It’s exciting to see that millions of young people are voting for the first time. We’re about to see if we’ve adequately prepared them for what comes after the campaigning is done, the votes have been counted, and the difficult work of governing begins.

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork.

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 TrumpED and formerly co-host of Common Core Radio.

Civics instruction is surprisingly uninteresting to many at a time when a practical understanding of civics is more important than ever. Are we paying enough attention to civics?

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork

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 TrumpED and co-host of Common Core Radio.

The presidential debate between the tw0 2020 nominees was an epic teachable moment, but the lessons were obscured. Among the takeaways is that we have drifted far from being a civil society, and we’ll need to adjust our expectations. But yes, there’s more…

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork

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 TrumpED and co-host of Common Core Radio.

We’re talking about spending $175 billion to socially distance students on school buses, put shower curtains and plexiglass in classrooms, buy hand sanitizer and make sure we can do deep cleaning after every class. That’s $175 billion for short-term, temporary solutions. What if we spent more of that money on long-term professional development for teachers, raising their mastery of hybrid learning?

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork

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 TrumpED and co-host of Common Core Radio.

Parents concerned about a pandemic-driven return to forced homeschooling are considering collaborating to create learning pods. The model brings together four families, and in some cases, a shared tutor to continue student learning if schools reclose. Is this a good idea?

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork.

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 TrumpED and co-host of Common Core Radio.

As we explore the varied approaches to reopening schools this fall, we’ll be well-advised to start with the premise that the decision needs to be locally defined, not federally mandated.

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork.

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 TrumpED and co-host of Common Core Radio.

As the administration calls for patriotic education, voices are raising concerns about a whitewashed education sanitized of the darker realities of America’s past and present. How do we accurately teach what America was in the past, is today, and can be in the future?

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork.

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 TrumpED and co-host of Common Core Radio.

There’s a growing chorus of voices flirting with the idea that the 2020-2021 school term may just have to be a gap year. Is this a viable solution to the continuing pandemic-driven challenges we face?

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork

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 TrumpED and co-host of Common Core Radio.

Last school term many mandated standardized tests were suspended due to pandemic-drive disruptions to teaching and learning. As we look to reopen schools with hybrid and virtual learning, many educators hope standardized tests will go away for good. Is now a good time to throw out testing?

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork

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 TrumpED and co-host of Common Core Radio.

Last school term many mandated standardized tests were suspended due to pandemic-drive disruptions to teaching and learning. As we look to reopen schools with hybrid and virtual learning, many educators hope standardized tests will go away for good. Is now a good time to throw out testing?

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork.

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 TrumpED and co-host of Common Core Radio.