Latest news with #Amen
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Educators ask state for support in the classroom
CHEYENNE — Wyoming lawmakers discussed the possibility of drafting a Teacher Bill of Rights Wednesday morning amid rising concerns of behavioral health issues and a lack of support for K-12 teachers in the classroom. During the Legislature's Joint Education Committee meeting, educators said the average classroom environment today is not the same as it was 15 years ago, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. More students are coming in with behavioral health issues, classroom sizes are larger, and teachers are burdened with test-centered mandates. As a result, public educators are putting in their resignation letters, feeling frustrated by their inability to make a difference in the classroom, according to public testimony. Wyoming Education Association President Kim Amen shared the story of a first-grade teacher in Cheyenne who just submitted her resignation after a 'rough year.' The teacher had 23 students in her class, many with behavioral health issues, Amen said. One particular student had a 'massive' behavioral health issue. He would leave the classroom, punch and kick the walls in the hallway and run out of the school, if given the opportunity. Kim Amen headshot On July 15, 2024, former vice president Kim Amen assumed the role of president for the Wyoming Education Association. One of Amen's goals is to strengthen the association through communication and increasing membership numbers. 'That was a rough year for her,' Amen said. 'When I asked her why she submitted her resignation, she said, 'Because I can't do this anymore. It's not helping my mental health. I'm not a good mom, I'm not a good wife. I can't keep doing this.'' Smaller classroom sizes make a big difference for teachers, the WEA president said. It allows the educator to build better relationships with their students and engage in their learning. A classroom of 23 first-graders with no support staff 'is unmanageable,' Amen said. And this case is not an anomaly — it's an issue happening across the state, she said. 'Students are not the same as they were 15 years ago,' Amen said. 'As you know, they're a great thermometer for our culture.' Increased exposure to social media, such as YouTube and TikTok, has changed how younger students behave and pay attention in the classroom, she said. Since the issue is 'here to stay,' schools need to change how they approach supporting teachers during instruction. One question was asked by committee members multiple times: What is the state's role in this? Teacher Bill of Rights Some states have drafted a Teacher Bill of Rights, a state law that outlines rights, protections and working conditions for K-12 public educators in the classroom. Wyoming is a member of the Education Commission of the States, and state Department of Education Chief of Staff Dicky Shanor said this commission was willing to collect information on bills from other states and present it at the committee's next meeting. Co-chairman Rep. Ocean Andrew, R-Laramie, said the Teacher Bill of Rights seemed 'elusive.' Rep. Ocean Andrew, R-Laramie (2025) Rep. Ocean Andrew, R-Laramie 'If we are going to … ask our staff to draft something, we probably need some more specific suggestions of what the actual lines of statute would look like,' Andrew said. 'We keep bringing it up as a very abstract concept.' Amen said she supported the idea of a Teachers Bill of Rights, but only if it's done in a way that supports teachers without harming students. WEA Governmental Relations Director Tate Mullen echoed his colleague's concern. 'We want to keep (teachers) in the profession, but we also want to make sure that we're not giving up on students,' Mullen said. Wyoming K-12 schools are primarily understaffed and under-resourced, WEA representatives said. Amen told lawmakers her intention wasn't to suggest language for a new statute, but rather deliver the message of what teachers need in the classroom. 'That was my role today was to help you see that it goes beyond just discipline measures,' Amen said. 'It's support with resources like administration and counselors and social workers and support in the classroom.' WEA suggestions Amen provided a list of general suggestions that she said would help relieve some of the stress public educators in K-12 schools face. Her biggest priority was decreasing classroom sizes. 'When you ask about things you can do, class size matters,' Amen said. 'Giving teachers the ability to have relationships in those classrooms, and not have 23 students with no support that they're trying to manage, would be helpful.' She also suggested giving teachers more flexibility in planning their lessons. Currently, public educators are burdened with the stress of teaching their students to pass WY-TOPP, a statewide assessment that measures students' proficiency in English, math, science and writing. If teachers could worry less about WY-TOPP scores, they'd be able to plan more hands-on learning that benefit a student's learning experience. However, Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, questioned how the state could realistically measure a student's learning progress this way. Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie (2025) Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie 'Honestly, if we started measuring their joy, they'll stop being joyful,' Rothfuss said. Rep. Tom Kelly, R-Sheridan, asked how lawmakers can specifically change statute or state funding to support its public educators. Rep. Tom Kelly, R-Sheridan (2025) Rep. Tom Kelly, R-Sheridan 'I'm talking about the academic mandates, the subjects that must be covered in that basket of goods,' Kelly said. 'Is there some type of revision or maybe more flexibility for the districts? Should it be less prescriptive from the state, top down?' Rothfuss echoed Kelly's concern in his question to Amen, who said she didn't have an answer. 'I do know that that is a topic that's been discussed for years, and I know the State Board of Education has been working on reducing the state standards,' Amen said. '... We have to take some things off the plate, but we don't know which ones.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cam Drops New Single 'Alchemy' After Winning Grammy for Working on Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter'
