Realizing that “knowledge is power,” particularly in improving one’s potential and reputation in life, it is essential that public schools receive the necessary human and financial resources to prepare more students for college and careers. The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that seven state winners of the Race To the Top, Round Three, will share $200 million to invest in sound educational reforms to improve student achievement. These states include Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. As part of the application process, these states will be required to raise academic standards, enhance principal and teacher support and evaluation systems, incorporate school interventions in underperforming schools and improve the STEM curriculum that focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

With the news media being the vehicle for covering newsworthy stories and U.S. public schools lagging behind in the world’s education rankings, particularly on standardized testing, it is important that the media such as The Holmes Education Post, LLC consistently report on the progress of these education reforms and other educational initiatives to promote best practices about public schools across the nation. So the questions to be asked are: What is The Holmes Education Post (THEP)? How can THEP be a resource to teachers, businesses and other organizations in improving the education of our children?

The Holmes Education Post officially launched on December 9, 2011 and is an education focused internet newspaper that publishes weekly articles on educational issues (K–20). This website is intended for educators, parents, students and any organization interested in improving the educational standards in the U.S. The newspaper will offer unique, researched-based solutions, perspectives, resources and best practices and will promote our schools in a positive light. One signature feature of THEP is to highlight educational books related to current issues in education as well as provide a list of approved university doctoral dissertations that focus solely on education. Potential readers can order books such as “Education Questions to be Answered” and review dissertations to further advance their knowledge and skills. The site will be of particular value to graduate students who are researching potential topics to engage in extensive research such as writing a thesis or dissertation.

As a resource to teachers, THEP posts certified teachers’ videotaped classroom lessons. This gives teachers benchmark examples of how to relate various concepts in a creative format. As an example, please visit the resource section of THEP at theholmeseducationpost.com and see Curriculum Technologist, Tamika Jordan’s videotaped classroom lessons on Whole Brain Instruction (WBI). WBI contributes to making teaching and learning in the classroom manageable and exciting by providing gestures, inflection, fun and teaching according to Jordan. The presentations show Jordan’s students being highly engaged and actively involved in the lesson as result of WBI.

Additionally, THEP promotes businesses and organizations that have a vested interest in improving student performance in public schools and gaining highly skilled workers. It provides publishers an opportunity to publish selected articles in their newspapers and magazines to further commercialize public education in a positive light.

If you are a doctoral graduate, author of an education book that focuses on ways to improve education or a National Board certified teacher with a videotaped classroom lesson approved by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), you are encouraged to promote your dissertation, book or classroom videotape on THEP for consideration. If you are a publisher of a newspaper or magazine, you are encouraged to publish selected articles in your news media according to THEP guidelines. Also, if you are an owner of a business or leader of an organization and would like to promote your entity on the THEP, you are encouraged to complete the information in the appropriate category on the site.

While “knowledge is power” in enhancing one’s potential and reputation in life, it is essential that public schools gain the necessary resources to prepare more students for college and careers. The Race to the Top funds provides an avenue to ensure that states are committed to using key education reforms for improved student achievement. According to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, “Race to the Top has been a pivotal program that has generated more progress in improving our nation’s education system over the last three years than we have seen over the last decade. ” Thus, THEP will report on the progress of these education reforms and other education initiatives to promote best practices about public schools. This will allow our schools nationwide to review and adopt these practices in their educational environments. We invite you to take a look at this education focused-internet newspaper and offer your comments, questions or recommendations. The site address is theholmeseducationpost.com.