Stephen Owens
@stephenjowens.bsky.social
Passionate public education advocate--but not an acolyte. Atlantan. Dawg fan.
Pinned
Hello Bluesky! I've been here a while but I want to introduce you all to my work at Brown's Promise. (THREAD)
America's public schools are re-segregating, and are now at rates not seen since the 1970s. This is a problem that affects all corners of American life. Brown's Promise aims to fix it.
America's public schools are re-segregating, and are now at rates not seen since the 1970s. This is a problem that affects all corners of American life. Brown's Promise aims to fix it.
The fact that this looks like Megan's dad (from Mad Men) who was a marxist intellectual makes it all the better
January 5, 2026 at 4:15 PM
The fact that this looks like Megan's dad (from Mad Men) who was a marxist intellectual makes it all the better
Prayers up to history teachers in districts that are not decidedly "eff yeah america rules at everything" communities, deciding whether to discuss the history of U.S. interventions in central and south America
January 5, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Prayers up to history teachers in districts that are not decidedly "eff yeah america rules at everything" communities, deciding whether to discuss the history of U.S. interventions in central and south America
My only consolation is that Lane Kiffin must be miserable
January 2, 2026 at 4:47 AM
My only consolation is that Lane Kiffin must be miserable
Reposted by Stephen Owens
Me enjoying watching my favorite team, the Georgia Bulldogs.
January 2, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Me enjoying watching my favorite team, the Georgia Bulldogs.
You never know what’s serious versus what’s posturing but I miss the days where even low-tax conservatives would balk at something so stupid as eliminating the income tax
# gapol Georgia legislature meeting: 2026-01-07 Senate Special Committee on Eliminating Georgia's Income Tax https://www.legis.ga
December 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
You never know what’s serious versus what’s posturing but I miss the days where even low-tax conservatives would balk at something so stupid as eliminating the income tax
Reposted by Stephen Owens
In the summer of 1950 most US newspapers ran an AP story about how race had become the main issue in the upcoming Georgia governor's race. Segregationist Herman Tallmadge, governor from '47 to '55 and then a Senator until 1981 made a name for himself by refusing to "apologize for being a white man."
December 21, 2025 at 10:57 PM
In the summer of 1950 most US newspapers ran an AP story about how race had become the main issue in the upcoming Georgia governor's race. Segregationist Herman Tallmadge, governor from '47 to '55 and then a Senator until 1981 made a name for himself by refusing to "apologize for being a white man."
Here at the Transform Westside Summit to hear from the APS superintendent about his plan for my kids’ future high school, the historic Booker T. Washington High School. Will keep a bit of a thread here.
December 19, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Here at the Transform Westside Summit to hear from the APS superintendent about his plan for my kids’ future high school, the historic Booker T. Washington High School. Will keep a bit of a thread here.
Good news (sarcasm): charter schools will be ok because the labor secretary--who now oversees the charter schools federal grant--is only pro-union for "skilled tradespeople" and not, thankfully, for teachers.
No one hurts my view of charters more than those tasked with lobbying for their success
No one hurts my view of charters more than those tasked with lobbying for their success
December 18, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Good news (sarcasm): charter schools will be ok because the labor secretary--who now oversees the charter schools federal grant--is only pro-union for "skilled tradespeople" and not, thankfully, for teachers.
No one hurts my view of charters more than those tasked with lobbying for their success
No one hurts my view of charters more than those tasked with lobbying for their success
Ran some numbers for work on the school closures in Atlanta Public Schools. Here's the comparison between the schools and the rest of the district.
Race
Closed Schools: 94% Black, 4% Hispanic, >1% white
APS total: 71% Black, 8% Hispanic, 16% white
Economically Disadvantaged
Closed: 99%
APS: 69%
Race
Closed Schools: 94% Black, 4% Hispanic, >1% white
APS total: 71% Black, 8% Hispanic, 16% white
Economically Disadvantaged
Closed: 99%
APS: 69%
December 15, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Ran some numbers for work on the school closures in Atlanta Public Schools. Here's the comparison between the schools and the rest of the district.
Race
Closed Schools: 94% Black, 4% Hispanic, >1% white
APS total: 71% Black, 8% Hispanic, 16% white
Economically Disadvantaged
Closed: 99%
APS: 69%
Race
Closed Schools: 94% Black, 4% Hispanic, >1% white
APS total: 71% Black, 8% Hispanic, 16% white
Economically Disadvantaged
Closed: 99%
APS: 69%
Reposted by Stephen Owens
I have to wonder: would APS be in a situation where they have to close 16 schools if they hadn't lost out on funds for the past 20 years through Tax Allocation Districts?
(2/10) APS leaders say they must “rightsize,” noting roughly 70k available seats but only 50k students, and project that consolidation could save $25M annually.
Parents warned that vacant buildings would further destabilize disinvested neighborhoods. youtube.com/live/KaPto_9...
Parents warned that vacant buildings would further destabilize disinvested neighborhoods. youtube.com/live/KaPto_9...
December 8, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I have to wonder: would APS be in a situation where they have to close 16 schools if they hadn't lost out on funds for the past 20 years through Tax Allocation Districts?
