Holly Seerly is the mother of a child with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Dyslexia.  She faces the issues that normally confront a parent with a child with those conditions, but when he was in middle school, a new condition arose; Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSS), and Holly’s challenge was intensified.  We’re all venerable to having a child or parent with PTSS.  Holly shares what it is like.

Jose Barillas is the Principal of Thurgood Marshal Middle School in Chicago IL and is a hero.  I thought about our conversation for 1 month after we recorded it before I could edit it. His story so gripped and troubled me I needed the time to gather perspective. He has taught for 30 years. His school which is a small school (400 students) has been selected one of the “Schools to watch”.  Now in the sunset years of his career he looks at what has changed and what needs to be done. Jose’s school has 97% free lunch and 85% Latino.  Jose helps us understand what is happening with parental involvement at his school and how it affects the children.

Stan makes a mistake