Jose Vilson, PhD
@thejosevilson.com
The educator Gotham deserves.
@educolor.org ED. Sociologist (with policy!), studying teacher professionalism and work, former NYC math teacher, best-selling author of This Is Not A Test.
Join the movement 👇🏾
thejosevilson.com/newsletter
@educolor.org ED. Sociologist (with policy!), studying teacher professionalism and work, former NYC math teacher, best-selling author of This Is Not A Test.
Join the movement 👇🏾
thejosevilson.com/newsletter
Pinned
Jose Vilson, PhD
@thejosevilson.com
· Sep 23
The Jose Vilson Newsletter | The Jose Vilson
The Jose Vilson Newsletter with insights about education, helping thousands of people have engaging conversations about math and beyond!
thejosevilson.com
It feels good to get back into my writing, this time about math education and what we're missing when we discuss improving educational outcomes. To be among the first to get this well-researched essay, sign up at thejosevilson.com/newsletter.
Thank you!
Thank you!
It's parent-teacher conference season here!
As I tell people, the best time to have reached out to families and communities was the first month of the year. The second best time is now. As a teacher, I found that parent-teacher conferences were more efficient as a follow-up, not as an introduction.
As I tell people, the best time to have reached out to families and communities was the first month of the year. The second best time is now. As a teacher, I found that parent-teacher conferences were more efficient as a follow-up, not as an introduction.
November 17, 2025 at 1:48 PM
It's parent-teacher conference season here!
As I tell people, the best time to have reached out to families and communities was the first month of the year. The second best time is now. As a teacher, I found that parent-teacher conferences were more efficient as a follow-up, not as an introduction.
As I tell people, the best time to have reached out to families and communities was the first month of the year. The second best time is now. As a teacher, I found that parent-teacher conferences were more efficient as a follow-up, not as an introduction.
I wish we talked about kids better. Not just about the news, but generally.
Adultification has been true for people of color for quite some time. It's not just a legal issue, but a moral and ethical one.
Our society could do more to let children live in their fullest childhood.
Adultification has been true for people of color for quite some time. It's not just a legal issue, but a moral and ethical one.
Our society could do more to let children live in their fullest childhood.
November 14, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I wish we talked about kids better. Not just about the news, but generally.
Adultification has been true for people of color for quite some time. It's not just a legal issue, but a moral and ethical one.
Our society could do more to let children live in their fullest childhood.
Adultification has been true for people of color for quite some time. It's not just a legal issue, but a moral and ethical one.
Our society could do more to let children live in their fullest childhood.
Reposted by Jose Vilson, PhD
NEW: @propublica.org investigated the Chicago apartment raid where kids were zip-tied and citizens detained for hours. They find:
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
November 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
NEW: @propublica.org investigated the Chicago apartment raid where kids were zip-tied and citizens detained for hours. They find:
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
Wanna know what happened behind the scenes of the mayor-elect's last video before getting elected? And what that has to do with the movement towards affordability?
Read more here!
thejosevilson.com/until-we-get...
Read more here!
thejosevilson.com/until-we-get...
Until We Get It Done (On My Meeting with Zohran Mamdani) | The Jose Vilson
A couple of Saturdays ago, I had an existential question that I couldn’t grapple over. “Do you think I should go canvass?” My wife, knowing ... Read More
thejosevilson.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Wanna know what happened behind the scenes of the mayor-elect's last video before getting elected? And what that has to do with the movement towards affordability?
Read more here!
thejosevilson.com/until-we-get...
Read more here!
thejosevilson.com/until-we-get...
It’s a good time to remember that, if we started from believing the women who came forward, we wouldn’t need the Epstein files.
November 13, 2025 at 12:08 AM
It’s a good time to remember that, if we started from believing the women who came forward, we wouldn’t need the Epstein files.
I let my students take over the class a bit and, again, I overplanned. These burgeoning scholars talked about everything from venture capitalism and Zohran Mamdani to gentrification and school privatization.
