Don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone…
Posted July 31, 2025 by Mindi Wisman
Working Well, our initiative over the past three years with a prominent national expert in the education space, examined how America’s schools could most successfully find and support the best teacher leaders. The initiative created an extensive resource directory, produced multiple podcasts with education experts for a national audience, was presented at national conferences, and developed evidence-based briefs and guides that tackled pressing issues in education.
But that was then, and Working Well is no longer our work or anyone else’s. In March 2025 our national expert and thus our collaboration was DOGED, our contract was cancelled and the meaningful work we were doing was terminated.
I recently listened to Anand Giridharadas’ conversation with Randi Weingarten, the longtime president of the American Federation of Teachers. Randi says her new book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers, is a love story for teachers. And boy, do we need a love story right now as we see the destruction of the federal Department of Education, along with so many other institutions and safety net programs we’d assumed were stable and secure. I urge you to listen to their powerful conversation and read the book.
Most of you know that our federal government’s role in public education was modernized under President Carter in 1979, following the hard won anti-poverty and civil rights laws of the 1960’s and 70’s. But from the beginning, its scope was misunderstood, helped along by rightwing disinformation. In fact, the federal government’s primary goals have been to raise awareness about educational challenges and equity issues, research and disseminate best practices, and help schools address difficult related issues, e.g., bullying. In the Higher Ed realm of course, it managed student loans. It has not governed local schools.
Local community school districts govern local schools and always have.
But regardless, according to Randi, it’s simple to see why fascists are afraid of teachers. After all, it’s the teacher’s job to help young people learn to think critically, engage with differences, and appreciate diversity. So alas, if you’re the Department of Education today under our increasingly rightwing authoritarian administration, this mandate is no more.
So, I for one am going on the record to express appreciation for what we’re about to lose, and thank the U.S. Department of Education, and all the associated resource centers that have strengthened our educational system and workforce to this point. Today many of us are out of the game, for how long we don’t know. Meanwhile, our job is to speak up, show up, and most importantly not give up, and relish the wins when they come, like this one; after lobbying from both sides, nearly $7 billion in previously allocated education funding is being restored.
Friends, please know, that for as long as we’re able, all of our work and capacity building publications will continue to be available to you. The complete Working Well Resource Directory is also still available on our partner’s site–until it’s not.
We hope you’re able to put all of these resources to good use, and when you have a moment, tell me how you’re doing.
Yours in solidary,
Melanie Goodman, ED