School Talk

Self-Advocacy: Elise Duarte Shares Her Experience About Being Bullied and Finding Success at a Non-Public School

In honor of School Choice Week, Good School Hunting is sharing an interview with a California student named Elise, conducted by La Comadre, an advocacy and communications organization with the fundamental goal of “building a community to help all of our children with their education.” I (Erika) personally know this student’s mother, Lisette, who has been… Continue reading Self-Advocacy: Elise Duarte Shares Her Experience About Being Bullied and Finding Success at a Non-Public School

School Talk

This Post It Note Confirms What I Know for Sure

Oprah always used to say “what I know for sure” and she even authored a book by that title. Well, this picture of a student’s answer to the prompt “I wish my teacher knew…” reminded me of something that I know for sure. I learned it as a young teacher in my 20’s and saw… Continue reading This Post It Note Confirms What I Know for Sure

Rhode Island · School Talk

Students Speak Out to Shift the Narrative About Their School (but 93 percent of Students There Don’t Read at Grade Level)

Student voice matters and when middle school students decide they want to push back on the negative narrative surrounding their school, we need to listen. Half a dozen students and one alumnus of Roger Williams Middle School in Providence fielded questions last week as part of a panel discussion entitled “I am Roger Williams Middle… Continue reading Students Speak Out to Shift the Narrative About Their School (but 93 percent of Students There Don’t Read at Grade Level)

School Talk

You Are a Double Refugee from Congo and Rwanda and We Want You—and Need You— Here in America

In light of President Trump’s recent—and disgusting—comments about immigrants from Africa, Haiti and any other countries he considers to be “shitholes”, I have been reflecting on so many wonderful people from the very places that he chose to insult. People who are more optimistic, grateful, hardworking, and kind than pretty much anybody I’ve ever met,… Continue reading You Are a Double Refugee from Congo and Rwanda and We Want You—and Need You— Here in America

School Talk

Push Us Towards Education, Please.

By Dashaun Robinson For many young people at risk in today’s world, an internal battle exists pitting monetary gains against self enlightenment. Which is stronger: education or money? Now if you’re saying to yourself, “well that’s an easy one,” then you are probably reading this from your comfy desk, at your stable job. But for… Continue reading Push Us Towards Education, Please.

Rhode Island

Guest Post by Julia Carlson: How Shadowing a Student For One Day Changed Me

Written by Julia Carlson, Principal of Central High School in Providence, Rhode Island   As a building principal, my day tends to look like a Seurat painting when standing only inches away.  A thousand dots consisting of tasks, interactions and events that stand alone until you step back and see the whole painting. For the… Continue reading Guest Post by Julia Carlson: How Shadowing a Student For One Day Changed Me

Rhode Island · School Talk

2016: The Good Stuff

There is rare consensus that 2016 was no ordinary year and there’s no doubt that in the minds of many, 2017 couldn’t have come fast enough. The political rhetoric and division was at full tilt for what felt like forever, hugely influential and beloved icons like Prince, George Michael, and Carrie Fisher passed away suddenly, trailblazing familiar faces… Continue reading 2016: The Good Stuff

Rhode Island · School Talk

Student Voice: How Her School Came Together in Unity on the Heels of Election ’16

This guest post is written by Annavonh Phasouvor, a senior at Central High School.  @CentKnights Join us as we circle CHS tomorrow at 2:30 in an act of #unity for our school community. @esanzi @TurquoiseLady1 @jmendelsohn12 — [email protected] (@Carlson1Knights) November 9, 2016 Central High School in Providence, Rhode Island came together two days after the… Continue reading Student Voice: How Her School Came Together in Unity on the Heels of Election ’16