Feedback from My First Book Discussion

Ohio’s superintendent-led initiative to provide citizens a stronger voice in shaping statewide education policy received a positive shot in the arm last week.  On Tuesday, I had an opportunity to lead my first book discussion of America’s Schools at a Turning Point:  And how we THE PEOPLE can help shape their future. It was hosted by the Sycamore City Schools and included 60 school board members, school administrators, teachers and community leaders from  22 school districts in the Cincinnati area.  What came through loud and clear in our two-hour conversation resonates with what I’ve seen bubbling up and coming to a head during the past year throughout Ohio.  Our educators are tired of being thrown under the bus by the leaders of our nation’s education reform movement.  They are tired of being demeaned for the work they are doing and they are tired being left out of the process of creating education policy to improve their schools.  There are even indications that some of our school board members are ready to draw a line in the sand and say “thanks but no thanks” to the reforms that are currently in place.  Today, it is clear to me that the level of frustration and concern has reached the point where many of our local educational leaders are ready to expose to their citizens the truth about how education reform policy is our impacting our schools and communities.