August 29, 2017: The Seventy-Four

Cook: Principal Accused Of Not Protecting Students From Sex Predator Teacher In Charge of ATR Placements

The New York City Department of Education is planning to move as many as 400 teachers out of the district’s Absent Teacher Reserve and into full-time classroom positions at schools this fall, regardless of whether those schools want to hire them. Principals have had control over staffing at their schools since 2005, when the district […]


July 20, 2017: The Seventy-Four

Cook: Pettiness Blocks Progress in Louisiana, as Governor Vetoes Common Sense Education Bill

Last Friday, Louisiana lawmakers voted to cancel a veto session to override Governor John Bel Edwards’ rejection of a number of bills passed by the legislature during this year’s regular session. The move was expected even though many Republican legislators accused the Governor of using his veto power to punish lawmakers who have consistently opposed his agenda.


March 22, 2017: California Charter School Association


March 21, 2017: The Seventy-Four

Cook: Charter Activists Know How to Walk the Walk but Not How to Talk the Talk

The 74 is moderating a panel Wednesday at the 24th annual California Charter School Conference in Sacramento, about inaccurate narratives surrounding public charter schools and how the mainstream media covers, and occasionally distorts, the sector. (Livestream will start here at 1:45pm EST.)


October 3, 2016: Education Post

Slate’s Piece on Union Busting at Charter Schools Isn’t Journalism, It’s Union Propaganda

Peter became involved in education reform in New Orleans Public Schools as a 2002 Teach For America corps member and has worked in various capacities… Full profile → On Thursday, Slate published ” How Charter Schools Bust Unions,” a skewed portrayal of the anti-union tactics of charter schools from the writer and sociologist Hella Winston.


September 24, 2016: Citizen Education

Where in the World is Karran Harper Royal? Maryland and Across Louisiana

Editor’s Note: This is the latest in an occasional series documenting where the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association sends Karran Harper Royal. It’s been a while since we checked in on the union-funded travels of our old…


August 22, 2016: Garland Robinette’s “The Think Tank” on WWL Radio

Think Tank 1010am Money for Schooling

Which students deserve more money for their schools: elite, average or disabled? The Robin Hood method? That’s what some are calling plans to take money from the schools in New Orleans that have money and give it to those who don’t. Is that fair?


August 19, 2016: Education Post

Louisiana’s Children and Families Need Your Help

Peter became involved in education reform in New Orleans Public Schools as a 2002 Teach For America corps member and has worked in various capacities… Full profile → Inescapable floodwaters, homes destroyed, livelihoods threatened, schools shuttered and hundreds of thousands of Louisianans in desperate need of help.


August 15, 2016: Rock The Schools Podcast


May 10, 2016: The Seventy-Four

New Orleans Takes Back Its Schools – But Some Locals Fear It’s a Big Mistake

Louisiana state lawmakers voted unanimously to return New Orleans public schools to local control but there remains deep ambivalence about whether that will erode gains made over the past 10 years. “There’s many opinions about what return means.


February 21, 2016: Rock The Schools Podcast


December 1, 2015: Citizen Education

Don’t Demiansplain TFA to DeRay & Other Rules To Live By


November 30, 2015: Citizen Education

The Misanthropy of Gary Rubinstein


November 23, 2015: The Seventy-Four

Outspoken Ed Reform Foe Wins La. Governor’s Race But Will He Go After K-12?


November 17, 2015: The Seventy-Four

John White’s Last Stand: Inside the Campaign to Bring Down Louisiana’s School Reform Champion


November 9, 2015: Citizen Education

We All Should Feel Bad For Julian Vasquez Heilig


November 4, 2015: Citizen Education

Where In The World Is Karran Harper Royal? Last Week: Chicago


October 12, 2015: Citizen Education

Where In The World Is Karran Harper Royal? This Week: Boston

Editor’s Note: This is the latest in an occasional series documenting where the American Federation of Teachers sends Karran Harper Royal. A few weeks ago, New Orleans activist Karran Harper Royal was out in sunny Los Angeles – courtesy of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) – to share her two cents about the evils of New Orleans charter schools at a UTLA protest against Eli Broad .


October 5, 2015: Citizen Education

AFT Doesn’t Want To Export New Orleans’ Reforms, But They’ll Export Its Critics

It’s clear that the American Federation of Teachers doesn’t want New Orleans-style education reform to spread. After all, the teachers union has poured millions of dollars into the Bayou State to fight Louisiana’s reform efforts over the past twelve months.


September 16, 2015: Corps Knowledge

The Landscape: New Orleans

Back in 2005, I worked on staff at Teach For America – Greater New Orleans supporting dozens of our teachers in public schools across the city.


August 24, 2015: Education Reform Now

Was It Worth It? – Education Reform Now


July 28, 2015: Rock The Schools Podcast


April 10, 2015: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Opinion: New Orleans is model of oversight, accountability, and cooperation

Peter Cook is a former teacher and administrator who worked in New Orleans public schools both before and after Hurricane Katrina. He now works as a consultant helping districts transform their organizations to better serve the needs of low-income students. You can find him on Twitter: @petercook.