Raise the Bar: A “D” Shouldn’t Be Good Enough to Play
Recently, Dysart Unified School District discussed its “Pass to Play” expectations for students participating in athletics and the arts. The numbers presented should start an important conversation about what we expect from our students not only in Dysart but all Arizona schools Under current expectations, approximately 20% of students participating in athletics and 32% participating in the arts are already academically ineligible. If Dysart raised the standard from a D to a C, those numbers would increase significantly—approximately 43% of athletes and 49% of students in the arts would initially be affected. Those numbers may sound alarming. I see them differently. One statement during the presentation caught my attention: “These are the numbers under the current expectations.”
Every Classroom Needs an “Alexa”
Even before I decided to run for the Dysart Governing Board, I spent time watching videos from teachers on social media. I am grateful for the teachers who are willing to step forward and give the public a glimpse into what they deal with every day in our public school classrooms. Some of their stories are frustrating. Others are funny. And every once in a while, I come across an idea that makes me think, “That is brilliant!” Recently, I watched a teacher explain her “secret weapon” for surviving the classroom.