TJ Simmons

@YouTubeTV pls find common ground with Disney! I need my @espn !!!

As we look ahead to the future, we invite you to join our Silver Circle: Strengthening Heritage for the Next 25 Years, a special group of donors committed to helping us close this year out strong and set a powerful course for the year ahead.

@shaegotbutta @rolandsmartin I've surrendered to the thought that in a sea of whiting, it's hard to find a good salmon. 🤷🏾‍♀️ But I wonder also.

@rolandsmartin Do they be having these girls throughout college or do they only show up when they see an athlete on the move to becoming an NFL player? I'm really curious ...

How many times did she rub his leg?! This is HILARIOUS!!

#Classicalmusic is not just a thing of the past. Today's composers are continuing to push the boundaries and create new and exciting works that challenge our perceptions of what #classicalmusic can be. Who is your favorite contemporary composer? #newmusicdiscovery

@DrP_Principal I love it! I had a girl cuss me out real good some years back. It honestly took everything in me not to laugh while she did. She even threatened to beat me up after graduation. I took it and then let her go to the dean to cool off. I knew that her rant was never about me.

What Is A Ruckus? My secretary called and said there was a ruckus in the front hallway. I was really excited to see what was going on. I wanted to know what a ruckus was. I learned that a ruckus was a small boy I hadn’t net yet. The ruckus was ripping our bulletin board off the wall, knocking over a table and cursing. He turned around & said, “What the F--- are you looking at?” He continued, “You’re fat, bald, and stupid.” I responded with, “You seem to be upset. What do you need? How can I help?” He moved a step closer to me and said, “Are you deaf, too? I just said you’re fat, bald, and stupid.” My response was, “I heard you just fine. Now I really can tell you are upset. What do you need? How can I help you?” He started crying while re-stating for the 3rd time (in case I missed the other two times), “You’re fat, bald, and stupid.” He then said, “I hate this stupid school; I don’t know why I’m here. I don’t know where my mom is. I hate my foster family.“ He reached his arms out. I asked if he needed a hug and he nodded. I then asked if he wanted to go to my office. He nodded. I let him know that “Dr. P” is here if he needs anything. He sat at my table and put his head down. He looked me in the eyes and said, “Dr. P, I’m very sorry for everything that I did. I just miss my mom.” I responded by telling him that I appreciate his apology and that I accept it. He then said, “I am also really sorry for calling you those mean things. I didn’t mean it.” We brainstormed some ideas of what he could do in the future if he was having a tough day. He suggested that he could ask to get a drink, ask for help, or just put his head down. I let him know that these are great strategies. I added that he could always ask to see the counselor or me. We then discussed how he could be on the lookout for signs that he was getting upset, frustrated, angry, or agitated. He said that he sometimes started to clinch his fists and his breathing changed. I told him that those were good signs and that the body often gives us signs that we are starting to get upset. We both agreed that it was so important to listen to our bodies. He asked if he could get his backpack and coat. I thought that was an unusual request for 10 a.m. I asked him why he would need his backpack and coat. He replied, “Because I’m going to get suspended like I did at my last school.” I let him know that there may be another plan. He scrunched his face and looked puzzled. I asked, “How do you think you could fix what you did this morning?” He thought about it for a minute or so and responded with, “I can pick-up what I threw and fix anything that I broke.” I let him know that this seemed like a good plan. He picked up the items that he threw and helped put the bulletin board back on the wall. I went over the plan for the next time and we made sure he knew what to do in case he got upset, frustrated, angry or agitated again. I said, “Since we’ve agreed on the plan, let’s shake on it to make it official.” He reached out his hand and shook mine. I let him know that he could go back to class. He picked up his bookbag and his jacket and started off to his class. I called his teacher to let him know that he was on his way. His teacher was so happy to welcome him back to class. I never had another problem with him. A teacher stopped by later that day. She couldn’t understand why he wasn’t suspended. “He called you fat, bald, and stupid.” My response was that it never was about me. I then asked the teacher if any of the comments were false. She looked at me like I was crazy. I let her know that I am fat and bald. Those were both true statements. I also argued that stupid is a relative term. She didn’t like my answer. How do you deal with colleagues who are fixed mindset, focused on punitive methods or who believe that alternatives to suspensions equate to being soft on discipline? From the book “Maslow Before Bloom: Basic Human Needs Before Academics” (a.co/d/fhhFJ4V)