It’s so dope when I can see the sociological imagination really click for my students.
It’s so dope when I can see the sociological imagination really click for my students.
November 12, 2025 at 12:46 AM
I let my students take over the class a bit and, again, I overplanned. These burgeoning scholars talked about everything from venture capitalism and Zohran Mamdani to gentrification and school privatization.
It’s so dope when I can see the sociological imagination really click for my students.
It’s so dope when I can see the sociological imagination really click for my students.
Ah yes, another year of establishment Dems stealing defeat from the jaws of victory.
November 10, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Ah yes, another year of establishment Dems stealing defeat from the jaws of victory.
Reposted by Jose Vilson, PhD
I loved connecting with amazing math educators at the @mathforamerica.bsky.social Fall Function yesterday! Shoutouts to @thejosevilson.com, Amy Lee, Michael Archetti, Shari Eng, David Jeon, Julianne Bridge-Joseph, Scott Schwartz, Zuobin Tang, Ihn Lee, Gary Rubinstein) #MfAProud #MTBoS #ITeachMath
November 9, 2025 at 11:55 PM
I loved connecting with amazing math educators at the @mathforamerica.bsky.social Fall Function yesterday! Shoutouts to @thejosevilson.com, Amy Lee, Michael Archetti, Shari Eng, David Jeon, Julianne Bridge-Joseph, Scott Schwartz, Zuobin Tang, Ihn Lee, Gary Rubinstein) #MfAProud #MTBoS #ITeachMath
Reposted by Jose Vilson, PhD
Glad to present (on equity tasks and identity questions) AND run into @thejosevilson.com giving the opening address at AMTNYS 2025! #amtnys #MTBoS #ITeachMath
November 7, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Glad to present (on equity tasks and identity questions) AND run into @thejosevilson.com giving the opening address at AMTNYS 2025! #amtnys #MTBoS #ITeachMath
Also, they're not leaving NYC.
A few will try, but then they'll realize their friends were pump faking. Others were just posting on social media and weren't *actually* in any of the boroughs.
Affordability was a legit reason to leave and we knew that, too. That's why we stayed.
Let's get to work.
A few will try, but then they'll realize their friends were pump faking. Others were just posting on social media and weren't *actually* in any of the boroughs.
Affordability was a legit reason to leave and we knew that, too. That's why we stayed.
Let's get to work.
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Also, they're not leaving NYC.
A few will try, but then they'll realize their friends were pump faking. Others were just posting on social media and weren't *actually* in any of the boroughs.
Affordability was a legit reason to leave and we knew that, too. That's why we stayed.
Let's get to work.
A few will try, but then they'll realize their friends were pump faking. Others were just posting on social media and weren't *actually* in any of the boroughs.
Affordability was a legit reason to leave and we knew that, too. That's why we stayed.
Let's get to work.
Over the last year, I was told that Black voters in NYC would never vote for Mamdani, and that the Cuomo brand was too strong.
But the streets were telling me something different across all age groups. Shout outs to the organizers.
But the streets were telling me something different across all age groups. Shout outs to the organizers.
November 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Over the last year, I was told that Black voters in NYC would never vote for Mamdani, and that the Cuomo brand was too strong.
But the streets were telling me something different across all age groups. Shout outs to the organizers.
But the streets were telling me something different across all age groups. Shout outs to the organizers.
TURN THE VOLUME UP!
November 5, 2025 at 4:38 AM
TURN THE VOLUME UP!
I don't care what the polls say.
I don't care what the odds say.
I don't care what the online and TV pundits say.
NYC, if you haven't voted for Zohran Mamdani, please go.
If you voted, please ask your friends.
Let's leave no stone unturned. The movement is now.
zohranfornyc.com/vote
I don't care what the odds say.
I don't care what the online and TV pundits say.
NYC, if you haven't voted for Zohran Mamdani, please go.
If you voted, please ask your friends.
Let's leave no stone unturned. The movement is now.
zohranfornyc.com/vote
November 4, 2025 at 11:51 PM
I don't care what the polls say.
