Parental Advocacy in Education
Empowering Parents, Improving Education: Advocating for Our Children's Future
The Hanover Township Board of Education is currently embroiled in a legal tussle with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin over Board Policy 8463, titled "Parental Notice of Material Circumstances." This policy requires school staff to inform parents about issues that could have a material impact on their child's physical, mental, and social/emotional well-being, including, but not limited to, matters related to sexuality and gender identity.
Recently, numerous educational advocates supporting parental rights and children's well-being have attempted to defend against the censorship label to no avail or benefit for their cause. In asserting their general opposition to censorship, they are appeasing the bad-faith actors in this debate and inadvertently ceding ground in the debate. It is crucial for those championing the mindful selection of materials in school libraries to ignore the censorship label and focus on reinforcing their arguments with facts, historical context, and legal precedent.
The Northern Burlington Regional School District holds a paramount duty to create a safe and inclusive atmosphere for all students and community members, regardless of their beliefs or opinions. Yet, recent emails obtained through an OPRA request reveal a hostile reality where diversity of thought is suppressed, and respect is only granted to those with "correct" opinions.
The New Jersey School Ethics Act was enacted with the noble intention of promoting ethical behavior among school board members. However, in recent years, it has been utilized as a tool to stifle the free speech rights of board members who express their opinions on matters of public concern. This misuse of the act has resulted in an unnecessary burden on taxpayers who must bear the cost of defending against meritless complaints.
COVID-19 is currently putting the education system to the test by forcing face-to-face learning environments to quickly move online. As an educator who has implemented online instruction both as an elementary teacher and private tutor, here are a few recommendations in an effort to help make the transition from face-to-face learning to online modalities efficient… Continue reading Ideas for Distance Learning
Effective leadership is an essential component in facilitating change that will improve student achievement and educational experiences. Research has concluded among the school-related factors that are associated with students’ achievement, leadership is second only to classroom instruction.
I believe the defining characteristic of a successful leader is their ability to accelerate lasting and meaningful change. They can see beyond the ambiguity and challenges in front of them, and envision a better future. At the core of effective leadership, is the ability to chart a course for improvement aligned with a shared organizational vision.
Parental Advocacy in Education 