About Me

Jose Luis Vilson is a math teacher, coach, and data analyst for a middle school in the Inwood / Washington Heights neighborhood of New York, NY. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in mathematics education from the City College of New York. A New York City Teaching Fellows, Jose Vilson spoke at the NYCTF Induction Ceremony in 2007 in Lincoln Center. He has worked on developing professional development for his fellow teachers on such topics as working on goals for the classroom and using educational data systems. Through his work as an educator, he’s developing a citywide and national voice for all teachers, working with groups such as the Teacher Leaders Network and the General Electric Fund to promote new ideas for educators, creating assessment tasks, and developing curriculum maps.

When not working on these occupations, he’s also a committed poet, writer, web designer, and community organizer. He co-authored the book Teaching 2030: What We Must Do For Our Students and Public Schools … Now and In The Future with Dr. Barnett Berry and 11 other accomplished teachers. He currently serves as the president of the Latino Alumni Network of Syracuse University, as a board member on the Board of Directors for the Center for Teaching Quality, and has served as board member for Media Make Change, an organization committed to the integration of social justice and social media. He’s part of the first cohort of Acentos Fellows as part of the Acentos Foundation, and a member of LATinos In Social Media (LATISM), the Capicu Poetry Group, BlogCritics, and the AfroSpear.

He has been featured in American Latino TV, CNN, Black Web 2.0, Electronic Village, and Common Cents / Penny Harvest.

Here are some of the blog’s major acknowledgements:

  • 2007 Weblog Awards Nominee for Best Education Blog
  • Famous Blogs’ Blog of the Day Award, February 5th (co-win with Smashing Magazine)
  • One of Scholastic Instructor’s Top 20 Teacher Blogs of 2009
  • Rated #36 Top Education Blog of 2009 by PostRank
  • Featured on LiveStrong.com, CNN.com, Time Out New York Magazine, NY Mag Intelligencer, and the Chicago Sun-Times
  • Featured on GothamSchools.org, AllTop.com, and MiBodegaOnline.com

How you like me now?

Jose, teacher, blogger, poet, writer, Lower East Sider, NYCer, Yankee fan, activist, TV watcher, part-time impersonator who loves sushi, strawberry black tea with tapioca, rice and beans, movies, Blue Moon, and any eccentric music loaded up on my iPod Touch …

To contact him, click here.

19 Responses to About Me

  1. John Chew

    July 29, 2010 at 8:50 pm

    Hi Jose -
    I am a former NYC Teaching Fellow (cohort 6). I spent close to 5 years in the program and taught 4th and 6th grade in the South Bronx. I really like your blog, and look forward to reading some of the older entries.

    All the best,
    John Chew

  2. Jose

    August 3, 2010 at 9:36 pm

    Thanks, John. I honestly appreciate it. Hope to be in contact with you soon.

  3. Melissa Meza de Melkonian

    October 6, 2010 at 8:01 am

    I’m really diggin’ your work. I always have, but like fine wine, it is getting better with age.

  4. Asad

    January 17, 2011 at 11:51 am

    Just came across your site via another blogroll, and Im feelin it. I hope you will return the favor and give me some constructive criticism on my site (http://unitedblackamerica.com)! Stay in touch!

  5. Kaitlyn cole

    February 8, 2011 at 1:41 am

    Hi Jose,

    We at “Onlineuniversities.com”, wanted to let you know that we featured your blog in one of our recent articles on our own blog. (50 Best Blogs for Special Needs Teachers), is linked below and could be a fun way to share this announcement with your readers.
    (http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2011/02/50-best-blogs-for-special-needs-teachers/)

    Either way, I hope you continue putting out great content through your blog. It has been a sincere pleasure to read.

    Thanks
    Kaitlyn cole

  6. Emma Taylor

    March 2, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    Hi Jose,

    We recently published an article that you may be interested in entitled, “50 Famous & Successful English Majors Who Shatter the Stereotype” (http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2011/50-famous-successful-english-majors-who-shatter-the-stereotype/).

    After having followed your blog for a while, I feel that this one article would align well with your blog’s subject matter. I thought perhaps you’d be interested in sharing this article with your readers? Thanks, and keep up the great blogging!