Cam released her latest single, "Alchemy," on Friday The genre-blending track celebrates the cyclical nature of life, death and each stage in between To accompany the song, Cam released a one-take visual directed by James MackelCam is back with a magical new single. Months after the "Burning House" singer earned a Grammy for her work on Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter, the country star released a brand-new single titled "Alchemy." The genre-blending track, which is her first release in over four years, celebrates the cyclical nature of life, death and each stage in between, per a press release. 'I wanted to write something where we just focused on melody, but it turned into a song about reflecting on what we're made of, where we're coming from and where we're going," Cam, 40, said in a press release. To accompany the single, Cam released a one-take visual directed by James Mackel, where she performs the song wearing a black pant suit. "Alchemy" follows the release of Cam's 2020 album The Otherside and 2015's Untamed, which featured her Grammy-nominated single "Burning House." In May 2024, Cam opened up to PEOPLE about working on five Cowboy Carter tracks. On the album, she's credited as a writer on "Ameriican Requiem," "Protector," "Daughter," "Tyrant" and "Amen"; co-producing "Ameriican Requiem," "Daughter" and "Amen"; providing background vocals on "Ameriican Requiem" and "Amen"; and engineering on "Daughter." 'I just think this album is doing incredible things, it's going to keep doing incredible things, and just watching it, it's such a fun ride to be on," Cam said of Cowboy Carter. "I'm so proud of it.' She also opened up about the "surreal" feeling of working with the Lemonade songstress. "I know I said surreal earlier, but it just feels like a dream to have someone who's been at the top of her career over 20-plus years see what you're doing and invite you in, which is a very sacred space for artists. It's a huge honor, and I think it's one of the biggest compliments of my life to be just asked, not even the fact that anything made it or didn't. Just being asked is one of the biggest compliments of my life, yeah," she said. When asked how working on Cowboy Carter inspired her creatively, Cam said she wanted to make music in a way that "honors who I am and who my collaborators are." "I want this in my everyday life too, not just in the studio. I think that those values and just holding onto those, going into the studio every day, is just making music so much more fun. I'm having such a good time, and it sounds great," she said. "[My manager] gave me a shirt that says, "Sounds like bulls--- to me," so we put that up in the studio too, so we don't fall into any bulls--- while we're working. No bulls---." Listen to "Alchemy" here. Read the original article on People
Mint
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Who is Sandra Thomas? Actor-producer claims 'budgets' are allotted for drugs in Malayalam film industry
Amid several claims of rampant drug use in the Malayalam film industry, actress-producer Sandra Thomas alleged that drug abuse has been normalised on film sets. She said that separate rooms and dedicated budgets are being allocated for drugs in the industry now. In an On Manorama interview, Sandra said, "A special budget is being allotted exclusively for this. Even separate rooms are allotted for this purpose." She also slammed the industry people for not taking a stand against the situation despite one after another incident. Sandra Thomas is best known for starring in Malayalam films like Amen, Mimics Parade, O' Faby, Peruchazhi, Aakashvani, Aadu, Kili Poyi and Zachariayude Garbhinikal. Besides acting, Sandra co-founded the production company Friday Film House, with producer Vijay Babu. Later, Sandra and Vijay Babu had a fallout and she moved on to establish her own production banner, Sandra Thomas Productions. She has also backed projects like Zachariayude Garbhinikal and Philips and the Monkey Pen. Sandra is married to Wilson John Thomas who is a businessman and owner of an event management company. Together they have twin daughters who were born in 2018. She is quite popular on Instagram. She also has a YouTube channel with 180K subscribers. Sandra recently made headlines when she opened up about the alleged drug situation in Mollywood. She said that the industry associations should have taken a 'proper stand' against drug abuse five to ten years ago to avoid the current state of the industry. She said, 'Everyone was aware of what was happening on sets. But no one took corrective steps, as they needed these people for future projects. Now, a special budget is being allocated exclusively for this. Even separate rooms are allotted for this purpose. However, the associations say the entire industry cannot be blamed just because of one or two people.' Sandra even called out producer Listin Stephen for not taking a stand. She said people irrespective of their status now indulge in drug use. She added, 'Aren't people like Listin aware of this problem? Don't they know that drugs are lavishly available and are being used on sets? They have refused to take a step against it. It has now reached the stage where both men and women, and everyone, irrespective of their status, use it. Producers are unwilling to raise a complaint because of the fear that it will stall their projects. If someone is caught on the sets, the shooting gets stalled. It also ruins the goodwill of the actor.'
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Separate rooms, budgets on film sets'. Malayalam Actress raises alarm on drug menace on movie set. Who is Sandra Thomas?
