This Is Me
January 21, 2010
Jose Luis Vilson is a math teacher, coach, and data analyst for a middle school in the Inwood / Washington Heights neighborhood of New York, NY. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in mathematics education from the City College of New York. He’s also a committed writer, web designer, and activist. He co-authored the book Teaching 2030: What We Must Do For Our Students and Public Schools … Now and In The Future with Dr. Barnett Berry and 11 other accomplished teachers. He currently serves as the president of the Latino Alumni Network of Syracuse University, as a board member on the Board of Directors for the Center for Teaching Quality, and has served as board member for Media Make Change, an organization committed to the integration of social justice and social media. He’s part of the first cohort of Acentos Fellows as part of the Acentos Foundation, and a member of LATinos In Social Media (LATISM), the Capicu Poetry Group, BlogCritics, and the AfroSpear.
He writes for Edutopia and TransformED / Future of Teaching, and has written for CNN.com, Education Week, Huffington Post, and El Diario / La Prensa NY.
To contact him, click here.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Jose -
I am a former NYC Teaching Fellow (cohort 6). I spent close to 5 years in the program and taught 4th and 6th grade in the South Bronx. I really like your blog, and look forward to reading some of the older entries.
All the best,
John Chew
Thanks, John. I honestly appreciate it. Hope to be in contact with you soon.
I’m really diggin’ your work. I always have, but like fine wine, it is getting better with age.
Just came across your site via another blogroll, and Im feelin it. I hope you will return the favor and give me some constructive criticism on my site (unitedblackamerica.com)! Stay in touch!
Hi Jose,
We recently published an article that you may be interested in entitled, “50 Famous & Successful English Majors Who Shatter the Stereotype” (www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2011/50-famous-successful-english-majors-who-shatter-the-stereotype/).
After having followed your blog for a while, I feel that this one article would align well with your blog’s subject matter. I thought perhaps you’d be interested in sharing this article with your readers? Thanks, and keep up the great blogging!
Sincerely,
Emma Taylor
Thanks for taking a stand.
You are truly an inspiration with your refreshingly insightful blogs. I hope to be as passionate and dedicated as you when I have my own students to teach, in the near future.
Looking forward to reading more from you.
Sincerely,
Rasha Khalil
I am very inspired that you are so passionate about helping to improve the education system and are committed to teaching in an urban area. As a pre-service teacher, I am very interested in teaching in an urban area, and find your blog very helpful and insightful. I also enjoy how you incorporate poetry to describe your life and work.
Thank you
Victoria, thanks so much! Congrats on becoming a teacher. Let me know how that goes in your journey.
Hey Jose, thanks very much for your tireless efforts on behalf of students and educators, you are a great teacher and role model!
Thought you would also appreciate this commentary about the perils and pitfalls of standardized testing that I wrote almost a decade ago and unfortunately still relevant today…
www.learningfromlyrics.org/wttm.htm
Regards,
John
I came across your blog while searching for the Top 20 Teachers’ Blogs. I work for the National Science Digital Library (NSDL), which is an NSF-funded open online digital library of high quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) resource for educators and learners.
I want to invite you to explore the NSDL (nsdl.org) and if you consider it appropriate to put a link to it on your blog. I am sure your colleagues, teachers, students, and parents would highly benefit from accessing these free resources and curated collections.
I am adding here just two of the hundred thousands resources you will find in NSDL. These ones are bilingual math resources.
Please, do not hesitate to contact me (email or phone) and I would be more than happy to provide you with more guidance for effectively using nsdl.org.
Best regards,
Laura J. Moin, Ph.D.
Outreach and Professional Development Manager
UCAR – NSDL
nsdl.org
303-497-2935
Technology PoW
mathforum.org/tpow/index.direct.html
Technology Problems of the Week (tPoWs) are problem-solving challenges that take advantage of interactive mathematics tools such as Java applets or spreadsheets. Students may submit their answers to share their solutions, and then self-mentor using hints, checks, and suggestions for extensions.
Math2.org
math2.org/
Dave’s Math Tables is an excellent mathematical resource. The mathematical reference tables include General Math, Algebra, Geometry, Odds and Ends, Trigonometry, Calculus, Statistics, and Advanced Topics. In addition, the site features an interactive area for posting and answering mathematical questions and a list of related Internet resources.
Hey ,
I just read “New York Times: Future Schools Don’t Have Many Teachers In Them” and loved it! Would it be okay if I used a portion of the post for a new blog post my writing team would be creating in the future?
Thanks!
Danielle Kim
Danielle, by all means. Thanks. Just link me whenever it’s done.
I’m just reading on, learning from achievers like you … God has indeed blessed you with the skills, talents and opportunities to glorify Him. Thanks for sharing them and God bless you more! Keep it up with your faith.
rachel, thanks a million.
Thanks again for your inspiration and leadership…thought you would appreciate this 9/11 and volunteerism learning activity that incorporates music and technology…
www.edmestoncentralschool.net//uploads/jchase/911mediaprojects.htm
A “Mapou” tree has fallen; Now where will all the birds rest?
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=143122146
www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/06/2534218/sonia-pierre-leaves-behind-legacy.html
She deserves the highest of honors. In Heaven you’ll have full citizenship.
R.I.P Sonia
One of Quisqueya’s finest sons.
Growing up in a family of intellectuals, I was always familiar with the Dumas family history and their roots in Haiti. Alexandre Dumas is one of the most beloved and the most widely read of all “French” writers but very few outside of Haiti know about his father, this great man, the “original Dumas”. Indeed most French people are unaware of Alexandre Dumas the writer’s African origins. This is why a couple of years ago a scandal broke in France when Gerard Depardieu was cast to play Dumas in a french movie. The minority community there revolted.
Now Tom Reiss shows how he was the inspiration for all those great stories that fascinated so many of us during our childhood.
www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/14/barack-obama-s-forgotten-founding-father-in-revolutionary-france.html
www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2012/10/06/the-black-count-tom-reiss/GzcDfziTVpiUfzCZr2FSRL/story.html
www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/books/review/the-black-count-by-tom-reiss.html?pagewanted=all
But Reiss is not the first to write about this great man; Claude Ribbe also wrote about Alexandre Dumas, Père in “Le Diable Noir” : www.amazon.fr/diable-noir-Biographie-Alexandre-1762-1806/dp/2753803269
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8523212.stm
hi, I teach middle school math and reading a lot of your posts had me tearing.. I actually concentrated on my final project for my masters in teaching math for social justice. I read a lot of eric gutstein and inspired me. I hope to maybe share ideas and experiences of possible. Thanks for thoughts
Hola Jose!
I love your blog, lot of good readings and links. I am living my first years teaching and despite I have decided very passionate to be a teacher there are days that I come back home super frustrating. Then I see in my mail inbox your blog news and then I read and I think ….. this is a special a marvelous profession this is what I really want to do, I love it, I love to share want kids and the future generations whatever I have for sharing, my knowledge, my experience my values, etc… and I say to myself keep on reading, learning as your were one of your students and you will get it. Be patient. Thank you so much for your words and your precious time that you give us. Rebeca
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