    Sincerely,
    Emma Taylor

  7. Renee Coates-Smith

    March 21, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    Thanks for taking a stand.

  8. Rasha

    May 10, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    You are truly an inspiration with your refreshingly insightful blogs. I hope to be as passionate and dedicated as you when I have my own students to teach, in the near future.

    Looking forward to reading more from you.

    Sincerely,
    Rasha Khalil

  9. Victoria

    June 1, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    I am very inspired that you are so passionate about helping to improve the education system and are committed to teaching in an urban area. As a pre-service teacher, I am very interested in teaching in an urban area, and find your blog very helpful and insightful. I also enjoy how you incorporate poetry to describe your life and work.

    Thank you

  10. Jose

    June 1, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    Victoria, thanks so much! Congrats on becoming a teacher. Let me know how that goes in your journey.

  11. Pingback: But Wait, There’s More! #vccv « Point of Inflection

  12. John Chase

    June 18, 2011 at 7:45 am

    Hey Jose, thanks very much for your tireless efforts on behalf of students and educators, you are a great teacher and role model!

    Thought you would also appreciate this commentary about the perils and pitfalls of standardized testing that I wrote almost a decade ago and unfortunately still relevant today…

    http://www.learningfromlyrics.org/wttm.htm

    Regards,
    John

  13. Laura Moin

    July 11, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    I came across your blog while searching for the Top 20 Teachers’ Blogs. I work for the National Science Digital Library (NSDL), which is an NSF-funded open online digital library of high quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) resource for educators and learners.
    I want to invite you to explore the NSDL (nsdl.org) and if you consider it appropriate to put a link to it on your blog. I am sure your colleagues, teachers, students, and parents would highly benefit from accessing these free resources and curated collections.
    I am adding here just two of the hundred thousands resources you will find in NSDL. These ones are bilingual math resources.
    Please, do not hesitate to contact me (email or phone) and I would be more than happy to provide you with more guidance for effectively using nsdl.org.

    Best regards,

    Laura J. Moin, Ph.D.
    Outreach and Professional Development Manager
    UCAR – NSDL
    nsdl.org
    303-497-2935

    Technology PoW
    http://mathforum.org/tpow/index.direct.html
    Technology Problems of the Week (tPoWs) are problem-solving challenges that take advantage of interactive mathematics tools such as Java applets or spreadsheets. Students may submit their answers to share their solutions, and then self-mentor using hints, checks, and suggestions for extensions.

    Math2.org
    http://math2.org/
    Dave’s Math Tables is an excellent mathematical resource. The mathematical reference tables include General Math, Algebra, Geometry, Odds and Ends, Trigonometry, Calculus, Statistics, and Advanced Topics. In addition, the site features an interactive area for posting and answering mathematical questions and a list of related Internet resources.

  14. Danielle

    August 24, 2011 at 6:23 pm

    Hey ,

    I just read “New York Times: Future Schools Don’t Have Many Teachers In Them” and loved it! Would it be okay if I used a portion of the post for a new blog post my writing team would be creating in the future?

    Thanks!

    Danielle Kim

  15. Jose

    August 25, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    Danielle, by all means. Thanks. Just link me whenever it’s done.

  16. rachel

    November 29, 2011 at 12:40 am

    I’m just reading on, learning from achievers like you … God has indeed blessed you with the skills, talents and opportunities to glorify Him. Thanks for sharing them and God bless you more! Keep it up with your faith.

  17. Jose

    November 29, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    rachel, thanks a million.

  18. John Chase

    November 30, 2011 at 6:25 am

    Thanks again for your inspiration and leadership…thought you would appreciate this 9/11 and volunteerism learning activity that incorporates music and technology…

    http://www.edmestoncentralschool.net//uploads/jchase/911mediaprojects.htm

  19. The Wise One

    December 6, 2011 at 4:13 pm

    A “Mapou” tree has fallen; Now where will all the birds rest?

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=143122146

    http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/06/2534218/sonia-pierre-leaves-behind-legacy.html

    She deserves the highest of honors. In Heaven you’ll have full citizenship.

    R.I.P Sonia

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