My big take away from this series is that action speaks louder than words. Are the words being spoken actually reflecting the actions on the ground. As an educator, our job is to extend our students' access to opportunities. We can't control everything in the world, but we can be sure that our classrooms function in a way that gives students maximum opportunities. We can also influence our school districts to do the same. Are we providing effective remediation for students who enter school with delayed language skills? Are we providing effective remediation programs for students who fall behind in math and reading, catching them early? Are we providing students with safe and reliable transportation to and from school, K-12? Are the programs we use for reading and math effective K-12? These two skills open doors for everything else. Are our schools safe and welcoming so students will want to come to school, free of anxiety and fear? Are our schools' places where teachers want to come and teach, rather than having to rely on subs? Do we value each student as an individual who can potentially be a great contributor to our community?
