A recent poll asked important questions about the status of public schools, both nationally and locally. The central finding speaks to the issue of trust.

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Patrick Riccards is the executive director of Best in the World Teachers and the founder of the Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement. He is also the author of the nationally recognized Eduflack blog and its companion Twitter feed. PR News named Pat the Not-for-Profit Communications Professional of the Year for his work in teacher preparation and higher education transformation (2015). A former local school board chairman, Patrick is also the author of the award-winning Dadprovement. Host of the Soul of Education. Former Host of TrumpED and Common Core Radio.

Two associate professors set out to understand how Americans think about teaching sensitive topics and what age. The nationally representative survey of nearly 3,800 U.S. adults found surprising agreement on many difficult topics with a few key exceptions.

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Patrick Riccards is the executive director of Best in the World Teachers and the founder of the Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement. He is also the author of the nationally recognized Eduflack blog and its companion Twitter feed. PR News named Pat the Not-for-Profit Communications Professional of the Year for his work in teacher preparation and higher education transformation (2015). A former local school board chairman, Patrick is also the author of the award-winning Dadprovement. Host of the Soul of Education. Former Host of TrumpED and Common Core Radio.

A recent survey paints a starkly more positive picture of how our students see the future. Despite the many challenges they face, the next generation believes in themselves and their possibility to change the world for the better.

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Patrick Riccards is the executive director of Best in the World Teachers and the founder of the Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement. He is also the author of the nationally recognized Eduflack blog and its companion Twitter feed. PR News named Pat the Not-for-Profit Communications Professional of the Year for his work in teacher preparation and higher education transformation (2015). A former local school board chairman, Patrick is also the author of the award-winning Dadprovement. Host of the Soul of Education. Former Host of TrumpED and Common Core Radio.

A new poll suggests we need to strengthen support and confidence in our public schools. The question is how?

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Patrick Riccards is the executive director of Best in the World Teachers and the founder of the Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement. He is also the author of the nationally recognized Eduflack blog and its companion Twitter feed. PR News named Pat the Not-for-Profit Communications Professional of the Year for his work in teacher preparation and higher education transformation (2015). A former local school board chairman, Patrick is also the author of the award-winning Dadprovement. Host of the Soul of Education. Former Host of TrumpED and Common Core Radio.

Educators (and non-educators) talking about the teacher shortage is ubiquitous in both education and mainstream media. To what extent is the picture we’re getting accurate? More importantly, are the proposed solutions a bandage or a cure?

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Patrick Riccards is the executive director of Best in the World Teachers and the founder of the Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement. He is also the author of the nationally recognized Eduflack blog and its companion Twitter feed. PR News named Pat the Not-for-Profit Communications Professional of the Year for his work in teacher preparation and higher education transformation (2015). A former local school board chairman, Patrick is also the author of the award-winning Dadprovement. Host of the Soul of Education. Former Host of TrumpED and Common Core Radio.

We’re living and teaching in a time where we are trying to support free speech, manage hate speech, and encourage students to express their authentic thoughts, even when they are unpopular. How are we doing?

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Patrick Riccards is the executive director of Best in the World Teachers and the founder of the Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement. He is also the author of the nationally recognized Eduflack blog and its companion Twitter feed. PR News named Pat the Not-for-Profit Communications Professional of the Year for his work in teacher preparation and higher education transformation (2015). A former local school board chairman, Patrick is also the author of the award-winning Dadprovement. Host of the Soul of Education. Former Host of TrumpED and Common Core Radio.

The National Council of Teachers of English is a professional organization dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of English. Much to the surprise of many, NCTE is kicking books to the curb. Is it really possible that books no longer matter?

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Patrick Riccards is the executive director of Best in the World Teachers and the founder of the Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement. He is also the author of the nationally recognized Eduflack blog and its companion Twitter feed. PR News named Pat the Not-for-Profit Communications Professional of the Year for his work in teacher preparation and higher education transformation (2015). A former local school board chairman, Patrick is also the author of the award-winning Dadprovement. Host of the Soul of Education. Former Host of TrumpED and Common Core Radio.

Remember when we wanted parents to be more involved in helping us educate students? Now we have what we asked for, we just need to think about how to best channel their interest into constructive support.

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Patrick Riccards is the executive director of Best in the World Teachers and the founder of the Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement. He is also the author of the nationally recognized Eduflack blog and its companion Twitter feed. PR News named Pat the Not-for-Profit Communications Professional of the Year for his work in teacher preparation and higher education transformation (2015). A former local school board chairman, Patrick is also the author of the award-winning Dadprovement. Host of the Soul of Education. Former Host of TrumpED and Common Core Radio.