In a shocking revelation that has stirred the Malayalam film industry , producer Sandra Thomas has raised alarm over the rampant drug use on film sets, claiming it has become so institutionalised that production units are allegedly assigning separate rooms and dedicated budgets for it. Her comments, made during a recent interview with Onmanorama, have reignited a long-simmering debate around substance abuse in Mollywood and the industry's collective silence. This isn't the first time Sandra has spoken out about the issue. Back in 2023, she made similar claims, but according to her, things have only gotten worse. She told the tabloid that everyone is aware of what is happening on the sets, emphasising that the responsible film associations failed to act when it mattered most, five or ten years ago, allowing the problem to spiral out of control. One of the most disturbing aspects she pointed out is how normalised drug use has become. Sandra Thomas revealed that the situation has escalated to the point where film sets are now allegedly assigning special budgets and even separate rooms specifically for drug use. She also took a dig at prominent industry figures, indirectly pointing to producer Listin Stephen , and questioned how influential stakeholders could continue to ignore the problem despite being fully aware of its scale. Sandra Thomas emphasised that while industry associations claim it's unfair to blame the entire industry for the actions of a few, the reality is that drug use has become widespread across all levels of the Malayalam film industry, cutting across gender and status. Sandra also highlighted why many producers hesitate to report drug-related incidents on set. The fear of project delays and the potential damage to an actor's reputation often outweighs the need to take action. If someone is caught using drugs during a shoot, it can stall production and harm the actor's public image, making it difficult to continue the project without risking its success. Beyond the issue of drugs, Sandra also touched upon the urgent need for gender-sensitive reforms within the industry. She advocated for the inclusion of more women producers in Internal Complaints Committees on film sets to ensure the timely and fair handling of sexual harassment cases. Who is Sandra Thomas? Sandra Thomas has carved a unique space for herself in the Malayalam film industry, both as a producer and an actress. She rose to fame with memorable performances in films like Amen and Zachariayude Garbhinikal, the latter of which she also produced. Her production credits further include the widely acclaimed Philips and the Monkey Pen. With a strong creative vision, Sandra later launched her own banner, Sandra Thomas Productions, continuing her journey as a powerhouse in Malayalam cinema.
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
ACM Awards 2025: Jelly Roll, Shaboozey deliver passionate gospel-country duet 'Amen'
ACM Awards 2025: Jelly Roll, Shaboozey deliver passionate gospel-country duet 'Amen' At the 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on May 8, Jelly Roll and Shaboozey delivered an energetic performance of their duet "Amen" alongside a dancing choir. At a ceremony broadcast live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, and hosted by Reba McEntire, the pair hit the stage after Jelly Roll performed his 2024 song "Heart of Stone." Donning all white, Shaboozey appeared on a circular secondary stage to kick off the pair's new song, which was released on April 24. A choir appeared behind the pair as they danced and harmonized simultaneously with Shaboozey joyfully belting the gospel-country track. "Somebody say a prayer for me / 'Cause the pills ran out and I still can't sleep," Shaboozey sang, with Jelly Roll joining him on stage. "Somebody send a word upstairs / 'Cause the bar's shut down and I'm God knows where / So should knock on Heaven's door / 'Cause mine ain't working anymore." And though the lyrics to the tune may have been tinged with sadness, Shaboozey and Jelly Roll delivered hardy and powerful vocals. At the end, Jelly Roll began preaching to the audience with power in his voice and his hand raised in the air. Who is Shaboozey? Shaboozey, born Collins Obinna Chibueze, is a 29-year-old singer-songwriter and rapper whose music combines country, hip-hop and rap elements. The Virginia native is best known for his hit "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," which spent 27 weeks at the top of the Billboard Radio Songs chart, becoming the longest-running No. 1 song in the chart's history. In May 2024, Shaboozey released his record "Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going." In April, he released a complete edition of the record. Recently, Shaboozey received five Grammy nominations, performed at Coachella and Stagecoach Festival and made his Met Gala debut on May 5. Who is Jelly Roll? Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, is a 40-year-old country music singer whose career continues to skyrocket. A Nashville native, Jelly Roll broke into the scene in 2020 and 2021 with hits "Save Me" and "Son of a Sinner." Now, he's a four-time Grammy Award nominee and CMT and CMA Award winner, best known for his hits "Need a Favor" and "I Am Not Okay." This year, Jelly Roll debuted his gospel track, "Hard Fought Hallelujah," with Brandon Lake, at the Grand Ole Opry and headlined at Stagecoach Festival in April. Jelly Roll, who was formerly incarcerated due to robbery and drug charges, has also been in the headlines recently as the Tennessee Board of Parole recommended a pardon, which would clear his criminal record. Now, Jelly Roll is a vocal proponent for prison reform and an advocate for incarcerated youth. Later this month, Jelly Roll will hit the stage at the Music City Rodeo.
