Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

Seeing the obituary of a former student is strange. I think about how little we end up knowing about their lives.

I’ve join some groups dedicated to musicians lately… let’s be clear… the answer to the question, “what’s their best album?” cannot by “Greatest Hits.”

I’ve worked in IT.

When IT tries to boondoggle me the way they do others, I call them in it.

Empirical evidence. It wins every time. No matter how much you deny it.

You know that technology that makes you uncomfortable… it not going away.

“Back to basics” is rhetoric that should make us all cringe. #education

If we start insisting data and it’s interpretation be logical, some folks won’t have anything upon which to base decisions.

Teacher posts pictures of students, reasoning they have a release.

The picture becomes an offensive meme.

What responsibility does the teacher have?

No… I didn’t miss your cold sales call last week, I ignored it.

If you describe schools in terms used to describe businesses, you misunderstand school.

One thing I learned during 35 years in education: if you move on as soon as students demonstrate they can recall the information you taught, it will be replaced with what you teach next.

Deming was focused on standard inputs, processes, outcomes, and the manufacturers had the option of closing. Anyone who sees school in a similar fashion has a misguided sense of school.

If you are a leader who can't be questioned, you are a questionable leader.

It might make us uncomfortable… so what if it does?

Yeah, it’s actually a significant barrier for many.

One thing I learned during 35 years in education: PD fails because you can't teach someone something they think they already know.

"I can't even get them to work for grades, how can I do away with them?"

Stop read that again. You admit they are not the motivator you expect, yet you can't try something different.

To be truly intelligent, one must use their brain and the tools, spaces, and people around them.

One thing I learned during 35 years education: students will control something. You can use that in a productive manner or not.

“How you count” changes what your data show.

excuses approaches (I’m missing some) you want, but if your teachers don’t nurture relationships with students it’s all meaningless.