I wish we could all be grateful this holiday season for the great year we've seen in education, but we can't. So join me in the spirit of Festivus.

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Patrick Riccards is chief communications and strategy officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. 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.

We do a lot of talking about innovation, but when you unpack some of our education policies you find that we discourage it.

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Patrick Riccards is chief communications and strategy officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. 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.

As a nation, we've dropped from number five to number thirteen in literacy. We're now behind countries like Poland and Norway. Dear mister Trump, if you want to make America great again, literacy is a good place to start.

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Patrick Riccards is chief communications and strategy officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. 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.

It's hard to rationalize school in 21st Century America having no access to the Internet - especially when billions of dollars have been set aside for this purpose. What's going on here?

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Patrick Riccards is chief communications and strategy officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. 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.

Some say a college degreee is critical in the 21st century. Others say marketable skills are enough. What say you?

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Patrick Riccards is chief communications and strategy officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. 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.

Why is the current administration repealing 72 special education regulations? Why it matters.

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Patrick Riccards is chief communications and strategy officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. 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.

How do we best prepare kids to handle harsh and painful language? Do we avoid uncomfortable topics, books, and content or expand our children's exposure and understanding of the ugly realities of our time?

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Patrick Riccards is chief communications and strategy officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. 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.

In an apparent reversal of priorities, the Trump administration is moving to fund STEM programs and the development of computer science education. What can we glean from the level of funding proposed?

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Patrick Riccards is chief communications and strategy officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. 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.

Surprise! Upon closer examination of Trump's impact on education, he could become the most significant education president of all time.

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Patrick Riccards is chief communications and strategy officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. 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.

How did Dr.Seuss move from inspiring your kids to read to a symbol of racism and a tool of division?

Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Follow: @Eduflack @bamradionetwork Patrick Riccards is chief communications and strategy officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. 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.