Why McFarland USA P*****d Me Off

Why McFarland USA P*****d Me Off

  December 08, 2015    Verenice Gutierrez, PhD

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I recently watched Disney's McFarland USA for the first time. Even though I had wanted to see it when it was released in theaters for some reason I didn't get around to it. Thanks to Direct TV I have been able to watch it more than once in a week. The first time I was...

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Going on 14 years of Measuring "The Gap"

Going on 14 years of Measuring "The Gap"

  November 11, 2015    Verenice Gutierrez, PhD

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On January 8, 2016 we will reach the fourteenth anniversary of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act known as No Child Left Behind or NCLB. We have quantified the "achievement gap" now for almost as long as my oldest nephew has been alive....

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The Impact of violence on School Children

The Impact of violence on School Children

  October 10, 2015    Verenice Gutierrez, PhD

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I have gone back and forth about writing this post. I live in Oregon where there was a mass shooting last week. I wanted to write something but decided against it. Then this morning when I woke up and did my morning Facebook newsfeed scroll, I saw postings about a...

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A Different Approach to Discipline

A Different Approach to Discipline

  September 08, 2015    Verenice Gutierrez, PhD

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A Different Approach to Discipline Ever since the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania released their analysis on suspensions and expulsions on August 18th, there have been several articles writing about the topic from a variety of...

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Superintendents: A Problematic Call to Action

Superintendents: A Problematic Call to Action

  August 25, 2015    Verenice Gutierrez, PhD

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Ronald Heifetz writes and lectures about technical vs. adaptive leadership. His work is captured in his book, Leadership on the Line (published in 2002).  I won't attempt to be expansive about his work but I am referencing here because of a call to action that I found in the School Superintendents Association to support a bill that would change how school districts have to fund special education....

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How We Label Students Matters

How We Label Students Matters

  August 06, 2015    Verenice Gutierrez, PhD

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I have been reflecting on the path that lead me to be passionate about the intersectionality of Special Education and Bilingual Education.  Both of these fields are highly regulatory, there are federal mandates and benchmarks that must be reached annually.  Both fields require specialized training.  Educators that I have worked with that have made these fields their area of specialization...

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