced out of […]
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History, Curiosity, and a Classroom That Thinks: The Inspiring Work of Ryan Donovan
Some teachers assign history. Others bring it to life. For Ryan Donovan, an AP U.S. History teacher at Boulder Creek High School, the goal isn’t simply to help students memorize dates and events—it’s to help them see themselves as active participants in democracy and lifelong learners of the world around them. That philosophy has helped […]
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Washington County Board of Education member censured for calling a student “hot”
Today on May 19, 2026, the Washington County Superintendent, Jerry Boyd, released the following statement on behalf of the Board of Education: The Board of Education has been notified that formal charges of simple assault have been filed against Board Member Keith Ervin following an incident involving a student representative at the April 2, 2026, […]
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Lawsuit Targets i-Ready Maker Over Student Data Privacy Concerns
A group of K–12 students has filed a federal class action lawsuit against Curriculum Associates, Inc., the maker of the widely used i-Ready educational platform, alleging that the company unlawfully collects and shares student data without proper consent. The case, M.C. v. Curriculum Associates, is emerging as a significant legal battle over student privacy in […]