Statement in Support of Reuniting Separated Families

The Teacher-Powered Schools Initiative is dedicated to supporting teachers as they collaborate with students and families to create the best possible learning experiences for their students. We advocate for education that meets the psychological, biological, and safety needs of students, recognizing that addressing those needs is fundamental to child welfare. As teachers and parents we understand the lasting impact family separation has on children who are affected, and on our nation as a whole.

We believe each child and their family deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and that they belong together. We urge our government to move quickly to reunite separated families.

"Are they too young?"

His students did too. They wrote passionate paragraphs with their thoughts on whether refugees should be able to come to the United States. Colleagues offered Danny support and included the topic in their study as his class’ work garnered attention in the larger school community.

Danny remarks: “In preparing and teaching this theme I felt trusted, I felt empowered, and I felt driven to do my best work. What would our nation’s schools be like if every teacher felt this way in their classroom?”

Commentary: To Improve Education in Our Technological World, Put Teachers in Charge of ‘Doing Different’ and Empower Them to Innovate

He writes: “Putting teachers in charge of doing different is the process for change most conspicuously not yet tried.

• Able to lead the learning, teachers change schooling more radically than do boards.
• Where teachers control what matters for student success, teachers accept responsibility for student success. Give autonomy, get accountability.”

Bonus Article: This is How You Empower Educators to Transform Education

“If we truly want students at the center of the new educational paradigm, we must change the entire framework in which those students live.” —Tim Quealy, educator at teacher-powered Avalon School in Saint Paul, shares what a school looks like with teachers at the wheel.

Looking for teacher-powered summer reading? We recommend these two excellent resources for educators. Better yet, have a summer book club with your colleagues and learn together.

The Art of Coaching Teams: Building Resilient Communities that Transform Schools
by Elena Aguilar

Design Thinking for School Leaders: Five Roles and Mindsets That Ignite Positive Change
by Alyssa Gallagher and Kami Thordarson

Upcoming teacher-powered events

• Attending NEA’s Annual Meeting in Minneapolis/St. Paul June 25-July 5? We’d love to see you! Join us for a happy hour Thursday, June 28. For details and to RSVP, contact Alex Vitrella at alex@educationevolving.org
• Designing for Success: 2018 Teacher-Powered Schools National Conference — November 30–December 2 (Boston, MA). Early registration is now available; 15% off available to teams of four or more.
  • Pre-conference school site tours are filling up. Join a tour here.

   #teacherpowered 
   question

What is on your #teacherpowered summer reading list? Share it with us.

Follow #teacherpowered on social media:

The Teacher-Powered Schools Initiative is a joint project of