The White Rhino: A Blog about Education and Latino Issues

Archive for January 2020

Chicago Public Schools students discuss the boundaries of humor with comedian Joey Villagomez

Chicago Public Schools students from Hancock College Prep’s Podcast Club asked Chicago comedian Joey Villagomez about his journey into comedy and if humor has boundaries. Villagomez has been a stand-up comedian for the past fifteen years and is a graduate of the Chicago Public Schools. This Friday, January 31, Joey Villagomez’s Comedy Central special airs as... Read more »

By Ray Salazar, NBCT,
January 27, 2020 at 9:14 pm •

We need to change our high-school students’ expectations about teacher feedback

At the beginning of the year, my Chicago Public Schools high-school students expressed lots of frustration because I didn’t write any comments on their first major essay. “You need to give us feedback,” they demanded. Some doubted I read their essays because I didn’t make a mark. I explained that one of my goals as... Read more »

By Ray Salazar, NBCT,
January 7, 2020 at 12:23 pm •

◄ Previous page Next page ►

Advertisement:
Advertisement:
Welcome to ChicagoNow.

Meet our bloggers,
post comments, or
pitch your blog idea.

Sign in Pitch your idea Play games
Tweets by @whiterhinoray
Facebook
Subscribe
About the Blogger

Since 1995, Ray has been a public school English teacher in Chicago.

In 2017, thanks to a former student, Ray received a Distinguished Secondary Teacher Award from Northwestern University.

In March 2013, The White Rhino tied for second place in the Best Blog category of the Education Writers Association's national writing contest.

Ray earned an M.A. in Writing, with distinction, and a B.A. in English and Secondary Education from DePaul University. He's been a National Board Certified Teacher for over ten years.

He graduated from a neighborhood Chicago public high school.

His writing aired on National Public Radio and Chicago Public Radio many times. His editorials appeared in the Chicago Tribune and on CNN's Schools of Thought blog, as well as on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards' Web site. He's also written articles for NPR's Latino USA, Latino Rebels, and NewsTaco.

Ray is also a powerlifter and an aspiring guitarist.

For thirty years, Ray lived in Chicago's 26th Street neighborhood. Today, he lives a little more south and a little more west in the city with his wife, son, and daughter.

Photo credit: Rocky Jara: Rocky JPhoto on Facebook
The Blog’s Title

This comes from a conversation with another Latino English teacher when we met a few years ago. He said I was the only other Latino English teacher he knew: "We're white rhinos."
According to National Geographic, there are about 20,000 southern white rhinos struggling to survive in the wild.
The last male northern white rhino in the world died in March.
Like the animal, Latino English teachers exist in low numbers. And we know the low number of Latinos with college degrees in our city.
Therefore, I have a perspective that, like the white rhino, must fight to exist. The writing here includes my responses, reflections, reactions to Latino- and education-related issues.
Recent posts
- Chicago Public Schools teacher discusses National Board Certification, teaching satire, and powerlifting »
  
  Ray Salazar, NBCT on The White Rhino: A Blog about Education and Latino Issues
  
  Posted May 2, 2022 at 8:43 am
- Chicago Public Schools teachers have another option for National Board Certification »
  
  Ray Salazar, NBCT on The White Rhino: A Blog about Education and Latino Issues
  
  Posted April 5, 2022 at 9:18 am
- Hear how a Chicago Public Schools teacher centers student voice at virtual AFT conference Tuesday, March 22 »
  
  Ray Salazar, NBCT on The White Rhino: A Blog about Education and Latino Issues
  
  Posted March 21, 2022 at 9:27 am
- Chicago Public Schools teacher sets 3 Illinois powerlifting records »
  
  Ray Salazar, NBCT on The White Rhino: A Blog about Education and Latino Issues
  
  Posted March 13, 2022 at 1:32 pm
- Chicago Public Schools student rejects cheating and develops a work ethic instead »
  
  Ray Salazar, NBCT on The White Rhino: A Blog about Education and Latino Issues
  
  Posted November 10, 2021 at 10:17 am
Monthly Archives
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011

Latest on ChicagoNow
- Chicago Memorial Day Weekend with Beer
  
  from The Beeronaut by Mark McDermott
  posted Wednesday at 11:50 pm
- Mary Alice Quinn is Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery Chicago Miracle Child.
  
  from Chicago Paranormal and Spiritual by Edward Shanahan
  posted Wednesday at 11:09 pm
- Getting Started In Chicago? 5 Things To Keep In Mind
  
  from The Patriotic Dissenter by Paul M. Banks
  posted Wednesday at 10:56 pm
- Maybe America needs a few public executions instead of meaningless thoughts and prayers
  
  from The Chicago Board of Tirade by Bob Abrams
  posted Wednesday at 4:39 pm
- These senators have the blood of dead fourth graders on their hands
  
  from I've Got The Hippy Shakes by Howard Moore
  posted Wednesday at 12:04 pm
Posts from related blogs
- Cosmic Chicago
  
  Most recent post: Photos: Boeing Starliner Successfully Launches to the International Space Station
- Chicago Weather Watch
  
  Most recent post: Clouds, then Sun!
- The Good Life
  
  Most recent post: If You Own More Than One Dog, You Need These
More from News: City Life
Read these ChicagoNow blogs
- Cubs Den
  
  Chicago Cubs news and comprehensive blog, featuring old school baseball writing combined with the latest statistical trends
  - Daily Cubs Minors Recap: Young outfielders in South Bend and young infielders in Myrtle Beach emerging; Hodge and Palencia deliver strong outings; Bote three hits on rehab in Iowa
- Pets in need of homes
  
  Pets available for adoption in the Chicago area
  - Amelia - Hyde Park Cats
- Hammervision
  
  It's like the couch potato version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
  - Top 10 Movies of 2021
Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers
- Carole Kuhrt Brewer
  
  from Show Me Chicago:
  
  Chicago Festival Watch 2022: Mayfest Ravenswood returns
- Dennis Byrne
  
  from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor:
  
  I was Covid-free in wide-open Florida for two years. Went to Virginia and it only took a few days.
- LeaGrover
  
  from Becoming SuperMommy:
  
  Dark Ages and Rennaissance
Advertisement:

ChicagoNOW

©2022 CTMG - A Chicago Tribune website - Crafted by the News Apps team