Month: May 2018

Streamlining the US Department of Education?

Eduflack accountability, BAM, DeVos, reform, TrumpED

We often say that change is a good thing. Years ago, dear ol’ Eduflack had a boss who believed that did an organization to truly thrive, it needed to be reconceived and reorganized every five years or so.

After more than a year, the education community is still looking for EdSec Betsy a DeVos to take strong action or reveal a strategy for P-20 education in the United States. With DeVos now talking about reorganizing and streamlining operations at USED, are we about to see a peek into that strategy?

Over at the BAM! Radio Network, we explore the subject, asking if a little reorganization every now and then can be a good thing. Give it a listen!

Let’s Not Bully #BeBest

Eduflack 21CS, BAM, Media, Parents, Social media, Students, TrumpED

Earlier this month, First Lady Melania Trump fulfilled a promise she made during the 2016 presidential campaign. In announcing Be Best, FLOTUS committed her bully pulpit to looking issues like cyber bullying and social-emotional learning for children.

On cue, the education community largely mocked her. But maybe, just maybe, we should give Melania a chance … particularly as we we have been looking for federal leadership on issues like SEL for quite some time.

So we explore this topic on the latest edition of TrumpED on the BAM! Radio Network. Give it a listen. Maybe we can be best by giving #BeBest a chance.

To K-12 or Not?

Eduflack reform

President Donald J. Trump campaigned, in part, on a promise of getting the federal government out of the education business. And his EdSec, Betsy DeVos, has pledged to fulfill that promise.

But despite all of the declarations, can the feds even get out education? While roles can be reduced, aren’t their some duties that can never be ceded back to the states and localities?

On the latest episode of TrumpED on the BAM! Radio Network, we explore the topic. And not to spoil the surprise, but no, the Feds aren’t going anywhere.

Happy listening!

What About Special Ed Parents, Mr. President?

Eduflack accountability, BAM, DeVos, Parents, reform, Students, TrumpED

Last month, the Trump Administration dismissed, en masse, hundreds of special education complaints filed with the US Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.

In doing so, the EdSec said they were charges without merit, as the hundreds were filed by just a handful of individuals. But in doing so, the Trump Administration demonstrates a lack of understanding of advocates in special education, while dissing the sped family community across the nation.

On the latest episode of TrumpED, we explore the topic and the chilling affect it can have on a sped community believing President Trump may have meant more, not less, respect in the public schools. Give it a listen!

I Rise in Defense of Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Eduflack LinkedIn, Media, PR, reform

Those who have served as spokepersons know of what I speak. We know the challenges of strategic communications being seen as an add-on, not a non-negotiable. We know the importance of finding the voice of the person or organization we are representing. We know how to understand the wide range of audiences we must engage with and how to tailor or message and its delivery to meet the needs of those stakeholders. We know how to be strategist, arms and legs, advocate, defender, and champion.

From dear ol’ Eduflack’s latest for LinkedIn Pulse, where I defend the White House Press Secretary and the spokesperson profession