As an educator for over twenty years, I’ve witnessed numerous initiatives to improve the quality of education.  With the introduction of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS),  I think we are finally emerging from a more “Standards Abused” era in education. I am not naïve enough to believe that the CCSS are going to cure everything that challenges teaching and learning in our classrooms.  However, I am optimistic that CCSS is a vehicle for us (educators) to go back to what we all first knew.

Taylor Mali is a poet and former teacher that went viral when his poetry performance defending teachers went viral on YouTube, getting millions of hits worldwide. In March 2012, Mali will release a book entitled What Teachers Make: In Praise of the Greatest Job in the World will add depth and breadth to his argument in support of teachers. In this exclusive TeachHUB interview, Mali shares his experiences as a poet, internet sensation and most importantly, a teacher and advocate for all teachers.