During the day, Larry Ferlazzo works as a teacher at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California, teaching English and social science. However, in his free time, he has also written 12 books and is known for his Education Week blog series called Classroom Q&A, along with other blogs. Ferlazzo’s blogs are highly popular as they gather advice and insights from educators and experts to address important questions related to classroom teaching. For example, one of his blogs titled "7 Ways Principals Can Support Teachers" has received over 10,000 readers and counting, while another piece from 2021 called "What Are the Best Strategies for Small-Group Instruction?" attracted more than 28,000 readers.
Education Week recently conducted a Q&A session with Larry Ferlazzo, who is not only an opinion contributor but also an award-winning teacher. The discussion covered various topics, including his previous career as a community organizer, how he manages his multiple projects, and the significance of relying on teachers to find solutions for classroom problems.
When asked about his experience as a teacher and the changes in the teaching industry over the years, Ferlazzo mentioned that he has just completed his 20th year at Burbank, primarily working with English-language learners and International Baccalaureate (IB) students. He described his school as very diverse, with a substantial African-American, Latino, and Southeast Asian (predominantly Hmong) student population. Ferlazzo expressed gratitude for the supportive administration at his school, which has contributed to a positive environment for both him and his students.
On a national level, Ferlazzo acknowledged that the teaching profession has faced significant challenges in recent years. Factors such as the pandemic, attacks on teaching about systemic racism, and the difficulties in supporting gay and transgender youth have made teaching more demanding across the country. Additionally, the pandemic has highlighted the need for strong leadership in many school districts, revealing instances where teachers at the classroom level had to protect their students from unwise practices related to mask mandates and online learning options.
The discussion then shifted to the origins of Classroom Q&A, Ferlazzo’s popular blog series. He explained that the series, now entering its 12th year, is built upon the principle of subsidiarity, which emphasizes that those most affected by a problem often have the best ideas to solve it. By involving teachers, educators, parents, and students in generating questions and sharing their own answers, Classroom Q&A has been able to gather a range of perspectives and valuable insights. Ferlazzo also highlighted the importance of including those directly involved in education rather than relying solely on opinions from individuals who may have limited classroom experience.
When asked about his extensive network of parents, teachers, and students as sources for Classroom Q&A, Ferlazzo mentioned his own resource-sharing blog for teachers, which has been popular for the past 14 years. Through his blog and various social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, he has been able to connect with educators, parents, and students. His expertise in parent engagement, reflected in a book he authored and another blog focused on the topic, has allowed him to establish connections and gain respect within the education community.
In terms of managing his time and balancing multiple projects, Ferlazzo emphasized the importance of having a supportive spouse and working in a great school environment where internal politics and dysfunctional administration are minimal distractions. These factors have enabled him to focus on his teaching and extracurricular endeavors more effectively.
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