Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
@teachwitht.bsky.social
School to Prison Pipeline Researcher | K12 IL Union Educator | Speech & Debate | ILSTOY | Teach Plus IL |Golden Apple | ARMY OT7 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
Congratulations to the 2025 Illinois Teacher of the Year, Víctor Gómez! Your passion and impact inspire us all. We also celebrate the full ISTOY cohort—an extraordinary group of changemakers representing the very best of Illinois education. Thank you for all you do! 🧵
April 30, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Congratulations to the 2025 Illinois Teacher of the Year, Víctor Gómez! Your passion and impact inspire us all. We also celebrate the full ISTOY cohort—an extraordinary group of changemakers representing the very best of Illinois education. Thank you for all you do! 🧵
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
Bloomington residents discover the one event Dan Brady won't show up to.
April 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Bloomington residents discover the one event Dan Brady won't show up to.
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
For the last 8 years.
The media has been such a failure...
February 20, 2025 at 11:06 PM
For the last 8 years.
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
A7. Make it more than a month. Make celebrating black innovation & inspiration (past, present, & future) part of your classroom culture throughout the whole school year. #T2Tchat #EduSky
February 21, 2025 at 12:49 AM
THIS! It is not our job to help them reach OUR dreams — which often center on grades and graduation; it is our job to nurture theirs! The grades will fall into place once you do that!
Teachers must know & see their students beyond the grades they get. They must know their students’ interests & struggles, and affirm their dreams. This will allow teachers to create avenues of curricular alignment w/ their students’ goals. It’ll take time, but will be time well spent. #AFFIRMATIONS
February 21, 2025 at 12:46 AM
THIS! It is not our job to help them reach OUR dreams — which often center on grades and graduation; it is our job to nurture theirs! The grades will fall into place once you do that!
A6: I believe them. If they tell me their dreams, I believe them. It’s that simple. I used to approach this so incorrectly. I thought showing my degrees would inspire them, when really it drove a wedge between some of them. Find the thing that makes them sprout, and water it. #T2Tchat
February 21, 2025 at 12:43 AM
A6: I believe them. If they tell me their dreams, I believe them. It’s that simple. I used to approach this so incorrectly. I thought showing my degrees would inspire them, when really it drove a wedge between some of them. Find the thing that makes them sprout, and water it. #T2Tchat
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
One of the most powerful videos I’ve watched recently is Journeys of Black Mathematicians: Forging Resilience. I posted about it recently. It’s outstanding and inspiring. www.pbs.org/video/forgin...
Journeys of Black Mathematicians | Forging Resilience | Episode 101
This episode traces the role of HBCUs and mentors in growing the community of Black mathematicians.
www.pbs.org
February 21, 2025 at 12:28 AM
One of the most powerful videos I’ve watched recently is Journeys of Black Mathematicians: Forging Resilience. I posted about it recently. It’s outstanding and inspiring. www.pbs.org/video/forgin...
A4: I think Black students are hyper aware of how society views them. Schools must affirm that we view them as more than a month, more than a costume, and more than a lesson. Black voices should be apart of the decision-making, curriculum, and student advocacy/leadership of the school. #T2Tchat
February 21, 2025 at 12:26 AM
A4: I think Black students are hyper aware of how society views them. Schools must affirm that we view them as more than a month, more than a costume, and more than a lesson. Black voices should be apart of the decision-making, curriculum, and student advocacy/leadership of the school. #T2Tchat
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
This level of prep will help ensure that you know which sites students are using rather than sending them on a time-wasting hunt for info. Please don’t send students to search Google willy-nilly; it’s not wise or safe. Here's a few resources to support your work: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Black History resources
Black History Resources 28 Days of Black History 28daysofblackhistory.com National Museum of African American History & Culture LEARN units for grades 3-12 National Archives African American History ...
docs.google.com
February 21, 2025 at 12:19 AM
This level of prep will help ensure that you know which sites students are using rather than sending them on a time-wasting hunt for info. Please don’t send students to search Google willy-nilly; it’s not wise or safe. Here's a few resources to support your work: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
A2: One way I make sure students see themselves represented in my classroom year-round is making sure the texts truly sees them as THEY feel seen. While our struggles may be similar, it’s unfair for me (and authors) to assume our lived experiences are! #T2Tchat
February 21, 2025 at 12:16 AM
A2: One way I make sure students see themselves represented in my classroom year-round is making sure the texts truly sees them as THEY feel seen. While our struggles may be similar, it’s unfair for me (and authors) to assume our lived experiences are! #T2Tchat
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
A2. One way I make sure students see themselves represented in my classroom year-round is through the literature I incorporate in my curriculum. It is so powerful for my students to see themselves reflected in the books available to them in my room and taught in my class. #t2tchat #EduSky
February 21, 2025 at 12:09 AM
A1: I teach special education junior lit/comp! In Lit, we’ve been exploring the American Dream. Rather than focus on the 1920s/Gatsby, I’ve had students track the pursuit of the Dream over the last century from different diverse perspectives! #T2Tchat
February 21, 2025 at 12:09 AM
A1: I teach special education junior lit/comp! In Lit, we’ve been exploring the American Dream. Rather than focus on the 1920s/Gatsby, I’ve had students track the pursuit of the Dream over the last century from different diverse perspectives! #T2Tchat
Hi everyone! Thank you for joining tonight’s #T2Tchat on elevating Black history beyond February! @abpaul3.bsky.social and I will be moderating, and we are excited to be here! #T2Tchat
Thank you for joining tonight’s #T2Tchat! We’re looking forward to an exchange of ideas about elevating Black history during February and beyond, moderated by @teachwitht.bsky.social and @abpaul3.bsky.social
February 20, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Hi everyone! Thank you for joining tonight’s #T2Tchat on elevating Black history beyond February! @abpaul3.bsky.social and I will be moderating, and we are excited to be here! #T2Tchat
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
What's on the agenda tonight? 🗓️
We hope it's joining our Bluesky #T2Tchat!
