One of the biggest reasons that teachers have trouble with student-centered learning is that they have to give over a level of control to the kids. And, when you do that, you can have chaos, or you can have high levels of learning. Often, teachers are afraid of the chaos.
It's one thing to have a president with whose politics you disagree; it's another to have a president who doesn't even seem to care about your welfare.
I thought I was leaving elected office and politics in order to focus on schooling, but as you know, schooling turns out to be frankly even more political than politics.
I'm very, very focused on not only creating world class schools at scale, but changing the public policy in this country that every day prevents children from getting access to the American dream.
As I explained when I announced that I was turning down a potential opportunity to serve as Secretary of Education, I voted for Hillary Clinton and was sorely disappointed she didn't win.
Like so many of you, I am deeply distressed both by the hateful violence in Charlottesville and by President Trump's refusal to clearly denounce it. Nobody with any empathy for the plight of people of color in this country could respond the way he did.
I love working with teachers and principals; they are my heroes. They are very dedicated to children, and it's very impactful.
I have always been very open about my respect for public service.
I assure you: If I were to hear a teacher raise a voice at a kid or anything, that goes against the model, and I would immediately address it.
I took my teaching responsibilities very seriously... I taught some great courses: Legal history to feminist theory, courses in American mass culture... I love teaching - I mean really love it.
I think it's fairly unique to define the end goal of K-12 schooling as helping students become better thinkers, more creative thinkers, and to organize the whole school around creative and critical thinking.
I've never believed the charter movement was exclusively for socially and economically disadvantaged kids.
I didn't design schools for poor kids. I'm designing schools to be world-class.
Whatever you think rigor looks like, you should go up a few notches.
Most teachers in America could dramatically improve their teaching if they just made every second count.
No matter how good a teacher is, if that teacher won't play as part of the team, you're better off without her.
Parents who don't like Success should find a school they do like. For someone to enroll their child at Success and insist we change our model is like a person walking into a pizzeria and demanding sushi. If you want sushi, go to a sushi restaurant!
Part of me would love to be mayor for the simple reason that I love my city.
I believe education is a bipartisan issue, and I intend to support those educational policies of President Trump with which I agree.
Any elected official who asks to visit my schools is welcome to do so; there is no political litmus test.
