One problem is that American ideas of what it means to be a "good school" start from places of racism and deficit. In my first year of teaching, teachers shared tales of the district superintendent ripping down bulletin boards and tossing notebooks. The dean would call a "Code Blue" on the loudspeaker to mark his appearance for every adult. His slovenly appearance belied his desire to impose his will on schools from Harlem to Inwood.

"Wild!" It's the first word I uttered as I saw the morning news talk about us. Even though the anchors didn't mention us by name, they were talking about "Mamdani influencers." Intentional scare quotes. Funny because a year ago, I wasn't even sure of whether Internet visibility made sense to me anymore. I hadn't received a check from my postdoc in months.

How did You Already Know go from simple concept to published book? Jose Vilson describes the book writing process. Read on!

Note: This is a reminder that, if you became a paid subscriber to this blog, you'll get a signed copy of You Already Know from yours truly! If you'd like to support this scholar, feel free to go here. Remember when I told you I'd need a timeout so I could write a book? Welp, it's almost here and I'm so excited to share how we got here!

The Jose Vilson Newsletter with insights about education, helping thousands of people have engaging conversations about math and beyond!

Now that I finished my second book, let me tell you a story that won’t make it into the manuscript: A few weeks ago, I ... Read More

Now that I finished my second book, let me tell you a story that won’t make it into the manuscript: A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a high school focused on transformative learning experiences for students of various backgrounds. (Yes, they know who they are.) At some point, student volunteers took us around the building to check out some classes.

Ready to learn more about teaching and learning with an expert perspective? Please use the links below so we can work together: Get The Jose ... Read More

A few weeks ago, I found myself underneath a dead whale. For New Yorkers, they know I'm talking about the American Museum of Natural History where the taxidermied mammal hangs above other exhibits in the Hall of Ocean Life. That night, Mayor Zohran Mamdani had invited people from across multiple sectors of the city to celebrate the Black History Month Centennial.

Jose Luis Vilson is an educator, sociologist, author, & executive director studying the intersections of education, race, and social context.