Tag

new year

Eat Healthy, Stop Smoking, End Homelessness

By | Homelessness, The Race to End Homelessness | 7 Comments

By the time this post appears, you may have already broken your new year’s resolution. (It’s okay, I didn’t have eight glasses of water today). Maybe you struggled because your resolution wasn’t a good fit. Most planning experts recommend goals that are SMART — meaning ones that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely. This is what makes the difference between “be healthier” and “go to the gym four times a week and replace one salty snack with fruit,” and it has an impressive effect on how long individuals can work towards their goals and how successful they might be. In the spirit of the New Year, I took some time this week to read up on the lofty goals of cities across America as they seek to end homelessness. Besides being a season for new beginnings, January also marks the sixth birthday of Baltimore’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness — so as the new year unfolds, I’ll be asking whether we’re on track to meet that target. Below are some of the most exciting goals and plans that could help end homelessness in 2014:

  • Cincinnati: In Ohio, three new shelters will be added this year, priced at more than $30 million. For the first time, Cincinnati can foresee a time when it will have enough beds for all of the homeless citizens in the city.
  • Fort Lauderdale: A small scale but comprehensive program has started in this Florida city, which received funding for twenty-two units of affordable housing for highly vulnerable homeless individuals. In the state with the most crimes against people experiencing homelessness in the country, this small program is much needed to protect and house homeless Flordians.
  • Utah: The state of Utah has adopted an aggressive Housing First approach to moving the chronically homeless off the streets. This plan is estimated to save taxpayers in the state thousands per participant while delivering innumerable health benefits to those who can move into housing. This puts Utah on track for eliminating homelessness by 2015.
  • Pennsylvania: While it is important to pay attention the exciting new policy ideas surrounding homelessness, there is always more to learn. In order to improve the available knowledge surrounding this issue, the state of Pennsylvania has proposed a comprehensive study on the best ways to end homelessness. With this new information, New Years Day a year from now could look drastically different in the Race to End Homelessness.

Clearly, some strong goal setting techniques are starting to deliver the desired results of decreased homelessness across the U.S. Unfortunately, these successes aren’t nationally met with the praise and support necessary to continue the positive outcomes. Proposed budget cuts in 2014 have the potential to curtail the nation’s progress toward ending homelessness. These cuts are the policy equivalent of rewarding weight loss with a celebratory Big Mac. Even if we can’t all make it to the gym or can’t quite quit smoking, I hope the Race to End Homelessness is one resolution that will last past New Year’s Day in 2015.

2013 ResolvED

By | Education | No Comments

When I was a teacher, I made my annual resolutions in August.

I will not grade papers in bed.
I will eat lunch.
I will have a social life this year.

Much like the late-January decrease in gym attendance, I usually had sheets stained with red ink and highlighter fluid and was back to raiding the vending machines by October 1st.

Lately, I’ve noticed a trend in thematic resolutions versus quantitative resolutions. Instead of resolving to “lose 10 pounds,” we resolve to “be healthy.” We pledge to be brave, be disciplined, be frugal, be honest.

The thematic approach to reform fits nicely with trends in education. Even the most data-driven reformers are beginning to realize that learning is less about scores, more about growth. Teacher motivation is less about salary and hours, more about motivation and autonomy.

Here are my prescriptive resolutions for stakeholders in teaching and learning to make 2013 “the best year ever” for education.

Teachers: Be Fearless.

Trust that you know what’s best for your students and stick to your guns. If curriculum, tests, and policies don’t make sense for you and your students, push back (thoughtfully, intelligently, peacefully). You are the teacher. Your playing small does not serve your students well. If you have a union, use it well. Organize other teachers and campaign for better professional development, more comprehensive evaluations, more flexibility with curriculum, smarter school spending practices.  When you advocate fearlessly for yourself, you also advocate for your colleagues, your students, their parents, and the community at-large.

Parents: Speak Up, Show Up.

If you think a school system is failing your child and other students, speak up. This doesn’t (necessarily) require controversy, picketing, legislation. If you’re concerned about your student’s progress, call the teacher and ask how you can help. She’ll be thankful for your support. Even better – call your student’s teacher to say “Great job!” once in awhile. You know that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you receive a good report? It works both ways. A little positive praise goes a long way. If you have the time, show up at school once in a while, even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Your presence will do wonders for your child and other students. If you want to get involved at a higher level, by all means: blog, tweet, and campaign away.

Principals: Lead from Behind.

This quote has gotten muddled in recent foreign policy scandals, but the phrase is derived from a Nelson Mandela quote: “It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur.” By granting autonomy and leadership privileges to your teachers and students and refraining from micro-managing them, you not only empower staff and students, but also allow more time for observing classrooms, providing feedback, and cultivating local partnerships. When teachers feel a sense of autonomy over their curriculum, class environment, professional development and resource selection, passionate instructional leaders will blossom and thrive. When students assume leadership roles in school (through student council, hall patrol, internships, and teacher assistantships), school culture will improve with ease.

Reformers, Pundits, Thought Leaders: Think Progress.

Some of the public commentary on public education is downright vitriolic. There is an enormous spectrum of opinions on how to “fix” American public education.  Let’s try to find some common ground, folks. There’s no need to attack people and policies with such venom. Let’s remember the students – isn’t that the whole point? Let’s think about progress, instead of tearing each other down. Let’s value different experiences, different perspectives – wouldn’t we teach our students to do so? Let’s disagree with civility. Let’s propose solutions and encourage experimentation and innovation. Some of the language I witness among educators would have warranted detention in my classroom – and definitely an apology letter. Instigating hyper-polarity among educators and other stakeholders will only stagnate reform. If we’re educating future congressional representatives, we must model more productive politicking.