In a BESE Regulation Waiver Request dated April 29, 2021, Calcasieu Parish Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus submitted a request to waive state requirements that 1.) End of Course LEAP 2025 scores count as 20% of a student’s final course grade, and 2.) graduation and promotion be dependent upon passing required End of Course LEAP 2025 assessments. […]
A parent’s plea.
When I first decided to advocate for education policy, it was my hope that I could educate the public (parents, teachers, students, etc.) about education policy, and how it affects them. There has been instances when my writings drilled down to specific school districts, but I have always tried to address issues by providing specific […]
Meet Dr. Cade Brumley
Today, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) appointed a successor to John White who has been recognized by national publications as not only the longest serving of any state superintendent of education, but also the most controversial. Today marks the end of a reign of terror in which the only way was […]
Take the poll!
Please take a minute to read through the survey results and take the poll at the bottom of the page. In its quest to hire a new superintendent of education, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education conducted a survey to gather input from the public in regards to the priorities that should be […]
The Rhetoric Behind Choosing White’s Successor
If you want to observe an example of building consensus behind a narrative by employing rhetoric, look no further than the search that is underway to find someone to replace outgoing Superintendent of Education, John White. I am disappointed in myself for not seeing it sooner. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the […]
Screaming from the Mountain Tops
At long last, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has released the final report and recommendations from the Early Literacy Commission established by resolutions passed by both the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Louisiana Senate in the 2019 regular session. I must admit, I’m in a state of confusion because I don’t know whether […]
Louisiana’s White Elephant
A white elephant gift exchange, Yankee swap or Dirty Santa is a party game where amusing, impractical gifts are exchanged during festivities. The goal of a white elephant gift exchange is to entertain party-goers rather than to gain a genuinely valuable or highly sought-after item. LAE official Shane Riddle says he hears state Superintendent of […]
Understanding the work of Michael Deshotels
Having followed the work of Michael Deshotels for almost seven years, I’ve come to understand his work, support his message, and count him as a trusted education advocate and personal friend. I also appreciate and support the work of other education advocates such as Lee Barrios and Dr. Mercedes Schneider. All of these folks have […]
Warrior Don. A man’s man.
Today, I attended the funeral of a man I’ve never met, but I left there feeling as though I did; and knowing that I have lived a woefully inadequate life. He was the husband of my dear friend, Alishia. It may seem strange that she is my dear friend, and I’ve never met her husband, […]
To Jupiter and back.
It was January 15, 1976. I was ten years old in the fourth grade, and we had just begun celebrating the nation’s Bicentennial. Twenty-six year old Joe Hooper woke up that morning and headed out to apply for what he hoped would be a life-changing job. By sundown, Joe’s wife was a widow, and his […]