Top 5 Teaching Issues by Katherine Blackard

Disciplinary Issues

kblackard — 2024-01-22 17:54:53 UTC

One major issue in education is the standards for discipline and the follow through from administration. Depending on students and the who the offense is to, discipline can vary based on the administrator, teacher and student. Through this article, they discuss discipline within schools and how to make it meaningful as well as equitable.

Micromanagement

kblackard — 2024-01-22 18:00:57 UTC

When brainstorming 5 top issues in teaching, one that stood out to me and why (among other reasons) I left the first school I taught out right of high school was micromanagement from administration at the school level as well as district level. This is showing a.) lack of leadership skills from administrators and b.) lack of trust in the ability of the educators that are hired to do the job. Discussed in the linked article, teachers often leave jobs due to this issue linking to the next topic, teacher shortages.

teacher shortages

kblackard — 2024-01-22 18:09:24 UTC

One of the main issues within the education is the surge of educators leaving the classroom and the pipeline supplying new teachers narrowing. For example, when I graduated from EKU in 2018, I was the only graduate of the FCS Education program. When looking for schools to interview with there with 5+ schools I could look at within the Central, Eastern, and Northern Kentucky Areas. One way that districts and school systems are trying to pay new teachers more, OR for example FCPS is paying graduates who go into teaching and return to FCPS, more money through the grow your own program. This is can be devaluing to established teachers.

Lack of awareness and Support for CTE

kblackard — 2024-01-22 18:14:18 UTC

Another issue I see within education, specifically Career and Technical Education is the lack of awareness and support for specific CTE program areas. Most people will recognize FFA and Ag programs, but when I tell people I am an FCS teacher, they equate it to the old Home Economics courses. While this is close, FCS has evolved to be more career oriented and more gender inclusive than in years prior. One of the main issues with this, is that parents, educators, counselors, and other stake holders like to put pressure on students to take dual credit, AP, or advanced courses to better their resume for colleges. While in reality, some students do not need to attend a higher education because of one reason or another.

Class Size

kblackard — 2024-01-22 18:23:29 UTC

As an educator, we are given a classroom and then told to educate, nurture and help our students grow. However, how are we supposed to achieve this when classes are being filled to the brim with 36-37 students at a time on top of peer tutors. This connects with the lack of support and awareness of CTE because traditionally CTE are used as dumping grounds for students that otherwise do not thrive in traditional classroom settings.

School Psychologist

kblackard — 2024-01-29 17:56:14 UTC

I feel at the high school level that we put too much emphasis on organized sports as being the thing that breeds school spirit and not enough on other things that could help bring the student body together as a whole. We should have field days, guest speakers, carnivals, schoolwide service projects, etc. that could incorporate a lot of different kids of kids with a lot of different talents and backgrounds to help build a sense of community. If we did more things that invested more kids in the culture of the school, we might not have the problems that we have with vandalism and fighting. Just my thought.

CTE Computer Programing & Math Teacher

kblackard — 2024-01-29 17:56:55 UTC

The biggest one I can think of is why we still put emphasis on tests such as the ACT when realistically it is made in a way that no real change can be made. We set improvement goals each year but there's a different group of students taking the test, therefore setting a different set

Science Teacher

kblackard — 2024-01-29 17:57:25 UTC

Personally - uninterrupted plan time. No duties, no forced common plan.

Student wise - equitable transportation. Our lower SES students can’t stay after for help or clubs due to transportation.

CTE Business Teacher

kblackard — 2024-01-29 17:58:15 UTC

Student debt and the impact it takes on student's futures.

I think that students don't realize the consequences of taking on debt for future education and how college doesn't always lead to better outcomes for them.

CTE Business Teacher

kblackard — 2024-01-29 18:00:33 UTC

Accountability in education

Clarifying website:

CTE Family and Consumer Science's Teacher

kblackard — 2024-01-29 18:02:56 UTC

Smaller class sizes meaning more teachers, helps with engagement as well as focusing on higher student achievement. Does tie into budget and money within the school system.

Parent 2

kblackard — 2024-01-29 18:10:55 UTC

Students need to be taught that failure is okay and part of the growth process.

