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Reflections on education, inclusion, leadership, identity, and student success. Drawing on more than four decades of experience in schools, higher education, and consulting, these posts explore lessons learned, current issues, and stories from the field.
One Hour of Babysitting, One Copy of Ms.
How Gloria Steinem Ignited My World Gloria Steinem at LBJ Library, 1975. Photo by Jay Goodwin via Wikimedia Commons (Excerpts from this post will be featured in an upcoming issue of Trill Magazine) Gloria Steinem came into my life when I was a teenager moping over a bad breakup, and in a very real way, she helped pull me out of the doldrums. Her message opened my eyes to the idea that my life, identity and happiness did not have to depend on a man. It sounds simple now, but f
Janet Ferone
One Hour of Babysitting, One Copy of Ms.
How Gloria Steinem Ignited My World Gloria Steinem at LBJ Library, 1975. Photo by Jay Goodwin via Wikimedia Commons (Excerpts from this post will be featured in an upcoming issue of Trill Magazine) Gloria Steinem came into my life when I was a teenager moping over a bad breakup, and in a very real way, she helped pull me out of the doldrums. Her message opened my eyes to the idea that my life, identity and happiness did not have to depend on a man. It sounds simple now, but f
Is It Really "Failure to Launch"? What Neurodivergent Young Adults Need to Move Toward Independence
A young person can be bright, academically capable, and fully qualified for college, yet struggle to make a phone call, schedule an appointment, ask a professor for help, manage competing demands, or make decisions without relying on adults. After decades of working with neurodivergent adolescents and young adults, I've learned that academic ability and readiness for adult independence are very different things. I was recently selected to participate as an expert in a discuss
Identity, Intersectionality, and the Myth of the Average Student
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on identity, intersectionality, learner variability, and the persistent myth of the “average” student in education. The following excerpts are adapted from a longer essay inspired in part by themes explored in Learning to Relearn by Kwame Sarfo-Mensah and connect closely to my work in culturally responsive education and Universal Design for Learning. The Myth of the “Average” Student A few years ago, I watched a video about the design of airplan
Echoes of Change: Reflecting on George Floyd’s Legacy
Listening to an NPR piece on the anniversary of George Floyd's killing brought a flood of memories and emotions. I recalled the protests that erupted amid the Covid lockdown, grappling with the internal conflict of watching my son march-immensely proud of his values and commitment to justice, yet frightened for his health in those pre-vaccine times. The uproar that rippled through the United States and beyond was catalyzed by the harrowing video of a police officer kneeling o
"School to Deportation Pipeline" in Boston?!?
Hours after this post, Supt. Chang abruptly resigned from Boston Public Schools. Imagine living in a country where you face gang and organized crime violence daily, watching family members murdered and knowing you could be the next target to be killed, kidnapped, sexually abused with no help, and often additional harm, from the police. Imagine you are able to seek refuge in the United States and you and your family have settled in Boston where you attend school every day, eag
On Losing A Student
Working in school programs for some our most challenging youth in Boston, many who were gang and/or court involved, I lived through many funerals of students in the violence-filled 1980s, consoling families and fellow staff and students, as we helped memorialize these youth taken too soon. Each one was as heart-wrenching as the next, and naturally it never got easier. This weekend’s funeral for a former student was equally jarring, as it was a student I had known for over 30
Hatred Not Tolerated, We Accept All
A welcoming and inclusive environment can reduce stress and hostility in our schools. Two recent articles in the Boston Globe, “An About-Face, Brigham and Women’s to Dismantle Gallery of Past White Male Leaders” in the hospital’s amphitheater, and a column entitled “Fixing the Name Game” referring to the fact that of 125 Boston Public Schools, only 10 are named for women and efforts to change that, highlight how important it is for people to be able to recognize themselves r
Worlds Apart: Disparities in Educational Opportunity in a Three-Mile Radius
As an consultant who helps schools serve all their special needs students, I was saddened to hear about budget cuts to Boston Public Schools for three years in a row. I've seen firsthand how these cuts have led to reduction in services and increased class size, especially for our most vulnerable students in high poverty schools and with disabilities such as autism and depression/suicidality. Previously as an administrator in a Boston public high school, I experienced the deva
The Power of Turkey
As we approach Thanksgiving celebrations here in the U.S., I'm reposting this to remember the power of celebration with students, particularly those living with challenging circumstances. Not counting leftovers, I had 3 full Thanksgiving dinners last week, and not just because I like turkey. As an educator working with students with different special needs (I’m an administrator in charge of a program for students with autism, and another for students with depression/anxiety),
A True Fellowship
I’ve had the honor of supporting Boston University Hubert H. Humphrey fellows, mid-career professionals from developing countries, for the past five years, making some very meaningful friendships and visiting several in their home countries. So, when I heard the news of the impending Russian invasion of Ukraine, my thoughts went to Svitlana Taran, a 2018 fellow from Kyiv. I reached out and we began messaging, including the night the bombing began, while I watched the horrors
Who's a Grinch ?!? Holiday Tips Special Needs Children Want You to Know
Most of us are stressed around the holidays and all of us probably know a family with a child diagnosed with autism, or depression/anxiety, as both these disorders have disproportionately increased in recent years. The CDC reports that autism diagnoses more than doubled since 2000, and depression among teens rose at quadruple the rate of the general population from 2005-2015. With the media showing unrealistic scenes of holiday bliss with intact families celebrating abundance
Managing Expectations with School at Home
As a former school administrator for over 30 years with the Boston Public Schools, primarily working with students with disabilities, my first words of advice to parents are "MANAGE EXPECTATIONS". Many parents see the schedule going around on social media which outlines a full day in 45 minute increments, including school subjects, snack, and chore time, etc. While maintaining a routine is a good thing, it doesn't make sense to try to replicate a school day to the minute and
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