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.
Welcome to the resistance, Admiral Horatio Hornblower
February 15, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Welcome to the resistance, Admiral Horatio Hornblower
It will either bankrupt essential services, drive up the sales tax, or both.
is that bad? seems bad stephen.
February 13, 2026 at 4:03 PM
It will either bankrupt essential services, drive up the sales tax, or both.
“An analysis by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute found the state would need to impose a 12% state sales tax — tripling the current 4% rate — to generate the same amount of revenue.”
www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/02/12/g...
www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/02/12/g...
Georgia Senate passes state income tax relief
Bills to lower Georgia’s state income tax became one step closer to law Thursday after passing a vote in the state Senate.
www.atlantanewsfirst.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:48 PM
“An analysis by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute found the state would need to impose a 12% state sales tax — tripling the current 4% rate — to generate the same amount of revenue.”
www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/02/12/g...
www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/02/12/g...
Bathroom at my kids’ school. Is “compete willingly” a saying? Also wouldn’t a robot be acting without agency—contrary to any ability to say it was willing?
February 11, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Bathroom at my kids’ school. Is “compete willingly” a saying? Also wouldn’t a robot be acting without agency—contrary to any ability to say it was willing?
Reposted by Stephen Owens
my "i left epstein island with ALL of my children" tshirt is prompting questions already answered by my shirt
February 10, 2026 at 5:16 PM
my "i left epstein island with ALL of my children" tshirt is prompting questions already answered by my shirt
What the president shared today is racist. To share it at all should disqualify him from public office; to do so during Black History Month puts an exclamation mark on the offense.
This February I'm instead thinking about Rev. Tunis Campbell--the father of public education in the state of Georgia.
This February I'm instead thinking about Rev. Tunis Campbell--the father of public education in the state of Georgia.
February 6, 2026 at 2:36 PM
What the president shared today is racist. To share it at all should disqualify him from public office; to do so during Black History Month puts an exclamation mark on the offense.
This February I'm instead thinking about Rev. Tunis Campbell--the father of public education in the state of Georgia.
This February I'm instead thinking about Rev. Tunis Campbell--the father of public education in the state of Georgia.
Watching the Atlanta Public Schools budget committee. Gov. Kemp put money in the budget for one-time, $2,000 raises for teachers, but that's only state funding. Districts like APS that use more local funding have to use local money if they wanted to do this. Sup. Johnson already sounding the alarm
January 29, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Watching the Atlanta Public Schools budget committee. Gov. Kemp put money in the budget for one-time, $2,000 raises for teachers, but that's only state funding. Districts like APS that use more local funding have to use local money if they wanted to do this. Sup. Johnson already sounding the alarm
Researching GA traditional high schools & find this one that has a lot of kids in poverty but does much better than similar schools. They also have great sports. I literally think to myself "is this the best high school in Georgia?" before finding out they had their first integrated prom in 2014...
January 28, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Researching GA traditional high schools & find this one that has a lot of kids in poverty but does much better than similar schools. They also have great sports. I literally think to myself "is this the best high school in Georgia?" before finding out they had their first integrated prom in 2014...
Stephens everywhere
January 28, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Stephens everywhere
Just got called “love bug” by the lady at McDonalds. I’m going to chase this feeling for a bit
January 27, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Just got called “love bug” by the lady at McDonalds. I’m going to chase this feeling for a bit
Just emailed everyone because I hate this idea with the heat of 1,000 suns (exact language from my emails)! Thanks @kelseabondatl.bsky.social
This Wednesday at the rescheduled Zoning meeting, City Council will hear legislation to allow the construction of a data center near the West End station. Have an opinion? Email the Zoning Committee members!
Read the legislation here: atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Det...
Read the legislation here: atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Det...
26-O-1097 AN ORDINANCE BY COUNCILMEMBER ANTONIO LEWIS AND ESHÉ COLLINS TO AMEND THE 1982 ATLANTA ZONING ORDINANCE, AS AMENDED, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 18U (SPI-21 HISTORIC WEST END/ADAIR PARK SPECIAL PU...
atlantacityga.iqm2.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:31 AM
Just emailed everyone because I hate this idea with the heat of 1,000 suns (exact language from my emails)! Thanks @kelseabondatl.bsky.social
This reminds me of how millennials rejected disco because of postmodernism
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
Younger generations “have fallen out of love with Harry Potter because they have fallen out of love with the worldview the series represents,” writes Louise Perry. “Which is to say that young people have fallen out of love with liberalism.”
