I for one am happy 2011 is almost over. I myself didn’t do too well with my 2011 resolutions. One resolution was to stop finishing other people’s sentences and you may recall I didn’t do too well there. It’s fun to recall what people resolved for 2011. Hoping the New Year brings a greater awareness [...]

Today I’m in Prattsville. Just because schools are out, doesn’t mean work stops. Members of the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Support Staff work this week to make sure schools are ready for students when they come back from break, just like schools all over the state. I’ve got another reason to go. The school serves an area ravaged by [...]

Johnathan Chase teaches social studies in the Edmeston schools. Edmeston is right of Interstate 88 and it’s the same exit for Brooks BBQ if you are ever in the area. Chase is one of the many amazing teachers in our schools. Here’s a link to an explanation of how he weaves music and the history [...]

Maceo Dubose Jr. emailed the news that the Guilderland Teachers Association raised over $1,000 and collected a van load of clothing and cleaning supplies. All the items were donated to the families in Rotterdam Junction through the Schalmont Teachers Association, whose president is Mary Beth Flatley. Way to go Guilderland! Roseanne Mamo called in with [...]

Although any day of the year is a wonderful time to reach out to you, during holiday’s it’s natural to reflect a bit more.  I had lots of time for reflection as I tended to my father’s health-care needs last week. All the various waiting rooms had Time magazine. I found their recap of weather [...]

It’s two days before Christmas and two days into Hanukkah. School leaders are worried. Here’s one article from the mid-Hudson region, and a glimpse at one forum. From the same area, here’s also the dire prediction from one superintendent that 300 schools will become financially insolvent in five years. It strikes me how people still [...]

On Monday, groups caroled on Long Island and also in Buffalo. They sang mock holiday songs to protest corporate tax loopholes in the state’s tax structure. The issue is that even though this month’s tax reform was just a step on the path to make sure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. The [...]

Sabrina Stevens Shupe is a self-described teacher-turned-activist who has become one of the nation’s most articulate and thoughtful young voices in the conversation about so-called education reform. Shupe is a former elementary teacher in the Denver area and a member of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, an NEA affiliate. She was one of the organizers [...]

Amidst all the dreary news, a golden moment shines. The number of New York teachers who earned national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards – jumped 14.5 percent in 2011. That means New York now has more than 1,300 teachers who have achieved ‘master teacher’ status. Here’s a link to the list [...]

If you haven’t seen it yet! I embed the video for you here. Glad to be back, although I am truly not sorry to have missed so much news. Somebody has got to be penning You’re a mean one, John Boehner right now. Here’s a handy calculator to figure out how much more in taxes [...]