Exciting news from Argentina!
Many of you know that I returned to Argentina in July 2010, and that my book was published in Spanish there ("Las Preguntas Fundamentales no Están en el Examen.") Argentina is determined to use the arts as a mechanism to challenge and change both school structures as...
Why I Love Puppets
Many of my teachers will tell you that I have driven them nuts (justifiably) asking, “When are we going to do puppets?” For years, I’ve gone on and on with whomever would listen about why I love puppets. From a Surdna Fellow artist-teacher who gave a puppet and...
Small Schools Leadership in Oregon
How can we prevent districts and school systems from reverting to the status quo? How can we encourage schools and school systems to truly innovate and to withstand the pressure of being sucked back to a laissez-faire time? How can we be unionized and have the...
Summer Institute at Boston Arts Academy
I’m excited to announce that the eighth annual Summer Institute for Arts in Education will be held at Boston Arts Academy from June 29 to July 1, 2011. Summer Institute is a three-day conference for local, national, and international educators, geared for K-12...
Burned In
I recently joined a prestigious group of educators and authors, contributing a chapter to a new book titled Burned In: Fueling the Fire to Teach. Edited by Audrey A. Friedman and Luke Reynolds and published by Teachers College Press, this inspiring book asked veteran...
On Route to Oregon
And so the traveling continues…Heading out West today to Ashland, Oregon to give the keynote address for the Oregon Small Schools Leadership Institute, which takes place tomorrow (Wednesday, May 11, 2011). The institute is hosted by the Oregon Small Schools Network...
What do you get when you cross Algebra and Hula dancing?
At Boston Arts Academy, we have spent years in professional development discussions and workshops trying to define the terms and experience of interdisciplinary understanding. While it has been a long journey, fraught with tensions, our faculty are increasing creating new and exciting curriculum that both instruct and engage students.
A school with promise
Something seems amiss in all of the teacher and union bashing in the news these days. That talk about earning too much money, bloated benefits, not working hard enough, not caring about the kids. And then how the union protects us, especially the really bad ones. I...
The power of community
“What are you doing in that robe?” Riana, a 10th grader, asks me as I come barreling down the stairs. “I’m going to Abraham’s graduation,” I reply grinning, “And I can’t be late.” It’s mid-day in March, graduation day at Boston Arts Academy. Faculty line the assembly...
Reflections from Science Leadership Academy, Philadelphia
I recently traveled to Science Leadership Academy (SLA) in Philadelphia for the EduCon 2.3 conference with Monika Aldarondo, BAA Senior Project Coordinator and Visual Arts Teacher, and two seniors, Duke and Xavier. Both students have been funded for their senior...