The Plight of a Red State Teacher

I have watched the direction in which our GOP dominated legislature and governor are leading the state regarding education and I am feeling rather hopeless. It’s not just in my state, but public education is in trouble in every red state in the union.

Oklahoma Education Rally: Were We Heard?

Yesterday I attended what is becoming an annual event in my state: the Oklahoma Education Rally.  I made several signs, but in the end I didn’t take them, choosing to go with my friend Michael Dean (featured on this week’s podcast) as he talked to our representatives, and then live tweet the entire experience.  I didn’t

How Rich Are You?

As a writer, I think I cleared a little over $5 last month on royalties for my e-novel.  As a teacher, I make less than most people in the professional world with degrees.  I wanted to give all of us who make very little money yet continue in the writing or teaching game a little

The Last Day of School: A Retrospective

I am a high school English teacher with four children attending elementary school.  Two of them are graduating to the middle school next year and the other two will climb the ladder to the fourth and second grades, respectively.  I am currently spending my time updating the inventory of books in my classroom, squaring away