FLASHBACK: It’s mid-March and I am working on a National Board entry. I’m stuck. I need help! Will someone PLEASE just tell me what the National Board wants from me??? I have a mentoring session this week, so maybe I
Read More
14th Annual TLI: Developing School Communities that Thrive
If you attended Teacher Leadership Institute last year, then you already know that you do not want to miss this annual AZK12 event. In 2018, this gathering of educators and stakeholders helped to ignite, motivate, and confirm many of the
Read More
March is Theatre in Our Schools Month
Scene Opens: Home Depot, Monday, 7 am. A harried woman clutches items and calculates aloud… Employee: Can I help you, Ma’am? Woman (showing him an armful of wire): Is this the right width flexible steel wire for these pulleys? Employee:
Read More
Why Good Feedback for Students Must Start with Administrators
Schools are working harder than ever to find ways to improve the learning for their students. Schools are experimenting with technology implementation, lowering class size, even implementing mindfulness, and while each of these practices may be wonderful, there is no
Read More
Powerful P.D.
As teachers, we go to many professional development opportunities. Tons of our hours are spent each year learning to be better teachers, so we know the good trainings from the bad. The good trainings remind of us why we decided
Read More
Supporting African American Youth
My initial purpose for this writing piece was to highlight the current academic status of African American youth in Arizona. Unfortunately, I was not able to locate current information about our academic demographics. I have requested this information from the
Read More
Not Enough
Three miles is not enough. Mile one presents angst and anxiety, my mind is full and racing. The thoughts of turning around, running home and crawling back into bed creep in. The only thing keeping me going sometimes is simply,
Read More
AZ – SB 1051 – The High-Quality Teacher Pilot Program
SB1038 came about because Arizona schools were no longer offering physics. As teachers left, schools chose to eliminate programs as there was no one to teach this subject. We eventually got down to 159 certified and active physics teachers teaching
Read More
Trust, but Verify
I am alternately hopeful, terrified, and jubilant. I check Twitter obsessively. My anxiety is easily triggered. It must be time for the Arizona legislative session. Even in a state known for wacky and colorful political antics, it promises to be
Read More
My To-Do List: A Peek Into a Teacher Leader’s Week
The simple fact that this is my second “list” blog post in a row should tell you something. No matter how many hours I am putting in at home right now, there do not seem to be enough. Teaching is
Read More