I don't care what the odds say.
I don't care what the online and TV pundits say.
NYC, if you haven't voted for Zohran Mamdani, please go.
If you voted, please ask your friends.
Let's leave no stone unturned. The movement is now.
zohranfornyc.com/vote
I don't care what the odds say.
I don't care what the online and TV pundits say.
NYC, if you haven't voted for Zohran Mamdani, please go.
If you voted, please ask your friends.
Let's leave no stone unturned. The movement is now.
zohranfornyc.com/vote
The GW Bush era radicalized people in my generation.
While older folks praised Bush/Cheney for their imperial agenda, a bunch of us asked "How we stop dropping bombs and feed more people?"
I won't mourn Dick Cheney, but I want to thank him for clearly exemplifying the evils of militarism.
While older folks praised Bush/Cheney for their imperial agenda, a bunch of us asked "How we stop dropping bombs and feed more people?"
I won't mourn Dick Cheney, but I want to thank him for clearly exemplifying the evils of militarism.
November 4, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The GW Bush era radicalized people in my generation.
While older folks praised Bush/Cheney for their imperial agenda, a bunch of us asked "How we stop dropping bombs and feed more people?"
I won't mourn Dick Cheney, but I want to thank him for clearly exemplifying the evils of militarism.
While older folks praised Bush/Cheney for their imperial agenda, a bunch of us asked "How we stop dropping bombs and feed more people?"
I won't mourn Dick Cheney, but I want to thank him for clearly exemplifying the evils of militarism.
Yall aren’t on IG, so here’s a GOTV I did with … @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social.
No, seriously.
Go to zohranfornyc.com/GOTV and let’s get it done.
No, seriously.
Go to zohranfornyc.com/GOTV and let’s get it done.
November 3, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Yall aren’t on IG, so here’s a GOTV I did with … @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social.
No, seriously.
Go to zohranfornyc.com/GOTV and let’s get it done.
No, seriously.
Go to zohranfornyc.com/GOTV and let’s get it done.
Did I just sign up to canvass for the first time ever for @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social? Yes.
Did my son just meet Mamdani in our hood? Also yes.
Did I get to watch a filming of his Until It’s Done videos, too? Yes.
New York City is the city it says it is.
Did my son just meet Mamdani in our hood? Also yes.
Did I get to watch a filming of his Until It’s Done videos, too? Yes.
New York City is the city it says it is.
November 2, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Did I just sign up to canvass for the first time ever for @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social? Yes.
Did my son just meet Mamdani in our hood? Also yes.
Did I get to watch a filming of his Until It’s Done videos, too? Yes.
New York City is the city it says it is.
Did my son just meet Mamdani in our hood? Also yes.
Did I get to watch a filming of his Until It’s Done videos, too? Yes.
New York City is the city it says it is.
I know everyone wants the best education for their child, but the anti-intellectual authority we’re currently under makes me want to throw personalization and individualization out the window.
Everyone needs a great education and I’m sick of people arguing otherwise.
Everyone needs a great education and I’m sick of people arguing otherwise.
October 31, 2025 at 2:37 AM
I know everyone wants the best education for their child, but the anti-intellectual authority we’re currently under makes me want to throw personalization and individualization out the window.
Everyone needs a great education and I’m sick of people arguing otherwise.
Everyone needs a great education and I’m sick of people arguing otherwise.
Reposted by Jose Vilson, PhD
This means the brilliant @thejosevilson.com's e-book can be purchased in this sale for only $2! 👀
www.haymarketbooks.org/books/596-th...
www.haymarketbooks.org/books/596-th...
October 30, 2025 at 8:54 PM
This means the brilliant @thejosevilson.com's e-book can be purchased in this sale for only $2! 👀
www.haymarketbooks.org/books/596-th...
www.haymarketbooks.org/books/596-th...
I think too many New Yorkers (and those outside of New York City) came out of 9/11 with the wrong lessons, and that's a big part of the problem with our mayoral race.
