Washington State Teacher of the Year & Lincoln High School Teacher Nate Bowling

Nathan Bowling is a social studies teacher at Lincoln High School on Tacoma's East Side and was born and raised in Tacoma. He has lived in different neighborhoods all over Tacoma. This year, he was honored as Washington's Teacher of the Year and as a finalist for National Teacher of The Year had the opportunity to meet President Obama and Vice president Joe Biden at The White House.

 

Bowling has used his publicity to discuss education, educational policies, race and segregation, politics, and much more. Join us for a conversation about Tacoma and Education that turns into a class on civil rights, government, and fair housing from Mr. Bowling.

Show Notes

Teaching, Policing, and Community Nate believes that teaching is done best when you're in the community. If you're based in the community the community will respect you and you can interact with the community. Teaching and law enforcement should both come from a place of respect, community, and love.
School Leaders Nathan believes that effective educators want to work for great leaders. Nate's theory is If you're a teacher you want to feel respected and have power. Pat Irwin has upgraded the staff at Lincoln High School with every hire and they have continued to get better and better results.

Advice for parents on choosing good schools in Tacoma Nathan's advice is whenever you are planning to move somewhere new with children is:

1.Check out what the best schools in the area are that have what you want

2. Decide what area you need to live in for your children to be able to attend one of those schools

3. Go into the school and meet the staff and educators there. Then go look at houses or apartments for sale in that area.

4. Why white flight still causes school segregation and what people can do about it.

Lincoln Center Program This program takes students they know that are coming in with gaps and give them extended school days and certain teaching programs to help them succeed and ultimately close those gaps. The program was a success, Lincoln's graduation rate has climbed by 30% in spite of the circumstances of the students being challenging.

On Tacoma's East Side Neighborhood "I can walk a block to the most underrated park in the city," says Nate. "I'm within walking distance of a grocery store, of a tienda, of Vuelve a La Vida which is the best mexican food in the city, and also two miles away from Lincoln High School where I work. In the springtime kids know it's spring because Bowling's riding his bike back and forth to work."
Who should Move To Tacoma Nate Bowling thinks teachers in Seattle should consider moving to Tacoma. We have a great school district under great leadership and a low cost of living.

Links

Meeker Middle School
Lincoln High School
McCleary vs. Washington State
Levy Lid Act
Bowling Alone Book
A Syllabus for Students When Dealing With Law Enforcement
Blog post on the Suburbanization of Tacoma