Parent 1

kblackard — 2024-01-29 18:22:57 UTC

Holding more resource nights for parents to learn about the importance of reading to your child from an early age, ensuring that they understand respect, and the importance of attendance in relation to success in and out of the classroom.

School administrator

kblackard — 2024-01-29 18:26:28 UTC

A baseline for consequences with more options available. as well as finding money for more things such as PD, subs, athletics, and other school based groups.

Parent 3

kblackard — 2024-01-29 18:56:17 UTC

Identification for students with special education. Elementary teachers don't get the proper training for IEP testing and so students get identified later as a result of this.

As well as transition readiness from elementary to middle to high school. Better processes set in place.

Teaching at grade level - i.e. 6th grade social studies is teaching at high school level while other classes are teaching at 3rd grade level. Finding the right balance between challenging students and meeting them at their level of understanding.

Parent 4

kblackard — 2024-01-29 20:38:52 UTC

Equity- there’s a vast difference in education between the rich and poor neighborhoods especially in elementary school. At Rosa Parks, my kids education is not disrupted by another students behavior unlike the stories my husband comes home with from the elementary school he works at. Also a vast difference in resources for higher income neighborhood elementary schools.

School counselor

kblackard — 2024-01-29 20:43:48 UTC

Ima scream pay all day long every chance I get for one thing. Educators in general. The amount of stuff we see, hear, and navigate daily is absolutely crazy and to be underpaid and fighting to properly care for our families is ridiculous. And I know that seems crazy to say under the umbrella of advocacy but, if I can’t show up to work not stress about income and how I can get another job to make ends meet I can’t really even properly care for the kids at work because I’m stressed before I hit the door good.

Having said that, I also think that equity is a huge issue. For one thing it’s not well understood. Putting up more pics of Black and Brown kids or doing “diversity training” is not enough. There needs to be better funding put into ensuring that kids from the east side of town get just as many resources and access as kids from south end. There needs to be more teachers in the building that look like the demographics of our kids, speak their language, share in their cultural values. For example, when I taught at Olmsted in Louisville, it was in a neighborhood with a high Muslim population. One of the teachers was Arabic and Muslim and wore a Hijab. That went SO far to make a connection with those students and she didn’t even have to open her mouth. Training in people, inclusion, and belonging needs to start with pre service teachers and it needs to be embedded in every single teacher prep class. Because if I go into a class and the teacher is all “that’s ghettoooo” thinking that’s the way to make a connection with a Black child, or playing Latino music but not using talking points to help keep parents engaged and invested in their kids’ education, then we are missing the mark on what they need

School Counselor

kblackard — 2024-01-29 21:05:07 UTC

Access to medical needs that could be brought into schools so students can see a dr, pa or nurse practitioner. We serve a low income area and a lot of our students are unable to go to the doctors because of money. We have a lot of undocumented students without health insurance and I mainly see females who are in need of birth control, uti issues etc that have to go to planned parenthood

I always think of equity and socio economic disadvantages students (who don’t have the resources) whether it be for an art class, foods, band is a big one as far as the amount of money that is requested from families and fundraising but I do not know a soul at Dunbar who wouldn’t allow a student not to participate because of the lack of funds. With NHS we tell kids to see us privately if there is a financial hardship and we don’t charge them and pay for the dues and stoles. Same with graduation the YSC, Steve D and guidance all work together to make sure those needs are met. So I guess what I’m trying to say is that equity for all of kids regardless of background etc I know prom does the same thing and pays for kids. I know we’re a title 1 school and have a YSC, mental health therapists, counselors but it’s never enough you know? Then our enrollment goes down and the resources such as teachers are cut. I’m all over the place!

Also more minority teachers!!! And I think the district should be more involved in our schools and come in! Don’t just send us a damn email and an apple for teacher appreciation

Parent 5

kblackard — 2024-01-29 21:07:37 UTC

100% mental health access normalizing it and making more accommodations and also getting the older age teachers to understand more because they tend to go more old school with it.

Also winter supplies and feminine health hygiene products.

Addiction….a place where kids can openly talk about having an addiction because most the time having addictions is labeled more towards adults but kids have it too. so having a place you can go to talk and get advice is helpful.

