Koonlaba: My Biggest Takeaway From the First-ever ECET2MS

Y???all. Seriously, the only way that I can think of starting this post is by saying ???Y???all.??? Southerners almost always start serious conversations with ???Y???all.??? I can???t think of a thing much more serious than what I am about to tell you. Y???all, Mississippi???s teachers have been beat down the past few years. We???ve heard […]

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Darein C. Spann: We are the ones we have been waiting for!!!

The following is the text of a speech given by Darein C. Spann at the??It All Starts with Education Forum , which was held in July in Jackson, MS. The event was organized by MS Representative Jay Hughes. Several teachers were invited to give TedX-style power speeches to the audience of several hundred educators and […]

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Amanda Koonlaba: We are the ones we’ve been waiting for!

The following is the text of a speech given by??Amanda Koonlaba at the??It All Starts with Education Forum??, which was held in July in Jackson, MS. The event was organized by??MS Representative Jay Hughes. Several teachers were invited to give TedX-style power speeches to the audience of several hundred educators and public education supporters. These […]

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Koonlaba: What do you think about the kindergarten controversy?

In??“The Kindergarten Dilemma,”??Judy Smizik reflects on??her thirty-five years as a Kindergarten teacher. She asserts, “Kindergarten exposed children to the world around them through creative experiences that incorporated the arts, rich literature, and meaningful learning. It addressed the needs of the ???whole??? child. ??Kindergarten programs were developed to allow for the differences that naturally occur in […]

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William Winter remarks at “It ALL Starts with Education” Summer Forum

“We hear it all the time: we just can???t afford it. Let me tell you something. We can afford whatever we want to afford.” Thank you, Mr. Hughes. Let me just say: Jay Hughes represents the kind of leadership that this state badly needs. I encourage him to continue his efforts. And thank you to […]

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Open Mic Q & A with MS Legislators and University Higher Ed??

This is a very brief summary of what was discussed during this panel session, and it may have errors. I apologize in advance. People talk fast. Video of the full panel discussion will be made available by Representative Hughes after the conference is over.   (From Left to Right) Senator Bill Stone, Marshall and Tate […]

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Koonlaba: What do you think about teachers needing professional organizations?

When I first read the title of this post, I immediately thought of educator organizations such as the National Education Association or the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents. Possibly, I thought of these because of their politics which often get media coverage. However, as I continued to read Join Now: Why Teachers Need Professional Organizations, […]

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Listening to Educators: An Interview With Summit Organizer Jay Hughes

By James Comans, Editor at MSEDBLOG On July 22 and 23, educators and community stakeholders from around the state will converge at the Jackson Convention Center for the ??“Summer Education Forum.” It is to be “a completely open and free zone for ideas, inspiration and appreciation” concerning Mississippi’s public schools. With??keynote speakers, discussion panels, and […]

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Koonlaba: What do you think about summer vacation homework?

I just read a post on Scholastic Teachers about rethinking summer homework. The author insists that summer homework be meaningful and interesting. Students should buy-in on having to complete this homework over their summer break. The author of the post describes some activities that qualify. This post made me start thinking about what other educators […]

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Koonlaba: What do you think about the myth of teachers having summers off?

I just read a post titled “The Myth of Having Summers Off” on Edutopia. ??This post lists nine education-related things that teachers do during the summer, which made me automatically start thinking about all of the education-related things I do during the summer. This summer alone I am teaching graduate courses online, blogging, teaching professional […]

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