@NCTM @maamathjobs @MathforAmerica @math4americadc I'm looking for a middle school math teacher in the suburbs outside of Washington DC for a small private, religious school. DM me if interested or for more information. rbschool.org

@BillDeYoung @DrBradJohnson Not left, but led to get better. They need a mentor who will be there twice a week to help implement drastic changes. Do that and give them a year to grow and then move them on if there has been no improvement. Everyone needs a chance to learn and grow.

@DrBradJohnson How long would you suggest that an ineffective principal, with teachers transferring and the culture/environment in full erosion, in a low SES school with a great need of standards and structure, be left to “get better”?

Districts, when you have an effective principal, leave them in their school. Give them a multi year contract and let them be amazing. They bring consistency, support, high expectations, improved morale, and appreciation to their staff. This creates a culture of excellence.

@AmeshiaCross She could've just as easily shown him how to bag them and nicely explained why instead of criticizing him. Or, she could've just asked to bag them herself. If you are that picky, just do it yourself!

@AmeshiaCross I was astonished bc it was a teachable moment. Once she left, I moved forward and said "hey man, you are doing a great job. You are out here working, doing something with yourself. Don't let ppl being you down. Keep up the hard work." We must work to uplift, not tear down. ❤️

Sitting at Red Lobster and this older Black woman asks one of the servers if he likes working here. The young Black guys says "not really I'm just working and waiting for better opportunity and more money. I'm getting my GED soon" The older lady smiles wide and says "son I'm

Joining us on June 3rd for our annual flagship event, Heritage Signature Chorale Presents: 23rd Annual Concert? Here are a few things to #KnowBeforeYouGo ⬇️ #africanamericancomposers #blackcomposers

@stephaniempaz A partridge and a pear tree.

Teachers: what are we getting for Teacher Appreciation Week this year? Wrong answers only.

@anthonycarranza @stephaniempaz She said wrong answers only!!

@stephaniempaz Five dollar gift cards to caribou or Starbucks.

@pcshamm92 @spencerideas #facts

I asked a group of former cohort members what we, as a university, could have done better to prepare students for the being a teacher. One student's answer stuck with me. "I wasn't ready for the loneliness. As a cohort, we were a community. You played a small role but it was us as a leader but, sorry, John, it was us. We were tight. Then you enter the field and you're on your own. I just wish I worked at a place where we ate together and planned together and had a couple of drinks together on Friday night like we did as as a cohort. I miss that so much." I'm not sure how you define PLC but it's not "a group of people who analyze data together." It's what she was describing. It's a community that talks shop on a Friday afternoon after work.

@DrKChilds I'm on the few HS teachers at my school who gets 80 min a day. But that doesn't include when I'm subbing for someone else, which can take up 2-3 of those weekly.

How much daily prep time should elementary, middle school, and high school teachers have?

@TheCeiliRabbit @DrKChilds That would be amazing bc it is about what I spend also when I'm on my A-game. Right now, my prep is C at best. Thank God I know what I'm doing!

@DrKChilds My husband was an instructor for a major industry.... the industry standard is 4 hours of prep for each class hour taught.... can you even imagine that kind of prep time?!

@DrKChilds Roughly 1/100 of what we need. 🤦🏾‍♀️ But I'm just estimating. 🤷🏾‍♀️

@netflix @kerirussellweb #TheDiplomatNetflix was a great show! You displayed obvious restraint on the nudity; the language, not so much. With about 5000 less f-bombs, I would've enjoyed it even more! I hope Season 2 is more friendly to the ears.

Please consider helping my niece. She is a single mother of two girls who got in a car accident a month ago. Since, she has been hospitalized and had 5 surgeries! She needs assistance to pay her bills. P& TY for considering! gofund.me/7deee10b

This is accurate! 💯