It is one of the quietest decisions a principal can make—and one of the loudest in its consequences. A contract
In classrooms where learning is truly visible, assessment is not an endpoint—it is part of the learning itself. For decades,
Walk into a high-impact classroom, and you can feel it immediately. Students aren’t just answering questions—they are thinking out loud.
In the classrooms where students do the thinking—not just the answering—achievement rises. It transforms. There’s a moment every teacher recognizes,
Let me take you into a classroom, my first year teaching in an urban public school. Fourth grade. Students full
“The U.S. education landscape has long been a source of unequal treatment, access, and outcomes based on a student’s race and
The reading wars never ended—they just went quiet long enough for a generation of children to fall behind. After decades
When you hear that Black children are struggling to read, what explanation comes to mind? A lack of effort?
Comments about the reading achievement gap between underserved black and brown students and their peers have surfaced. Data-driven research
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase urban public schools? Be honest. For
What one extraordinary team of teachers reveals about how schools actually get better — The mythology of American education
Every few years, a familiar story resurfaces: American students are falling behind in math. The numbers appear in headlines. Commentators
Across our nation’s public schools, student high – stakes math proficiency is waning as measured by standardized tests. While these
Hope’s First Years: Gratitude and Grace I walked into my first day of teaching with confidence and enthusiasm. I was
My 4th Grade Wall Street Leaders According to a plethora of internet articles ( personal communication, February 5, 2026), Wall
I do not have an interest in practicing medicine. I have never been to medical school. I am not a
Are American Schools Arranged and Displayed, or Are They Alive and Cultivated? I have spent years inside American classrooms,
Synopsis: High-stakes testing data is stripped of context and deployed to denounce public education—especially urban schools serving Black students and
What You Miss When You Only Count What’s Broken Synopsis High-stakes testing dominates how we talk about schools that serve
School Improvement Planning In many school districts, staff spend days or weeks creating what is known as School Performance Plans
Year of Publication: 2021 Rating: ( Must – Read) Back of Book Synopsis: Education can be transformed if we eradicate our
Thank you to each person who has joined in this work. I have learned much more about myself, and I
Great day, leaders! We are almost at the end of our journey. We are at the point where we are
We are almost finished with the journey of designing our leadership manifestos. Before we go back to synthesize our work,
Review So far, we have spent time discovering the what, why, and how of crafting a personal leadership manifesto. The
Hopefully, this journey is inspiring you to clearly define your leadership core values and ways you will show up in
with Dr. Hope O’Neil In the heart of America’s urban public schools, a revolution is brewing. The “Urban Education Spotlight”
Leaders, in Step 1, we brainstormed a list of attributes that define who we are, how we want to present
If you read my first two posts, you gleaned the importance I place on critical and creative thinking for both
I’m excited to see others join me in writing or revising their leadership manifestos. It is a great way to
Reflect on what you value as a leader. What do you expect from yourself and other leaders? Make your list.
As 2025 comes to a close, I am taking time to think about my core leadership values. Most leaders have
Mr. Mills was a first-year teacher in an urban public middle school, serving approximately 600 African American students. In 2002,
The Problem The American Institute for Research (2022-2023) studied teacher turnover in nine large school districts and reported that 44%
So, the conversation has begun. I have a confession to make. I have been charmed and devoted to the McDonaldized education kingdom,
“Ms. O’Neil, tell them I left with tears streaming and that I will always remember them.” These are the parting