October 29, 2025 at 1:07 PM
I think too many New Yorkers (and those outside of New York City) came out of 9/11 with the wrong lessons, and that's a big part of the problem with our mayoral race.
Shout-out to the New Yorkers who stayed during the shutdown era and still kept the culture going.
Without you, NYC doesn't get to rebound the way that it does and still tell the old guard to go back to the suburbs where they were hiding out.
Yes, I'm talking to you.
Without you, NYC doesn't get to rebound the way that it does and still tell the old guard to go back to the suburbs where they were hiding out.
Yes, I'm talking to you.
October 28, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Shout-out to the New Yorkers who stayed during the shutdown era and still kept the culture going.
Without you, NYC doesn't get to rebound the way that it does and still tell the old guard to go back to the suburbs where they were hiding out.
Yes, I'm talking to you.
Without you, NYC doesn't get to rebound the way that it does and still tell the old guard to go back to the suburbs where they were hiding out.
Yes, I'm talking to you.
Recently, I was interviewed for this article about gifted and talented education.
I don't know why people insist that we segregate toddlers based on a narrow test. We can do so much better.
I don't know why people insist that we segregate toddlers based on a narrow test. We can do so much better.
New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s proposal to scale back the gifted-and-talented program has sparked controversy in America’s largest school district
How Brilliant Toddlers Became the Center of Attention in New York’s Mayoral Race
Zohran Mamdani’s proposal to scale back the city’s coveted gifted-and-talented program is sparking controversy in America’s largest school district.
on.wsj.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Recently, I was interviewed for this article about gifted and talented education.
I don't know why people insist that we segregate toddlers based on a narrow test. We can do so much better.
I don't know why people insist that we segregate toddlers based on a narrow test. We can do so much better.
This morning, I passed food pantries and churches with lines longer than I've ever seen before. The lines were about as multicultural and multigenerational as New York City itself.
We need a new conversation about safety and security. Our children and seniors deserve a better world than this.
We need a new conversation about safety and security. Our children and seniors deserve a better world than this.
October 28, 2025 at 3:11 PM
This morning, I passed food pantries and churches with lines longer than I've ever seen before. The lines were about as multicultural and multigenerational as New York City itself.
We need a new conversation about safety and security. Our children and seniors deserve a better world than this.
We need a new conversation about safety and security. Our children and seniors deserve a better world than this.
Still thinking about last night. @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social + @aoc.bsky.social + @sanders.senate.gov + 13K people in Queens.
NYC, early voting already started. Let’s get it! www.zohranfornyc.com/gotv
NYC, early voting already started. Let’s get it! www.zohranfornyc.com/gotv
October 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Still thinking about last night. @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social + @aoc.bsky.social + @sanders.senate.gov + 13K people in Queens.
NYC, early voting already started. Let’s get it! www.zohranfornyc.com/gotv
NYC, early voting already started. Let’s get it! www.zohranfornyc.com/gotv
October 27, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Did you notice how Mamdani wouldn't look at Cuomo for the almost the whole debate? A signal that Mamdani was moving past him.
The only time he looked at Cuomo for longer than a second? Right here.
Tell me what *this* tells you. 😏
The only time he looked at Cuomo for longer than a second? Right here.
Tell me what *this* tells you. 😏
In the audience tonight is Charlotte Bennett, one of the 13 women that Andrew Cuomo is credibly alleged to have sexually harassed while they worked in his government.
She can't speak for herself because Cuomo's lawyers have hounded her.
So I confronted him.
She can't speak for herself because Cuomo's lawyers have hounded her.
So I confronted him.
October 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Did you notice how Mamdani wouldn't look at Cuomo for the almost the whole debate? A signal that Mamdani was moving past him.
The only time he looked at Cuomo for longer than a second? Right here.
Tell me what *this* tells you. 😏
The only time he looked at Cuomo for longer than a second? Right here.
Tell me what *this* tells you. 😏