Author: Ogo Okoye-johnson

What Improves Student Learning?

/ Ogo Okoye-johnson / 2 Comments

Effective student learning occurs with frequent teacher feedback to students that encourages self-reflection on the part of students followed by the reteaching of concepts necessary to ensure student mastery of concepts taught.

HAVE AN AWESOME WOMEN’S MONTH!

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I would like to wish all women, past present and in the future who contribute tirelessly and continuously in all works of life to serve as the anchors of our wonderful wide world

A VERY HAPPY AND FULFILLING WOMEN’S MONTH!

Two Principals of Chicago Public Schools Support Opting Out of PARCC

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A report in Chicago Sun Times on March 4, 2015 by Lauren Fitzpatrick discusses that the principals of two highly rated elementary schools, in the Chicago Public Schools are supporting the parents of their students’ decision to opt-out of the state’s upcoming standardized test based on Common Core Standards. The test which is called Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, PARCC for short, will not be used to evaluate teachers, rate schools or decide whether students are promoted or graduate.

The principal of Nettelhorst Elementary School, Cindy Wulbert told the parents who wish to opt their children out of the test write a letter to the School’s administration requesting to opt-out.

Troy LaRaviere , the out-spoken principal of Blaine Elementary School e-mailed  his students’ parents as follows:

“I am writing to make it clear that the Blaine administration fully supports the PTA’s effort to maximize Blaine students’ instructional time. “Students whose parents opt them out will receive a full day of instruction. Teachers are developing plans that will provide enriched learning experiences for non-testing students during the testing window. I want to clearly state that whether you opt-out or not, Blaine’s administration and teachers will respect and support your wishes for your child.”

Two Principals Share Opposing Views on Common Core Standards

/ Ogo Okoye-johnson / 4 Comments

Common Core Standards have generated intense debates and controversies among politicians, educators, parents of current students, and community members. It is important, therefore, that the voices of those responsible for implementing the Common Core Standards are heard. The Hechinger Report, invited two principals, Carol Burris and Jayne Ellspermann, with differing views on Common Core Standards to converse through letters their opinions and experiences with the implementation of the Common Core Standards.

Carol Burris, New York’s principal of South Side High School in the Rockville Centre School District and the 2013 New York State High School Principal of the Year used to be in support of Common Core Standards but is now an opponent of the Standards. Jayne Ellspermann, principal of West Port High School in Ocala, Florida and the 2015 Principal of the Year for the National Association of Secondary School Principals, is an advocate for the Standards.

Valerie Strauss who covers education and the Answer Sheet Blog for the Washington Post reported on March 4th, 2015 the second letter in the series written by Jayne Ellspermann in response to Carol Burris who wrote the first letter.

What Improves Teaching and Learning?

/ Ogo Okoye-johnson / 3 Comments

The most reliable measure for improving teaching and learning could be derived from frequent and effective teacher observations and constructive feedback from the observers designed to improve teacher performance and subsequently student performance in an atmosphere laden with trust and devoid of fear of reprisals!

Ramon Cortines Declares No Ipads for all Los Angeles Unified School District’s Students

/ Ogo Okoye-johnson / 3 Comments

According to a report in the Los Angeles Times today, Friday February 20, 2015 by Howard Blume , Ramon Cortines, the Interim Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District declared that the school district does not have enough funds to provide IPADS for every student, teacher and administrator to fulfill an “ill-fated $1.3-billion” initiative by John Deasy, the former superintendent. Students will be provided computers for testing and instruction as needed. Superintendent Cortines stated, “I don’t believe we can afford a device for every student … Education shouldn’t become the gimmick of the year.”

Hollywood to Receive an Annual Grade on Diversity by University of Southern California

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The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education reported on February 2, 2015 that the Hollywood entertainment industry will receive
annual grade on diversity by the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, USC, in Los Angeles.
According to Professor Stacy Smith, in charge of USC’s Media, Diversity, & Social Change project, “in 2013, there were 17 films among the top 100 grossing movies that featured not one Black or African-American speaking character. Across 600 popular films between 2007 and 2013, just two were directed by black women. Clearly, not one group or one company is solely responsible for the lack of diversity on screen or behind the camera. We need a broader look at who is doing well and who needs to step up their game.”

The Comprehensive Analysis and Report on Diversity (CARD) will explore issues of LGBT, gender, race/ethnicity representation in the content of movies, the casting of characters and in hiring. The companies who have established a diverse environment will be honored during an award program.

Teacher Union Leaders and Members Support Obama’s Free Community College Initiative

/ Ogo Okoye-johnson / 3 Comments
Susan Svrluga, a higher education reporter for the Grade Point Blog of the Washington Post, reported that teacher union leader, Randi Weingarten, and Sara Goldrick-Rab, the founder and director of HOPE Lab support President Obama’s free community college initiative. Randi Weingarten is the American Federation of Teachers, AFT, leader, and Sara Goldrick-Rab’s research lab pursues affordable higher education. Sara is also a University of Wisconsin-Madison educational policy studies and sociology professor, and serves on the higher education policy council of AFT. Both Randi and Sara who are strong advocates of the free community college initiative shared that the City University of New York experienced success in an identical program.