In the grand scheme of national affairs, or even those of Alabama, the PTA meeting at Vaughn Road elementary in Montgomery on Oct. 9 didn't make news of any sort.  Fox News was not there, nor even a local TV station or newspaper reporter.  Just some dedicated teachers...

The highest national honor a school can attain is being named a Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education.  Honorees have just been announced.  Nationally there were 300 public schools and 49 non-public. Alabama had five public schools  Arab elementary in...

Of all the blunders former state superintendent Mike Sentance made (and there were many), none looms any larger than his decision to hire Jason Taylor to supposedly "straighten out" finances for the Montgomery school system. As we've said before, Taylor was the Chief...

Raise Your Hand Texas is a public school advocacy group based in Austin.  Among the many things they are involved in is an on-going effort to tell the story of today's schools and what teachers are asked to cope with. As they say: "Being an educator in today’s schools...

When then state superintendent Mike Sentence took over the Montgomery County school system early in 2017 one of his first moves was to sign a three-year. no-bid contract for $708,000 to bring Huntsville City school's Chief Financial Officer, Jason Taylor, to...

One  of the highest recognitions a high school senior can receive is becoming a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist.  The current group of Alabama students to gain this honor has just been announced.  There are 215 of them, from both private and public schools....

Rube Goldberg is a name that will sound vaguely familiar to many of you--but you don't know why. Goldberg was born in San Francisco in 1883 and though he graduated from the University of California with a degree in engineering, he gained fame as a newspaper...

Yes, sometimes life takes twists and turns that we never would imagine. Exhibit A is the fact that just after noon today (Aug. 31) I was sworn in as a member of the Montgomery County school board for District 2.  This is the seat I ran for earlier in the year and lost...

Our friend and former longtime state department of education employee Tracey Meyer recently visited the Russellville city school system in northwest Alabama.  She was super impressed at the work she saw of superintendent Heath Grimes and West Elementary principal...

Fifty elementary schools throughout the state had lots of smiling faces this past week when it was announced that each would receive $20,000 because of improved third-grade reading results.  Funding was provided by the legislature in the 2018 session.  A ceremony will...

Being alone for the better part of each day gives me plenty of time to think about all kinds of things.  Something I have pondered a lot is what is "education" supposed to be.  And I go back to my own days in grade school and high school.  (Yes, it's been a long time...

Tragedy hit one of Montgomery's most celebrated schools when fire consumed the building housing the cafeteria, counselor's office, photo studio, art studio, broadcast media, library and a number of classrooms Friday night, August 18 at Booker T. Washington magnet...

I spent 30 minutes in the reception area of a middle school somewhere in Alabama yesterday.  It was basically bedlam.  Pre-schoolers scooting to and fro, mamas frantically looking for info about which school their child is supposed to attend, the phone ringing off the...

Sudan McKim works for the state department of education in Montgomery.  And on the first day of school each year she volunteers to work at a school.  This year she went to Garrett Elementary. Here is her account of the day.  She does a great job of reminding us that...

A few days ago we mentioned that Tracey Meyer, longtime ALSDE employee who worked to keep up with legislative happenings, had begun a blog to highlight many of the positives about Alabama public schools. In order to keep up with what she has to say, you can go to this...

Earlier in July we celebrated the signing of the declaration of independence.  A document written by men worthy of being called “leaders” far more than those we now see every day on cable news.  Men who sought Divine Guidance instead of wondering how many follow them...

I suppose it is only natural that when you realize you have far more yesterdays than tomorrows, you spend a lot of time thinking about the paths you have traveled in life and the people who made an impact on you. I graduated from high school in 1961 and headed off to...

Ted Dintersmith made a LOT of money as a venture capitalist.  And because he has two children he became very interested in education in this country.  He has spent a lot of his time and money exploring what we are doing, both right and wrong.  He has looked at schools...

Tracey Meyer is a familiar name to many in Alabama education circles.  She worked at the state department of education for almost two decades and for years was the "go to" person in working with the legislature.  She did an excellent job of tracking legislation and...

School bells will soon ring across Alabama and teachers are working hard to get their classrooms ready for a new batch of smiling faces.  (And some who may not be smiling.) Seems that every few days I get an email from these folks encouraging me to help a teacher...

My involvement with public education began in 2008 when Owen Sweatt, Gerald Carter and I set out to study ten high-performing rural elementary schools around the state.  Since all were high-poverty, we wanted to find out why they were doing so well academically in the...

Ten years ago I plunged into the world of K-12 public education.  It's been a remarkable journey.  I've met amazing people who have become dear friends. None more so that Marha Peek, who retires the end of June as superintendent of the Mobile County school system, the...

The Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation, a non-profit organization working to strengthen public education, is sending 109 educators from Texas to attend weeklong summer institutes at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. With this new...

A few weeks ago I spoke to an elementary principal about the issues she faces.  She told me that one is teacher absenteeism.  When I asked her why,she quickly told me, "Stress."  At 4 p.m. today, (Friday May 25) I'm talking to the principal of one of the best...

As the Tombigbee river meanders through west Alabama it eventually becomes the eastern border of Washington County.  In fact, this is where its waters join those of the Alabama river before heading to Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.  The county is both big and...

My friend Wendy Lang is a former educator, an advocate for public education and a single parent who understands the value of those who invest in the lives of children.   She is also a regular columnist for the Decatur Daily, her hometown newspaper. She just attended...

There are many wonderful educators in Alabama.  And in my book, Hope Zeanah, assistant superintendent of education in Baldwin County, is at the top of the list.  She was principal of Elberta elementary for 16 years.  Was Alabama Principal of the Year in 2013. And even...

As we hear more and more about teachers showing their dissatisfaction with wages and working conditions I came across an article that gives insight as to what is going on today in schools across the country. In a sobering article in Education Week Teacher with the...

OK.  OK.  For those of you who have only known me for a few years, you will likely be shocked to know that long ago (and many pounds) I was a distance runner and lettered on Auburn University's cross-country team.  Even got a navy blue sweater with a bright orange A...

One side of the cafeteria at Goodwyn middle school was packed with 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls.  Some all dressed up, some in their school clothes.  All were wiggling and jumping and doing the kind of things young ladies of that age are supposed to do. Across the...