Hey Reader, America turns 250 this weekend. Two hundred and fifty years since some ragtag colonies fought against the greatest empire in the world to become their own country. A nation. And nothing about the American story is perfect. So much of its history is wrought with conflict, its people deeply flawed. And yet… Despite all those struggles, we forged a union anyway. We wrote a collective story about a place and a people who believed in something special and saw the endless potential in...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, It's that time of year. I just ordered my nth pack of Ticonderoga pencils this week, and I'm not even embarrassed anymore. Because I have a 6-year-old spider kid who goes ham on lined paper during handwriting. But I will say this: I am very much looking forward to winding things down for the warmer months and taking a break from dust-busting the mountains of pencil shavings off the table at the end of each day. This edge towards balmier weather also means it's time for the annual...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, It's been one of the most ironic couple of weeks in education news that I can remember. First, a California jury ruled that Meta and Google designed their platforms to addict minors below age 13...on purpose. Color me surprised. And also not surprised at all. Now, the court-ordered payout to those affected is in the millions with more cases pending. Then, last Wednesday, the First Lady walked into the White House with a humanoid robot and asked us to imagine a future where our...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Politics. Media. Toddler meltdowns. That random week Wegmans ran out of eggs... The world's been wild lately. But even on the craziest days, I still believe there are things to be inspired by, don't you? This weekend I came across a story about a 13-year-old kid in Western Australia who swam over 2.5 miles from open sea to shore. Why? His kayak and paddleboards drifted miles offshore with his mom and two younger siblings still on them. So this kid swam (against rough currents and...
6 months ago • 1 min read
So — It's a bit nippy in my neck of the woods, Reader, and I've been doing all the things to prepare for the big snow this weekend. Flashlights, extra batteries, laundry...oh laundry... Eventually, I come up from the basement with a basket on my hip to find my 6-year-old in his Spiderman suit. He'd built a fort in the living room with play couch pieces and was now swooping around the room yelling, "You're done, Gobby!" I take a closer look and my toddler's sitting inside the fort with her...
6 months ago • 1 min read