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Finding Amelia

Thursday, July 06, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

When I was a little girl, I wondered many a time what had happened to the brave girl pilot? High above the billowing clouds, I would look and squint from my own small square window and imagine she had escaped the world, rather than drowned in the sea. Escaped perhaps, but the dream appears to have ended there. She was just 39 years old when her plane disappeared off the map and five months later she was declared deceased. She was the girl from Kansas, second of three children (the ..

Faces of Medicaid in North Carolina

Sunday, July 02, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

This is the tale of one hundred children who depend on Medicaid in one way or another, whether as primary or secondary insurance or to subsidize school based therapies (speech, occupational, and physical therapies.) Read their stories. Evelyn 8 months old, only child so far, Turner syndrome, Medicaid (therapies and specialists), very strong girl. Evelyn. Miles Age 1, developmental delay, Medicaid (nursing, respite, therapy), expresses tremendous love for his family. Cha ..

The Family

Wednesday, June 28, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (2)

Once upon a time, there was a lovely family. A mother, a father, a son, and a daughter. The mother and father were raised in Ohio and children of educators and government employees. Middle class families, hard working, loving and life, though not always easy, was marked by grace. They married, moved to North Carolina, where their life was idyllic, in appearance and form: a boy and a girl, a nice home, a successful business and good health. Quite a rare treasure indeed and then one day, ..

Dear Richard,

Tuesday, June 27, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (2)

I hope it's okay if I call you by your first name. After all, you are one of my senators and not that it seems to matter, but I voted for you. Thanks for your update on the "Better Care Reconciliation Act." Your pal Thom Tillis gets no credit for information dissemination, but at least he's not a liar. Does that sound caustic? My mother always said you attract more bees with honey, but I call bullshit, especially when it's offered on a silver platter. You present a beautiful plan, reall ..

Dear NC Department of Instruction,

Friday, June 09, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (1)

It's me, again. Were you hoping I would go away? Well, I am a special needs mama after all and summer break starts today, so I've got nothing but time. What are your plans this summer? Will you examine your role in the future of NC's children? Maybe not. After all, it's not easy to admit you support the mistreatment of children. Perhaps mistreatment is too strong of a flavor for your errant policies, but I don't think so. You see, I've talked to families and teachers and heard thei ..

Dear Middle School,

Wednesday, June 07, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (2)

You're a Title One school in Eastern NC and your students are some of the neediest in our state. My four children go to Title 1 schools too, though we haven't crossed the divide into middle school yet. Your school is located in the town where I grew up and, well, it hit too close to home. Today, you piled one hundred children into two buses and headed to King's Dominion for the day, all expenses paid. The requirement for admission? Kids scored between a 3 and 5 on the EOGs (end of ..

Our Schools Need You

Tuesday, June 06, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

You don't have that much time to give? That's okay, you go and give just one hug and I'll dare you to try to stay away. You're not that into children? That's okay, you can make copies or help serve lunch to our teachers who receive little recognition. You're not an educator? That's okay, you can make little people happy with a warm smile. You're not a good reader? That's okay, you can blow bubbles and play basketball. You're not very social? That's okay, you can sign ..

Conclusion of Education Series

Monday, June 05, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

Thank you for following along my education series, twelve stories surrounding our schools today. Education quite has my heart and with four children in public school, the youngest with special needs, I am a long term stakeholder. Visiting public and private schools, speaking to parents, teachers and administrators, and reflecting on my own education and experience as a public school family have all challenged me to think far beyond my Phd in Education. 1. Teachers care about childr ..

Put Your Phone Away

Monday, June 05, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (1)

Put your phone away, I tell myself, too many times a day. Put your phone away, I tell myself, you're missing the moment. Put your phone away, I tell myself, talk to the mom beside you on the bleachers. Put your phone away, I tell myself, remembering the laughter is more important than capturing the moment in a snapshot. Put your phone away, I tell myself, Facebook and Instagram will wait for you. Put your phone away, I tell myself, they're watching and learning from ..

Keeping Score

Sunday, June 04, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

Not me. Not his dad. Not his teacher. Only him. He keeps his own score and no matter our words or reassurance, he won't let the number go. Don't baby him, some say. You can't keep him in a bubble forever, others scoff. You'll have to let him fail sometime, you tell me. Well, I don't agree, not when the subject still calls me mommy, the eleven year old boy who often leans in for a hug and asks to sleep in our bed when daddy is gone. That boy will be thrown to the wolves over my dead body ..

Tales Of An Educated Debutante

on life, loss and the joy that rules the day.

The future is far away and scary, but today is lovely.

Finding Amelia

Faces of Medicaid in North Carolina

The Family

Dear Richard,

Dear NC Department of Instruction,

Dear Middle School,

Our Schools Need You

Conclusion of Education Series

Put Your Phone Away

Keeping Score

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