Dr. D. Frances Pierre

"We have to build our own institutions and influence the institutions that exist" - Dr. Shango Blake, WBLS 107.5, Nov 24, 2024 @EdfluencerU

I once received pushback trying to align families with an org that gives free resources. The reason: It would teach parents to advocate.

When discussing family engagement with schools, I see that staff are not interested in improving communication methods or educating parents. They want to force families to be compliant.

My world. #ADHDAwarenessMonth2024

All across this city, New Yorkers tell me the same thing: this administration isn’t working for them. That’s why I’m taking the first steps to explore a race for Mayor in 2025. Join me: secure.actblue.com/donate/zellnor…

The committee on education and the workforce are so forcefully wrong it’s scary.

Please don't remove students from physical education, music, Arts, or other classes to remediate them in other areas. These classes are just as important for overall education and may be their favorite classes and one reason they like school.

There are many organizations already doing the work yet families are left in the dark. Why aren’t school leaders esp. SpEd leaders fostering those relationships?

Once/mo sessions where families vent or express concerns/fears but don’t get useful - targeted- support is a waste of time. What does parent training/counseling mean to schools? Is it viewed as a mandated burden?

While working on my lit review the research & my experience support how schools provide little to no parent training/counseling for those of us with kids on the spectrum.

Anyway, now that my babe is in a good place, I am back leading & supporting students at the district level & it feels so good.

Phew it took until the end of August but my babe is in a Horizon program. There really has to be a simpler way for SWD to get the appropriate setting/services in the NYCPS system.

Also, this is a lonely process. With each step forward for my babe my compassion increases for families of children with disabilities.

Preparing for the“Turning 5” meeting where my babe will receive program recommendations feels as if I’m getting ready for a fight.

Should we wait for the research articles 5-10 years from now to accept how negatively this is impacting students?

Why are teachers resigning over retiring? Are schools conducting exit interviews to track the reasons and identify common themes?

The teacher shortage is scary and needs attention. I don’t know what the solution consists of but we definitely need one soon.