Author: Vesia Hawkins

Extremely passionate about education choices, fairness, and good football.
Accountability, Nashville, Tennessee

Leaders of Tennessee’s Largest and Most Diverse Districts Done With TNReady

Outgoing Governor Bill Haslam and his Commissioner of Education Candice McQueen received a letter submitted by leaders of the two largest and most diverse school districts in the state of Tennessee requesting to be relieved from the state’s only standardized assessment. Metro Schools director Dr. Shawn Joseph and Shelby County superintendent Dorsey Hopson want nothing more to do with TNReady attributing their declaration of “no … Continue reading Leaders of Tennessee’s Largest and Most Diverse Districts Done With TNReady

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Accountability, Nashville

Vote, But First Get The Tea

If you missed early voting then you, like me, will be standing in line to vote at your assigned precinct this Thursday. I almost never vote on Election Day as Nashville’s early voting process is unbelievably convenient and there’s rarely a wait in line. But this year has been The Most as the kids say around here. This is the third election in as many … Continue reading Vote, But First Get The Tea

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Accountability, Nashville, Tennessee

TNReady Ambassador Program Informed By The Wisdom From The Frontlines

The Tennessee Department of Education recently announced the creation and deployment of a TNReady accountability corp to serve as the state’s eyes, ears, and thermometer on the ground. The newly minted group, TNReady Ambassadors, consists of 37 classroom teachers and testing coordinators who will be trained in all things TNReady and will “assist with planning and presenting professional development across the state; evaluate test day … Continue reading TNReady Ambassador Program Informed By The Wisdom From The Frontlines

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Black Community

Who Is Likely To Return The Most To Our Society?

This post is about the value of life and the weight arbitrarily assigned to various groups by people in power. While writing this blog, Nashville witnessed another Black man’s death at the hands of its police department. Daniel Hambrick, the deceased, was 25 years old and said to have been armed at the time of the shooting. The officer, White and also 25, has less … Continue reading Who Is Likely To Return The Most To Our Society?

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Accountability, Nashville, School Choice, Tennessee

TNReady Wasn’t Ready But Do Not Disregard Results

Let’s cut to the chase. Tennessee’s online standardized test administered last April is cloaked in controversy due to widespread technical issues at test time. Educators expressed anger. Lawmakers listened, then uncharacteristically leaped into action resulting in a test that carries no weight unless outcomes can add value. Test results are currently available for public consumption and the conversation, what little of it there is, is clouded … Continue reading TNReady Wasn’t Ready But Do Not Disregard Results

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Accountability, Tennessee

Here’s Something Different: Celebrating Tennessee’s Postsecondary Efforts

Education in Tennessee is a constant journey of contrasts mimicking the Volunteer State’s topography, with highs that rival the mountainous east, the lows of the central basin, and the volatility of the fault line beneath Memphis. We’ve seen great gains and soul-crushing setbacks. There is definitely a pronounced ebb and flow of education activity Tennessee; a predictable turbulence forcing Edu-watchdogs to live in a state … Continue reading Here’s Something Different: Celebrating Tennessee’s Postsecondary Efforts

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Accountability, Black Community, School Choice

What’s A Celebration Of Freedom Without Recognizing Our Right To Literacy?

“Siri!” I bellowed. “Is there such thing as a right to literacy?” “Interesting question.” During a time when half of the country is in a desperate search for answers to life’s most basic questions about humanity’s most basic rights, Siri is about as useless as Michigan’s state department of education. The state that borders four of the five Great Lakes, houses the ghosts of Motown … Continue reading What’s A Celebration Of Freedom Without Recognizing Our Right To Literacy?

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