Professional Development

“Observe This”: A NYC Teacher Has Doubts About the New Teacher Evaluation System Negotiated by UFT.
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“Observe This”: A NYC Teacher Has Doubts About the New Teacher Evaluation System Negotiated by UFT.

Vivett Dukes4 Comments

Summer 2019 was one for the history books. Now, it’s back to school and, in preparation for our students’ return, New York City public school teachers sat through a series of professional developments early this week intended to prepare us with information — some necessary, some not — for the pending school year. Any teacher… Continue reading “Observe This”: A NYC Teacher Has Doubts About the New Teacher Evaluation System Negotiated by UFT.

NYC’s Gifted and Talented Programs Need Accessibility, Not Elimination.
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NYC’s Gifted and Talented Programs Need Accessibility, Not Elimination.

Vivett DukesLeave a comment

The New York Times reports that “[a]  group of selective schools and programs geared to students labeled gifted and talented is filled mostly with white and Asian children,” even though the vast majority of the 1.1 million students in New York City are Black and Latinx. And so a “high-level panel appointed by Mayor Bill… Continue reading NYC’s Gifted and Talented Programs Need Accessibility, Not Elimination.

In Yonkers, Teachers Leaders Are “The Unit Of Change”: A Report From the Field.
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In Yonkers, Teachers Leaders Are “The Unit Of Change”: A Report From the Field.

Laura WatersLeave a comment

“What if kids who look like me didn’t have to work so hard to navigate an inequitable school system? What if adults were invested in making that navigation possible?” That’s Tracy Fray-Oliver, Associate Vice President of Bank Street Education Center (part of the Bank Street College of Education in New York City) speaking to a… Continue reading In Yonkers, Teachers Leaders Are “The Unit Of Change”: A Report From the Field.

Teachers, Do You Know Your Limitations? Let Me Tell You Some Of Mine!
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Teachers, Do You Know Your Limitations? Let Me Tell You Some Of Mine!

Glenn MasonLeave a comment

“You want me to do what?!” I said with mock disbelief. Some of my students were helping to plan our school’s annual spring break college tour where they visit universities up and down the east coast during their Easter vacation. They asked me if I would help chaperone their trip. I responded, “let me make… Continue reading Teachers, Do You Know Your Limitations? Let Me Tell You Some Of Mine!

“Mr Mason, this is Jesus.” A NYC Teacher Learns From His English Language Learners and Newly-Immigrated Students.
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“Mr Mason, this is Jesus.” A NYC Teacher Learns From His English Language Learners and Newly-Immigrated Students.

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Glenn Mason is a former CPA who spent over 25 years in a variety of roles in corporate America. He is presently a New York City public high school teacher. This is in his twelfth academic year in his newfound career and his third guest post with New York School Talk. Glenn’s first post is… Continue reading “Mr Mason, this is Jesus.” A NYC Teacher Learns From His English Language Learners and Newly-Immigrated Students.

The Power of Vulnerability in the Classroom
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The Power of Vulnerability in the Classroom

Vivett DukesLeave a comment

Being vulnerable: It’s not something we think about when we prepare to teach our students. There are even some schools of thought that suggest being a stone wall in front of our students and not, under any circumstances, letting them know that we, as their teachers, are tired, stressed, sad, or experiencing any other negative… Continue reading The Power of Vulnerability in the Classroom

The Power of School Author Visits for Our Students
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The Power of School Author Visits for Our Students

Vivett DukesLeave a comment

On June 19th, author Nora Raleigh-Baskin paid a visit to my students and me at our school to discuss her life and her book, Ruby on the Outside. If you read my blog posts regularly, you know that I am very transparent with my students and many of them know that my husband is incarcerated. Through… Continue reading The Power of School Author Visits for Our Students

What Should Teachers Know About How Mass Incarceration Intersects With The Classroom?
Blog · Educational Equity

What Should Teachers Know About How Mass Incarceration Intersects With The Classroom?

Vivett DukesLeave a comment

Our guest today is Whitney Q. Hollins. She is a special educator in the NYC DOE, a Research Assistant at We Got Us Now and a doctoral student at C.U.N.Y. Graduate Center. Whitney and I do advocacy work together and what struck me most about her when we first met was her sharp mind. She’s… Continue reading What Should Teachers Know About How Mass Incarceration Intersects With The Classroom?

How Deeply Do You Think About Language?
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How Deeply Do You Think About Language?

Vivett DukesLeave a comment

“I’m having a hard time getting through this because of the language. The constant referral to incarcerated individuals as inmates speaks to the inhumane vantage point from which they are viewed by society. Imagine if we all were forever referred to by the result of our worst decision in life?” This was my response to… Continue reading How Deeply Do You Think About Language?

African-American Pedagogical Experts Are What This Surge Of Student Social Activists Needs!
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African-American Pedagogical Experts Are What This Surge Of Student Social Activists Needs!

Vivett DukesLeave a comment

Last week, the nation watched as students from across the United States walked out of their school buildings and took their voices to loudspeakers and microphones as they spoke their truth about the negative ways gun violence in our schools affects them. My building principal recognized early on that students were going to participate in… Continue reading African-American Pedagogical Experts Are What This Surge Of Student Social Activists Needs!