Life skills. My daughter has a friend that’s 17 who lives alone. more access to life skills who don’t have the privilege of mom or dad making them dinner. but you’re class does a good job with that.

teen moms more daycare options resources

my biggest thing is school is a huge overwhelming and uncomfortable place for so many. but it’s a requirement….so requirements should be made to make it feel more homey and inviting. bottom line the school system needs a lot more teachers like you. lol

Community Liason

kblackard — 2024-01-29 21:09:19 UTC

Communication with parents and having multi-lingual resources.

CTE Funding in KY

kblackard — 2024-02-12 22:22:03 UTC

While Kentucky has raised its funding to allow ATC's and CTC's, the amount is not enough to maintain ever growing amounts of needs for students and the rapidly raising prices.

ACTE. (n.d.). Tech Kentucky secures $200 million in CTE funding. ACTE Online. Retrieved from https://www.acteonline.org/tech-kentucky-funding/

Why CTE Matters

kblackard — 2024-02-12 22:23:29 UTC

This article showcases the need for CTE courses and states that we need to be able to do more. With doing more comes with the need for more money.

Kentucky Department of Education. (2018, February). Why CTE Matters. Kentucky Teacher. https://www.kentuckyteacher.org/leadership/commissioners-comments/2018/02/why-cte-matters/

Elevator Speech

kblackard — 2024-02-12 22:24:47 UTC

Hi my name is Katherine Blackard and I am an FCS teacher. Did you know Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes provide students with hands-on training and real-world skills for success in today's workforce. To ensure every student has access to these opportunities, we need increased funding for individual program areas. With more resources, we can enhance equipment, attract top instructors, and expand course offerings. Investing in CTE is investing in our students' futures and the strength of our economy. Let's support CTE programs to empower students and drive prosperity. Thank you for your time.

Next Steps

kblackard — 2024-02-26 21:13:06 UTC

Know the Issues
One of the first issues you think of when you think of education is funding. Money runs the world and that is no different within the world of education. Everything effects funding, student attendance, student’s free and reduced lunch, student enrollment, district, etc. Where Fayette County Public Schools does pay the teachers higher than surrounding counties it still needs funding to run the actual schools. This means, funding cuts and staffing cuts to maintain funding. This is not feasible, specifically for Paul Laurence Dunbar as we serve around 1850-2000 students depending on enrollment year to year. When we, as educators can spend funds for classroom activities, the red book laws and restrictions are unreasonable.
Know your District
Fayette County Public Schools is moving to be majority title 1 schools and an ever-growing population requiring new schools to be built to alleviate overcrowding. Within my specific area of teaching, Career and Technical education courses, while able to apply for Perkins Funding and have received LAVEC funding the last two years, do not receive funding such as sports, STEM, etc.
Know Where You Stand
My outlook on funding within CTE is dismal across the state and district. When we apply for Perkins, ranking from highest to lowest need, then leaving it up to the district to approve or deny the request with no reasoning. This severely limits the things we can purchase for student use and limits the amounts students can do within CTSO’s.
Know the Decision Makers
The Kentucky department of Education is responsible for the allocation to each district for Perkins and LAVEC funding. Then the District School board and Office of teaching and learning is responsible for the allocation, based on numbers, to each school. Within the school, the CTE Department chair and head principle (in the case of PLD) are responsible for the allocation to individual program areas.
Know how to Contact Decision Makers
All of the decision makers mentioned in step 4 have public numbers, email, and for FCPS SBDM meet twice per month.
Know the Calendar for Decision Making
The FCPS SBDM they gather and meet, generally on the 2^nd and 4^th Monday night ever month at 5:30 or 6 pm. Linked HERE
Know how to State Your Case
Being able to attend the district School Board meetings and discussing the need for more funding for the CTE programs across the district and how the effect the students directly. Also attending advocacy days within Frankfort, KY like the CTE/CTSO/FCS advocacy days.
Know how to Reach the Public
Utilizing the Infinite Campus message center as well as social media is a great way to reach the public on the issue of funding specifically for CTE programs. As well as utilizing the CTSOs – FCCLA, DECA, Ed Rising, WPLD and TSA to showcase what our students gain from the CTE program areas.
Know Your Role in the Electoral Process

Be an active participant in the election process instead of voting blindly.

Rubric

kblackard — 2024-02-26 21:18:44 UTC