Race, Merit, College Admissions, and the Long Ghost of San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez. Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! On October 31, 2022, the United States Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows […]
Black Students
Why Every Teacher Should Play De La Soul for Their Students
What De La Soul can teach Black students (and teachers) about breaking the status quo Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! I grew up listening to De La Soul. They are part of the landscape of my adolescence and young adult development. The trio from […]
You Don’t Have to Watch the Tyre Nichols Video, But Be Ready to Talk About It
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! “Ms. Lamons, did you hear?” My text messages and social media inboxes were flooded with the news of the release of the Tyre Nichols video. Almost ashamedly, I did not recognize his name. I did not know the backstory. […]
Trevor Noah’s Farewell Speech Was an Ode to Black Women in Education
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! I was on a Black Writers’ Zoom with three other Black female educators recently. We were reflecting on the impact of Trevor Noah’s farewell speech. In Trevor Noah’s farewell speech on his final episode of The Daily Show, he offered […]
Being a Black Woman in Special Education is Traumatic. But We Can Change That
Education: To work in special education is never an easy feat. However, “educating within special education as a Black Woman is downright traumatic.” I thought this recently as I stood in the classroom, recalling countless conversations I’d had with my special education colleagues. Black students are referred and assigned to special education restrictive programming at a […]
Why We Need More “Black Ms. Frizzles”
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! When I started teaching in the U.S. in 2018, I had a student, let’s call him ‘Eddie,’ who was unbelievably quirky, to say the least. In class, he always tucked in his shirt, speed-walked everywhere, was always on the […]
Stop Pushing Your Black and Brown Students Out of School
I have always known my place as a white educator – and that place is one of constant growth, reflection, and education. When I was in my teacher prep program, I knew I wanted to teach in a high needs school. Admittedly, I was scared to pursue it immediately even if I knew it was […]
Dear Black Students, I’m So Sorry…
Dear Black Students, I’m tired. I’m tired of sitting in meetings where others discuss you, yet they don’t understand you. I cried for you today. I ache on your behalf because I know you’re tired too. I know you are more than what others think of you. I also know what your journey feels like….and […]