Month: June 2016

Will I Have a Job Next Year? #TheClockIsTicking

It’s late June and school has been out for two weeks. I should be enjoying my summer, vacationing, resting, and preparing for fall enrollments. Instead, I’m spending the days concerned if I’ll have a job in 2 months. I work at a charter school in Chicago, in the special service department, working with children with various disabilities and inspiring other students…

Black Male Teacher: Part 2: The Search

The Present “It took me nearly four years until I was able to lock down my first full time teaching gig.” – Anonymous Classroom Teacher Whenever I have too much time to think about this job search process those are the words that echo in my head. I know that this could take awhile. And most of it is out…

It’s Time For More Black Men in the Classroom

Ever since I made the decision to pursue a career in education, I have constantly been praised and told, “We need more black males in education”. Before, I simply agreed and went about my business, but lately that statement has me thinking. I’ve encountered several black men who are phenomenal educators and make a difference within their classrooms and communities,…

Innovative program cuts violent-crime arrests among Chicago youth

Crimes committed by at-risk Chicago students dropped in half, and high-school graduations rose sharply in an innovative education program called Becoming a Man that is capturing national attention and could become one antidote to the city’s persistent bloodshed, according to a newly published study. BAM focuses on adolescent and teenage boys on the city’s violent South and West sides. They’re…

DuSable Museum honors ‘Rising Star’ for character, resilience

Achievement isn’t always measured in academic prowess, when talking of teenagers navigating the under-resourced schools, fractured families, poverty and violence of Chicago’s inner city. It can be measured by character, resilience, determination. All are adjectives used to describe Hakeem Day, a 19-year-old who graduated last week from Simeon Career Academy and will be honored as a “Rising Star” by the…

Lost Accountability

I want to reminisce a little bit.  There used to be a glorious time when youth were able to ride bikes, jump double-dutch and play Hide and Seek with their only concern being the street lights coming on – indicating that it was time to go in the house.  Nowadays, some youth are missing out on the simple joys of…

Can’t We All Just Get Along? CTU Should Focus On Springfield First

When I saw this story about the latest Chicago Teachers Union protest coming to downtown Chicago, I heard a voice of wisdom from my childhood… Seriously folks. The craziness has to stop. The Chicago Teachers Union should simply not be clouding the message and giving cover to Governor Rauner while we still need a budget and a long-term fix to…

The Killing Season

I’m an Oakland boy but I the place that birthed me is in crisis and the world is numb to it. Chicago, one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen, is losing Black life at an astonishing rate. What’s worse is that very few folks outside of Chicago are discussing it. The past two weekends has been particularly bloody…