When I was a high school teacher, I kept granola bars in my desk. Any student could have one if they needed a bite to eat. I didn’t ask about their parents’ income or what neighborhood they lived in. If a kid was hungry, none of that mattered. What mattered was that they couldn’t learn ...
When artists canceled their performances for President Donald Trump's June 25 Great American State Fair, one stood out for me: Martina McBride. The first time I saw Martina live in concert was at the Taste of Cincinnati festival in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Memorial Day Weekend in 1994. Her iconic ...
I would like to take a moment to celebrate and recognize the talented students who participate in the AHS and TBJH band and choir programs. I recently attended both spring concerts and these performances were truly impressive. The dedication, hard work, and countless hours of practice put forth by these young musicians were evident in every song and performance. From solo moments on an instrument they love to play to a solo song sung with just a piano. Their talent, professionalism and enthusiasm made for a memorable evening. The arts play a vital role in our schools and our ...
Our school district is facing a critical recall of three school board members who consistently prioritize their personal agendas over the best interests of our students, staff, and community. If anyone needs further proof of this self-serving behavior, look no further than the recent district retirement dinner. The evening was meant to celebrate the dedicated retirees, but one of the board members under recall, Eric Lawson, hijacked the spotlight. As president of the board, Lawson was asked to say a few words. Instead of honoring the individuals who’ve given decades of service to ...
It has been a delight to move to Alpena some 39 years ago and to see the progress that the world of education has been able to make during these years...often under challenging circumstances. Since this world of education has been a personal life's work, I consider myself a bit of a teacher/evaluator at analyzing the good with the bad when it comes to the governance process and specifically...the vital role that Boards of Education play in charting a positive future for our children. Alpena has been very fortunate to have had strong, positive Board of Education leadership for 38 of ...
Journalists love to proclaim that they bring transparency to democracy, but it's far too often the exact opposite. They try to run our democracy by exploiting anonymous sources. So when Trump is president, "senior administration officials" say "he's coming seriously unglued." When Biden was ...
