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Aurora Lora named superintendent in Oklahoma City

Adam Galvan | May 12, 2016

After a shake-up in Oklahoma City Public Schools that resulted with Superintendent Rob Neu and the district “parting ways” Aurora Lora has taken over as superintendent. Lora, a former fourth-grade teacher in Houston and a district administrator in Portland, Seattle and Dallas, had been a finalist for the job in 2014. Neu subsequently hired her […]

Are three school chiefs better than one?

Adam Galvan | April 21, 2016

Why settle for one superintendent when you can have three? It's happening at District 49 in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. Peter Hilts is chief education officer. He considers himself the visionary. Jack Bay is the "practical" chief operations officer who handles transportation, construction activities and IT. And as chief business officer, Brett Ridgway […]

Destroying public education when we need it most

Adam Galvan | April 20, 2016

The recent racial upheaval in places like Ferguson, Missouri, and elsewhere illustrate just how far apart we have drifted as a people. Somehow, we must find a way to repair the damage that has been done and the trust that has been lost. We must begin closing the gap between the white community and the […]

Order up! Hip & healthier school meals

Ray Bendici | April 14, 2016

Students will likely choose healthier meals if provided with more comfortable places to eat. Modern lighting and food-court style designs can draw students to dining areas while school gardens can provide learning experiences and also supply cafeterias with fresh, less expensive produce. Students will likely choose healthier meals if provided with more comfortable places to […]

School cafeteria leftovers can feed the community

Ray Bendici | April 13, 2016

A widespread belief that it's illegal to give away extra or uneaten school food no longer has any basis in reality. In 2011, the federal Good Samaritan Act was amended to cover schools, so certain uneaten items can be donated, instead of going to waste. Los Angeles USD launched "Healthy Students, Healthy Families, Healthy Communities" […]

Shifting focus of school safety

Adam Galvan | April 11, 2016

Today's climate of budget cuts and shortfalls has increased the importance of risk management in school districts. Insurance premiums can wipe out extensive efforts to reduce costs. In the past, school safety has primarily focused on disaster preparation and security issues, but it has come to mean much more. School safety is a holistic approach […]

Opt-outs still grow as states reclaim some power

Adam Galvan | April 07, 2016

The opt-out movement shows no signs of slowing in the midst of this year's spring testing season. An estimated two-thirds to three-quarters of a million students could chose not to take state standardized tests this school year, according to the National Center for Fair & Open Testing. In 2014-15, more than 640,000 students skipped state […]

From rags to riches, new Texas chief brings transformation

Adam Galvan | March 29, 2016

At age 14, David Vroonland says he knew he would serve young people. An atypical childhood brought him to that point. His mother, who was in foster care, was about 16 when she gave birth in Iowa. He was raised away from her in foster care in poverty, but in a loving family. And then […]

Rethinking responses to bullying

Adam Galvan | March 28, 2016

The results of a national survey of more than 1,500 high school students call into question the effectiveness of staff responses to bullying. The survey conducted last October by our Embrace Civility in the Digital Age project provides helpful insights into causes of hurtful behavior, but shows that a majority of students hold positive values. […]

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