A little over a week ago, CPS laid off 1,000 employees—half of those were teachers. Today, in doing my daily Facebook rounds, I learned that there is an upcoming hiring fair in which CPS plans to hire 1,000 teachers. What kind of game is the district playing? Additionally, there will be public hearings in which parents can come and voice…
Tag: Chicago Unheard
7 Rules for Radical Parents to Demand Great Education
My (almost) 5-year-old is super excited about September 12th. That’s the day when she and her 3-year-old brother will start their fall schedule as homeschool students. As we enter into another “Back to School” season, my heart is breaking for the thousands of families across Chicago that do not have that same sense of certainty about when school is going…
Because the Civil Rights Movement Wasn’t Just a March…
I’m probably going to piss some people off with this post but it’s a risk I’m willing to take because I’m here to tell you that…marches are not movements. Selma didn’t just happen, ya know. Fresh in people’s minds is Bloody Sunday when hundreds of civil rights activists were terrorized and brutalized by Alabama law enforcement while marching through…
Just Another Blog Post About Another Hashtag of Another Black Man Killed by Police #AltonSterling
You’ve read this story before. It’s the ultimate nightmare of history repeating itself. I didn’t want to write this post again. It’s redundant. It’s being posted on the sites of every online publication today. This won’t be your first time reading this post today and it won’t be your last. There’s a collective wave of what seems like plagiarism happening…
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,…
From Supportive Housing to Government Affairs: #ProofPointDay
Ann Valencia went from living in supporting housing, to being director of the Office of Legislative Counsel and Government Affairs for Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “When I came in, he said, ‘You have my respect and you will have their [aldermen’s] respect. That meant a lot for the mayor to . . . have my back in that way. He gives…
Low-income school districts caught in a statistical crossfire
As the wait for an Illinois budget continues, schools across the state are searching for alternative ways to secure funding. Low-income schools are stuck in the middle. “When the Republicans talk about how much Chicago spends per pupil, they always inflate the number by counting the money CPS puts into its pension fund,” Manar said. “Then they compare that to…
Readers Attribute Discontent in Chicago to Leadership and Social Ills
When Chicagoans were questioned about their city in a recent poll by the NY Times, they couldn’t help but to share what they love about it, along with what could use major improvement. Education seems to be the common cry: “I came to Chicago in 1974 and love this city. That said, I am not deluded about its myriad problems.…