Category Archives: Education

Five Reasons Why African-American Students Lag Behind

Five Reasons Why African-American Students Lag Behind: A Principal’s Point of View

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Why African-American Students Lag Behind

Each school year we read about test scores of students across America. Data, data, data is what politicians and school leaders spout off to parents and community members. The quality of rhetoric depends on whether or not it’s an election year. One thing that remains a constant story or question is why African-American students lag behind their white counterparts.

In urban school districts, the principals and teachers were instructed to think and focus on African-American students because the data continues to show they are not making the expected increases in growth and attainment. Two things that were not mentioned are root causes or a plan on how to improve African-American students’ progress. Administrators and teachers in the trenches know that there are many variables that contribute to the students’ progress or lack of progress.

Research is Ongoing

Research on why African-American students lag behind is ongoing. The Brookins Institute did an in-depth study, The Black-White Test Score Gap: Why it Persists and What Can Be Done as far back as 1996. Over 20 years passed and educators still have the same questions and responses to why African-American students continue to play catch-up. Actually, the subject has been around much longer. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

It’s a continual conversation seen on Facebook posts from educators’ groups or on Twitter. The conversation is heard in schools, district offices, and teachers’ lounges. Views and opinions tend to focus on five reasons why African-American students lag behind their white counterparts. Continue reading

Five Challenges of an Urban School Principal

Five Challenges of an Urban School Principal

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It’s a Challenging Job

All principals have a difficult and challenging job. It is a 24-hour gig. You are always on the go both physically and emotionally. Please note that being a principal in a rural, suburban, or urban district is tough. However, working in an urban school district sometimes bring additional demands based on socio-economics, demographics, and more. Consequently, some are not prepared for the demands’ toll on a principals’ health and wellness. Here are five challenges of an urban school principal.

What is an Urban School?

What is an urban school? According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), urban schools classify as city schools. The urban schools are broken down into three categories based on the Census Bureau’s definition of a metropolitan city. Continue reading

Becoming a trauma-informed school

A Journey to Calm: Becoming a Trauma-Informed School

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Trauma-Informed Statistics

Is your school trauma-informed? Do you know that more than 25% of American youth experience a severe traumatic event by their 16th birthday? According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network of that 25% many experienced multiple and repeated traumas. As teachers and administrators, we need to be trained to identify students who are suffering. Becoming a trauma-informed school can support students and staff in the teaching and learning process.

Each day students enter our schools with troubling issues that keep them from their full learning potential. However, teachers and administrators don’t always know what children experience outside of the school day. According to the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence, over 60% of children surveyed experienced some form of trauma, crime, or abuse in the prior year. Some suffered multiple trauma. Consequently, the effects of the trauma follow the children into their school day. Then the reaction to the trauma can be disruptive or explosive in the classroom. Continue reading