Ben Speicher
@benspeicher.bsky.social
30 years ago Albright was way more desirable but Alvernia went heavy into sports, pre-professional majors, competing on cost, etc. And now they are in a way better place and leave an even narrower lane for Albright to try to evolve. That’s on top of all the local state schools.
December 10, 2025 at 4:59 AM
30 years ago Albright was way more desirable but Alvernia went heavy into sports, pre-professional majors, competing on cost, etc. And now they are in a way better place and leave an even narrower lane for Albright to try to evolve. That’s on top of all the local state schools.
Interesting angle not covered in the piece is Reading has another small private college that is in much better shape- Alvernia University. They were younger and smaller than most colleges so moved way faster to run the same playbook Albright is now trying.
December 10, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Interesting angle not covered in the piece is Reading has another small private college that is in much better shape- Alvernia University. They were younger and smaller than most colleges so moved way faster to run the same playbook Albright is now trying.
Had no idea and similarly disappointed in myself.
March 25, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Had no idea and similarly disappointed in myself.
I also wonder about the impact of online grade books with instant parent visibility to the idea that the point of say, 7th grade math, is completing all the assignments of 7th grade math which ≠ learning the content of 7th grade math. Makes it easier to feel ok missing class & doing the work later
February 3, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I also wonder about the impact of online grade books with instant parent visibility to the idea that the point of say, 7th grade math, is completing all the assignments of 7th grade math which ≠ learning the content of 7th grade math. Makes it easier to feel ok missing class & doing the work later
Many suburban schools are even lower- in the range of 2-3%
January 30, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Many suburban schools are even lower- in the range of 2-3%
They’re really doing a great job doing the exact opposite of what most fans want all year long. I was totally prepared to not watch a game the rest of the season and hope they lose every night. Instead they’re hot!
January 29, 2025 at 2:50 AM
They’re really doing a great job doing the exact opposite of what most fans want all year long. I was totally prepared to not watch a game the rest of the season and hope they lose every night. Instead they’re hot!
Little bit different than game action but one of my top memories will be when gets the MVP award. Seeing his emotion and his son being there was very very cool.
Another untraditional answer would be him playing fans on public courts around the city.
Another untraditional answer would be him playing fans on public courts around the city.
January 11, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Little bit different than game action but one of my top memories will be when gets the MVP award. Seeing his emotion and his son being there was very very cool.
Another untraditional answer would be him playing fans on public courts around the city.
Another untraditional answer would be him playing fans on public courts around the city.
And “flew in to the crowd unnecessarily risking his health for no impact on the game”
December 21, 2024 at 3:06 AM
And “flew in to the crowd unnecessarily risking his health for no impact on the game”
Not sure if you’re a Reddit fan but I’ve found it super useful for travel planning. The Paris Travel Guide sub was useful when I went with my family this past summer for a few days.
December 18, 2024 at 12:33 AM
Not sure if you’re a Reddit fan but I’ve found it super useful for travel planning. The Paris Travel Guide sub was useful when I went with my family this past summer for a few days.
And it’s the same in my role- taking the time to be a participant in a meeting problem solving about a struggling student is fundamentally different than reading the notes.
Focusing on “efficiency” or “relevance” is often a progress trap that hides the deeper purpose of the work.
Focusing on “efficiency” or “relevance” is often a progress trap that hides the deeper purpose of the work.
December 15, 2024 at 4:35 PM
And it’s the same in my role- taking the time to be a participant in a meeting problem solving about a struggling student is fundamentally different than reading the notes.
Focusing on “efficiency” or “relevance” is often a progress trap that hides the deeper purpose of the work.
Focusing on “efficiency” or “relevance” is often a progress trap that hides the deeper purpose of the work.
Learning algebra (and learning how to learn algebra) helps you develop as a thinker in ways that you can’t always quantify. Same as the process of writing (or deeply internalizing) a lesson plan helps the teacher be more purposeful and nimble leading a lesson.
December 15, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Learning algebra (and learning how to learn algebra) helps you develop as a thinker in ways that you can’t always quantify. Same as the process of writing (or deeply internalizing) a lesson plan helps the teacher be more purposeful and nimble leading a lesson.
Yes to all this. Working at KIPP forever, the phrase “there are no shortcuts” is engraved in my thinking and I come back to it all the time for both student and teacher work. It would be nice to fast forward past all the hard work and capture the rewards, but that is impossible.
December 15, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Yes to all this. Working at KIPP forever, the phrase “there are no shortcuts” is engraved in my thinking and I come back to it all the time for both student and teacher work. It would be nice to fast forward past all the hard work and capture the rewards, but that is impossible.
The question basically boils down to is there a season Joel plays 60ish games(and is basically as good as “normal” for him)? When he does that, they win at a high rate. As we’ve seen this year, when he’s not playing at all they’re not sniffing 50 wins. So my odds…33%
December 15, 2024 at 3:44 PM
The question basically boils down to is there a season Joel plays 60ish games(and is basically as good as “normal” for him)? When he does that, they win at a high rate. As we’ve seen this year, when he’s not playing at all they’re not sniffing 50 wins. So my odds…33%
He is now playing well.
December 8, 2024 at 7:00 PM
He is now playing well.
I get that opinions vary on value of standardized curriculum but spending covid recovery money on something like curriculum is one of the best way to spend it since it’s a big upfront expense when you have the extra $ that you benefit from for 5-7 years, long after funding is gone.
December 7, 2024 at 3:52 PM
I get that opinions vary on value of standardized curriculum but spending covid recovery money on something like curriculum is one of the best way to spend it since it’s a big upfront expense when you have the extra $ that you benefit from for 5-7 years, long after funding is gone.
Why is there a riverboat float full of 6ABC staff members sponsored by Jefferson with CeCe Penisron singing? That’s the magic of this parade.
November 28, 2024 at 4:30 PM
Why is there a riverboat float full of 6ABC staff members sponsored by Jefferson with CeCe Penisron singing? That’s the magic of this parade.
A non-insignificant number of folks can go years and years working in different places without ever needing to finish a certification program since their emergency cert starts over.
November 24, 2024 at 7:45 PM
A non-insignificant number of folks can go years and years working in different places without ever needing to finish a certification program since their emergency cert starts over.
Too late for your article but other angle especially in Philly with so many charters- emergency certs are technically granted to the LEA and not the teacher. So while a teacher can only be on an emergency cert for 1-2 years, they can go to another org and restart the clock.
November 24, 2024 at 7:45 PM
Too late for your article but other angle especially in Philly with so many charters- emergency certs are technically granted to the LEA and not the teacher. So while a teacher can only be on an emergency cert for 1-2 years, they can go to another org and restart the clock.
He’s been great and it’s crazy what a low bar this is. He can cool down to a significant degree and still lead everyone but Sabonis.
November 24, 2024 at 5:29 PM
He’s been great and it’s crazy what a low bar this is. He can cool down to a significant degree and still lead everyone but Sabonis.
The last few defensive possessions are even worse. Basically can’t change directions or react to any movement.
November 21, 2024 at 2:24 AM
The last few defensive possessions are even worse. Basically can’t change directions or react to any movement.