Improving Education Today: The Deep Dive

Davey and Angela end this year (and Volume) by reviewing the critical issues that highlighted the 2023 calendar year. Guided by Dr. Howie Knoff's year-end Blog--summarizing all of his 2023 Blog posts-- your Hosts tackle the persistent challenges faced by virtually every educator.  Five key themes are examined: (a) Hiring, Supervising, Supporting, and Retaining School Staff; (b) Encouraging Effective and Eliminating Ineffective Staff Policies and Practices; (c) Special Education Services for Students with Disabilities; (d) Social-Emotional Learning’s Illusions and Realities; and (d) Race and Equity: Research and Effective Practices. Each theme is discussed by analyzing its inherent problems and offering evidence-based solutions. Angela and Davey emphasize the importance of strategic planning, data-driven decisions, and a cautious adoption of new programs to improve student, staff, and school outcomes. A final summary encourages the critical evaluation of research and practices before classroom or school-wide implementation.