Category: Education

Disagreement Should Not Equal Death

The assassination of Charlie Kirk is not about agreeing with him. I rarely did. It is about what happens when we normalize killing as a response to disagreement. Kirk was not a civil rights leader or a voice for the oppressed, but celebrating his death sets a dangerous precedent. History shows us that when violence becomes acceptable, it eventually targets those fighting for justice. Debate should test ideas, not end lives. If we cheer today, we risk creating a culture where tomorrow even voices we value can be silenced.

Should Teachers Allow Students To Use ChatGPT? Yes, With Purpose, Guardrails, And Age-Appropriate Scaffolds

Teachers should allow ChatGPT with purpose and guardrails. Use it for brainstorming, reading support, feedback, and study help, not to produce final drafts. Start with teacher-led demos in K to 2, guided small-group use in grades 3 to 5, limited independent use with checks in grades 6 to 8, and accountable independent use in grades 9 to 12 and college. Keep equity, privacy, and visible thinking at the center.

Meeting the Moment: How Thoughts Cost Can Help Washington Districts Solve Special Education and Inclusion Gaps

Washington school districts are navigating deep special education funding gaps, staffing shortages, and the complex transition to more inclusive practices. From Seattle to Spokane, districts are reimagining services and calling for state support, yet they also need practical tools that ease workloads and strengthen family partnerships. Thought Cost offers co-planning supports, progress monitoring, and bilingual-ready communication systems to help districts deliver on equity and inclusion, student by student.

When the Dream Costs More Than Money: VEqual, ReadEase, and the AI IEP Assistant

Over the past three years, I have invested one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars of my own money into building educational technology solutions designed to close gaps that harm students with disabilities. From VEqual, an immersive virtual school that began as a science lab, to ReadEase, an AI-powered reading tutor, to the AI IEP Assistant that helps teachers focus on delivering services rather than just writing plans, these tools were built to create real change. This is not a story of failure. This is a call for partners who believe in equity, inclusion, and innovation in special education.

The Desperation of a Declining Empire

This is a turning point for Black people across the African Diaspora. As Western power declines and African nations reclaim their sovereignty, new pathways are opening. These are the very paths our ancestors dreamed of and our elders fought to keep alive. The visions of Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Kwame Nkrumah, and Muammar Gaddafi were never rooted in acceptance by empires built on our suffering. They were rooted in global Black unity, shared wealth, and self-determination. Africa is rising. So must we. The fall of neocolonial influence on the continent is not just a shift in politics. It is an invitation to reconnect, to invest, to rebuild. Black communities around the world have the chance to form direct relationships with the African continent, free from Western gatekeepers. We are not destined to live on the margins of systems designed to exploit us. We are heirs to a global legacy and capable of shaping the next chapter of history. This is more than a political moment. It is a generational opportunity. The question is not whether we belong in the future. The question is whether we are ready to lead it.

Unapologetic: The Power and Responsibility of Black Cinema

Black filmmakers have never simply told stories. They have reclaimed history, challenged false narratives, and built culture that shapes generations. From Malcolm X to Boyz n the Hood, these films did more than entertain. They educated, empowered, and demanded recognition. Their creators did not wait for permission. They built their own lanes, ensuring that Black stories would not just be told but told correctly.

Emojis as a Game Changer in Education: A Lesson Learned from My Students

I have always been intentional about Universal Design for Learning (UDL), offering students multiple ways to engage with material. When I added emojis to a goal-setting worksheet, I thought they were just a fun visual. Five students interacted with them in different ways, revealing an unexpected way to make learning more accessible. That moment reshaped how I approach lesson design, proving that small changes can make a big impact.

The Uniqueness of Black Capitalism: A Letter from the Margins

Black capitalism is unique because it has had no choice but to be. It has been defined by its need to function in opposition, to build wealth that does not exploit but sustains, to find ways to exist in a system that has sought to erase it. This is not an argument for blind faith in capitalism. It is not a dismissal of the way capitalism has harmed Black people. It is a recognition that Black economic strategies have always been different. They have never been about conquest. They have been about survival. If the word capitalism carries too much weight, if it conjures images of greed and destruction, then call it something else. Call it what it has always been: resistance. Call it what it has always meant: survival. Call it what it has always sought to build: a future that cannot be stolen.