Moderators @teachwitht.bsky.social and @abpaul3.bsky.social will lead an exchange of ideas for honoring Black history this month and all year long!
We hope it's joining our Bluesky #T2Tchat!
Moderators @teachwitht.bsky.social and @abpaul3.bsky.social will lead an exchange of ideas for honoring Black history this month and all year long!
February 20, 2025 at 3:32 PM
What's on the agenda tonight? 🗓️
We hope it's joining our Bluesky #T2Tchat!
Moderators @teachwitht.bsky.social and @abpaul3.bsky.social will lead an exchange of ideas for honoring Black history this month and all year long!
We hope it's joining our Bluesky #T2Tchat!
Moderators @teachwitht.bsky.social and @abpaul3.bsky.social will lead an exchange of ideas for honoring Black history this month and all year long!
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
Wondering how teachers like you honor Black History Month with students?
Get some new ideas – and build your #Edusky PLN – in Thursday's #T2Tchat moderated by @teachwitht.bsky.social and @abpaul3.bsky.social
Get some new ideas – and build your #Edusky PLN – in Thursday's #T2Tchat moderated by @teachwitht.bsky.social and @abpaul3.bsky.social
February 18, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Wondering how teachers like you honor Black History Month with students?
Get some new ideas – and build your #Edusky PLN – in Thursday's #T2Tchat moderated by @teachwitht.bsky.social and @abpaul3.bsky.social
Get some new ideas – and build your #Edusky PLN – in Thursday's #T2Tchat moderated by @teachwitht.bsky.social and @abpaul3.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton
Number of shootings at schools within the United States:
2000: 31
2001: 26
2002: 19
2003: 34
2004: 35
2005: 52
2006: 59
2007: 46
2008: 37
2009: 32
2010: 15
2011: 16
2012: 20
2013: 34
2014: 47
2015: 41
2016: 50
2017: 60
2018: 119
2019: 124
2020: 116
2021: 257
2022: 308
2023: 349
2024: 330
2025: 1
2000: 31
2001: 26
2002: 19
2003: 34
2004: 35
2005: 52
2006: 59
2007: 46
2008: 37
2009: 32
2010: 15
2011: 16
2012: 20
2013: 34
2014: 47
2015: 41
2016: 50
2017: 60
2018: 119
2019: 124
2020: 116
2021: 257
2022: 308
2023: 349
2024: 330
2025: 1
January 6, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Number of shootings at schools within the United States:
2000: 31
2001: 26
2002: 19
2003: 34
2004: 35
2005: 52
2006: 59
2007: 46
2008: 37
2009: 32
2010: 15
2011: 16
2012: 20
2013: 34
2014: 47
2015: 41
2016: 50
2017: 60
2018: 119
2019: 124
2020: 116
2021: 257
2022: 308
2023: 349
2024: 330
2025: 1
2000: 31
2001: 26
2002: 19
2003: 34
2004: 35
2005: 52
2006: 59
2007: 46
2008: 37
2009: 32
2010: 15
2011: 16
2012: 20
2013: 34
2014: 47
2015: 41
2016: 50
2017: 60
2018: 119
2019: 124
2020: 116
2021: 257
2022: 308
2023: 349
2024: 330
2025: 1
I’m getting SO much better at not saying yes all of the time!
Alright one more group of questions for 2024. This year has been rough for so many so hope to make these questions both reflective and fun.
1. Which of your character traits did you see the most growth or improvement in during 2024?
1. Which of your character traits did you see the most growth or improvement in during 2024?
January 1, 2025 at 1:47 AM
I’m getting SO much better at not saying yes all of the time!
This was in heavy rotation during 2024!
January 1, 2025 at 1:45 AM
This was in heavy rotation during 2024!
- Published a book of poems
- Ran for a state teacher Union position (and won)
- Got to tour where the Constitution was signed
- Finished my doctoral degree
- Said no without feeling guilty
- Explored new music artists
- Attempted a boundary between work and home (failed)
- Coached with intention
- Ran for a state teacher Union position (and won)
- Got to tour where the Constitution was signed
- Finished my doctoral degree
- Said no without feeling guilty
- Explored new music artists
- Attempted a boundary between work and home (failed)
- Coached with intention
Brag about something you did in 2024.
(Surviving counts!!)
(Surviving counts!!)
January 1, 2025 at 1:30 AM
- Published a book of poems
- Ran for a state teacher Union position (and won)
- Got to tour where the Constitution was signed
- Finished my doctoral degree
- Said no without feeling guilty
- Explored new music artists
- Attempted a boundary between work and home (failed)
- Coached with intention
- Ran for a state teacher Union position (and won)
- Got to tour where the Constitution was signed
- Finished my doctoral degree
- Said no without feeling guilty
- Explored new music artists
- Attempted a boundary between work and home (failed)
- Coached with intention