Moments Matter
I received an email about a month ago from a former Boston Arts Academy high school student. I knew them as Elyias Harris and now they were professionally known as Deen Rawlins-Harris. We hadn’t been in touch all that much since they graduated in 2009, but we had had...
End of Year Musings, December 2024
As the 2024 year comes to a close, I wanted to give a quick run down on a few activities and also share some thoughts. Our book Designing Democratic Schools and Learning Environments continues to be a resource to many all over the world. It has now reached over...
What Role Do PLCs play in your school?
This fall, I’ve been in a lot of different schools, but I’ve encountered a similar theme: many teachers are struggling to find the value for PLCs or PLTs–whatever acronym you use to describe professional learning communities. Long before it had a name and a whole...
September 2024 Greetings
Dear friends and colleagues, As the leaves begin to turn into the brilliant colors of fall, I wanted to share my whereabouts and musings with all of you. I hope that summer brought you time with family, friends, and new adventures. Certainly, the...
Seeing Brilliance
In 2024, artist Cecilia Vásquez was commissioned to create an 8’x12’ abstract visual art piece in Boston Arts Academy’s lobby. The painting was recently unveiled in a public gathering. The red rose is Carmen; the pink one is me. The piece is a tribute to our founding...
Deeper Learning 2024
Happy to have participated in Deeper Learning 2024 in San Diego as a Den Speaker, along with my former student and current colleague Ayesha Hoda, and so many others I admire. The conference is an inspirational gathering of educators determined to create the schools...
Empowering Students Through School Libraries: from Designing Democratic Schools and Learning Environments
Author, Deborah Froggatt There are many reasons to highlight the impact of libraries in shaping more democratic, inclusive and equitable high-quality schools. In her chapter, Deborah Froggatt, retired Director of Library Services in Boston Public Schools, claims that...
A large school that feels small: A visit to Lawrence High School
I had the privilege of visiting Lawrence High School (LHS) along with colleagues from Lynn Public Schools and Harvard Graduate School of Education. Even though the campus is huge, with over 3,000 students, there is a sense of calmness, connection and purpose inside....
Move Over: The HOMies Have Landed!
Here’s the current reality: 1/3 of teachers are currently thinking about leaving their jobs and education professionals report worse well-being than other professionals (Bryant et al., 2023). Teachers of color are more likely to leave the profession and well-being is...
A Building Holds Many Stories
I’ve been visiting a lot of urban schools in Massachusetts these past few months. (The term “urban” in this context is code for a school that is located in a city where many students are poor, black or brown, often recent immigrants, and where decently paid entry...