If I send you this in a text it means I know you’re buttering me up for something but not to stop
December 5, 2025 at 9:43 PM
If I send you this in a text it means I know you’re buttering me up for something but not to stop
JSTOR wrapped and it’s how many times you only read the abstract
Bluesky Wrapped and it's how many times your own joke was explained to you
December 4, 2025 at 3:42 PM
JSTOR wrapped and it’s how many times you only read the abstract
Toured high schools in Jefferson County, CO yesterday because one of the parents there said there were huge differences in the resources to the white and rich school compared to the poor and more Hispanic school. She was right, but one of the biggest difference I noticed was represented by this gate
December 3, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Toured high schools in Jefferson County, CO yesterday because one of the parents there said there were huge differences in the resources to the white and rich school compared to the poor and more Hispanic school. She was right, but one of the biggest difference I noticed was represented by this gate
Reposted by Stephen Owens
I like to think I know ball.
Roswell is a city at a tipping point. Once it goes, I think it goes big and becomes more similar to affluent liberal suburbs like Decatur or Brookhaven.
December 3, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I like to think I know ball.
Reposted by Stephen Owens
Community college enrollment has been declining since 2009/10. The optimal policy response to this depends on the root of this decline.
I'm thrilled @nber.org today released my working paper with Harvard PhD Joe Winkelmann titled:
"Labor Market Strength and Declining Community College Enrollment"
I'm thrilled @nber.org today released my working paper with Harvard PhD Joe Winkelmann titled:
"Labor Market Strength and Declining Community College Enrollment"
December 1, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Community college enrollment has been declining since 2009/10. The optimal policy response to this depends on the root of this decline.
I'm thrilled @nber.org today released my working paper with Harvard PhD Joe Winkelmann titled:
"Labor Market Strength and Declining Community College Enrollment"
I'm thrilled @nber.org today released my working paper with Harvard PhD Joe Winkelmann titled:
"Labor Market Strength and Declining Community College Enrollment"
Less “forged in the fires of the SEC” and more Burger King commercial vibe here imo
November 30, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Less “forged in the fires of the SEC” and more Burger King commercial vibe here imo
Mike Bobo watching GT tape all week: “this is a defense vulnerable to running plays with three fake handoffs”
November 28, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Mike Bobo watching GT tape all week: “this is a defense vulnerable to running plays with three fake handoffs”
Athens, GA pre-Uber was a couple of vans, $20 a head and vibes
This isn’t just an Atlanta thing — if you needed a taxi in San Francisco on a Friday night in the mid-2000’s you couldn’t get one. There were two phone numbers you could call and you’d mostly get a busy signal.
Anyone in ATL in the late 90s/early 2000s who waited on a taxi to arrive will understand the productivity benefits, even if tangentially related, that ride share and Waymo have provided. Had a friend who would call a wrecker instead of a taxi b/c it was faster, cheaper, and you had your car in AM. 😂
November 26, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Athens, GA pre-Uber was a couple of vans, $20 a head and vibes
So we’re clear, this is an ad for one of the highest valued company in the world?
November 24, 2025 at 12:28 PM
So we’re clear, this is an ad for one of the highest valued company in the world?
Ready for a nutz fact? If you're looking at 8th grade reading scores, students in Georgia who do not qualify for free and reduced lunch (so, middle and upper income) perform better than any other similar students in the country. Our issue is that our state refuses to do right by low-income kids
November 21, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Ready for a nutz fact? If you're looking at 8th grade reading scores, students in Georgia who do not qualify for free and reduced lunch (so, middle and upper income) perform better than any other similar students in the country. Our issue is that our state refuses to do right by low-income kids
The dividing line between the default reach-out of “call on the phone” or “send a text” is the graduating class of 2000. I will not be taking questions at this time.
November 18, 2025 at 9:40 PM
The dividing line between the default reach-out of “call on the phone” or “send a text” is the graduating class of 2000. I will not be taking questions at this time.
Reposted by Stephen Owens
Stop calling MTG a "voice of reason." She's acting like any cult leader who's been pushed out from an internal power struggle. She's promoted Sandy Hook as a hoax and Jewish space-laser conspiracies. She is nothing less than a complete loon, whom no one should take seriously.
November 15, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Stop calling MTG a "voice of reason." She's acting like any cult leader who's been pushed out from an internal power struggle. She's promoted Sandy Hook as a hoax and Jewish space-laser conspiracies. She is nothing less than a complete loon, whom no one should take seriously.
People can build a city that reaches heaven with a controversial new app. How does it work?
New startup, Be-able, uses artificial intelligence to DIY a skyscraper that declares to the nations that we have conquered the need for a creator and ascends to paradise without any need for forgiveness.
New startup, Be-able, uses artificial intelligence to DIY a skyscraper that declares to the nations that we have conquered the need for a creator and ascends to paradise without any need for forgiveness.
The app Text With Jesus uses artificial intelligence and chatbots to offer spiritual guidance to users who are looking to connect with a higher power: on.nbc10.com/7XM8xrf
People can text with Jesus on a controversial new app. How does it work?
Artificial intelligence app Text With Jesus lets users chat with biblical figures and it is raising debate over faith and technology.
on.nbc10.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:05 PM
People can build a city that reaches heaven with a controversial new app. How does it work?
New startup, Be-able, uses artificial intelligence to DIY a skyscraper that declares to the nations that we have conquered the need for a creator and ascends to paradise without any need for forgiveness.
New startup, Be-able, uses artificial intelligence to DIY a skyscraper that declares to the nations that we have conquered the need for a creator and ascends to paradise without any need for forgiveness.