Younger generations “have fallen out of love with Harry Potter because they have fallen out of love with the worldview the series represents,” writes Louise Perry. “Which is to say that young people have fallen out of love with liberalism.”
Opinion | Why Gen Z Doesn’t Love ‘Harry Potter’
The wizarding worldview is naïve.
nyti.ms
January 26, 2026 at 11:19 PM
This reminds me of how millennials rejected disco because of postmodernism
this is my worst nightmare
January 23, 2026 at 9:13 PM
this is my worst nightmare
I assumed that Dean Pelton had destroyed any thought of dean puns in higher education for 30 years at least
January 23, 2026 at 8:16 PM
I assumed that Dean Pelton had destroyed any thought of dean puns in higher education for 30 years at least
CJ McCollum looks like Stephon Urkel but plays like Steve Urkle when he needed to teach Eddie a lesson
January 19, 2026 at 8:33 PM
CJ McCollum looks like Stephon Urkel but plays like Steve Urkle when he needed to teach Eddie a lesson
Schools in Georgia have two major revenue streams: state taxes (primarily the income tax) and local property taxes. The Georgia legislature is seriously considering lowering both. If successful the end result will be catastrophic for schools.
apple.news/A7HthcuqTQQW...
apple.news/A7HthcuqTQQW...
Senate bill proposes limiting property tax hikes to inflation, impacting schools — The Current GA
The Georgia state Senate has proposed a bill that would limit property tax increases to the rate of inflation, which could save homeowners money but reduce funding for public education and city and co...
apple.news
January 19, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Schools in Georgia have two major revenue streams: state taxes (primarily the income tax) and local property taxes. The Georgia legislature is seriously considering lowering both. If successful the end result will be catastrophic for schools.
apple.news/A7HthcuqTQQW...
apple.news/A7HthcuqTQQW...
I've been following Mr. Bouie for years now and my admiration for his moral clarity and ability to communicate his positions only barely outmatches my dismay in finding out recently that he is younger than me.
yeah man, what would i, a black guy from the south, know about thugs intimidating people out of voting? what possible experiences in my family, which has been here since slavery, could ever inform my perspective?
January 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM
I've been following Mr. Bouie for years now and my admiration for his moral clarity and ability to communicate his positions only barely outmatches my dismay in finding out recently that he is younger than me.
Chairwoman Noble (allegedly) is making plain the fact that resource equity is closely tied to school integration. Research shows that folks with money and power are more willing to send resources to schools their kids are physically sitting in.
granitepostnews.com/2026/01/14/l...
granitepostnews.com/2026/01/14/l...
Leaked Signal chat shows NH House education chair advocating whites-only schools
The group chat allegedly shows NH House Education Committee Chair Kristin Noble suggesting test scores would rise if students were split into white and
granitepostnews.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Chairwoman Noble (allegedly) is making plain the fact that resource equity is closely tied to school integration. Research shows that folks with money and power are more willing to send resources to schools their kids are physically sitting in.
granitepostnews.com/2026/01/14/l...
granitepostnews.com/2026/01/14/l...
Reposted by Stephen Owens
I spoke with WABE about the proposal to extend the TADs. If we need $5 billion, instead of robbing Peter to Paul, we should tax the ultra-rich and fairly appraise luxury commercial properties! www.wabe.org/what-are-tax...
January 14, 2026 at 3:35 AM
I spoke with WABE about the proposal to extend the TADs. If we need $5 billion, instead of robbing Peter to Paul, we should tax the ultra-rich and fairly appraise luxury commercial properties! www.wabe.org/what-are-tax...
UGA pool losing 5 percent of its water per day is wild. RIP Legion Pool.
January 13, 2026 at 8:47 PM
UGA pool losing 5 percent of its water per day is wild. RIP Legion Pool.
Pleasantly surprised to see the share of Black teachers in Georgia is approaching that of Black students: 30% of teachers and 36% of students (a 6% point gap in '25 compared to 9.4 in '21). The gap b/w Hispanic students and teachers, however, is still huge: 19% of students but only 3% of teachers.
January 6, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Pleasantly surprised to see the share of Black teachers in Georgia is approaching that of Black students: 30% of teachers and 36% of students (a 6% point gap in '25 compared to 9.4 in '21). The gap b/w Hispanic students and teachers, however, is still huge: 19% of students but only 3% of teachers.
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.