CHICAGO — Thousands of striking Chicago public school teachers packed a city park Saturday in a show of force as union leaders and the district tried to work out the details of a tentative agreement that would end a week-long walkout.

CHICAGO -- The Sears Tower, one of the world's iconic skyscrapers and the tallest building in the U.S., was renamed the Willis Tower on Thursday in a downtown ceremony, marking a new chapter in the history of the giant edifice that has dominated the Chicago skyline for nearly four decades.

During the day, Jamie Marks, 31, teaches elementary school children in Paradise Valley.

As Arizona's population grows and changes, the ethnic diversity of teachers across the state isn't matching the demographics in their classrooms. And while many experts see this as an old problem being exacerbated by population growth, some districts are starting new efforts to attract a more diverse pool to the state.

August 31, 2004

WEST CHESTER, Pa. — In 11 years of teaching, ditching students' desk chairs in favor of yoga balls is one of the best decisions Robbi Giuliano thinks she ever made.

For many children, their first pet is a virtual one.

LOS ANGELES (AP) For many children, their first pet is a virtual one. Experts say many children who enter the first grade can play video games but few have a pet to play with. And teachers say that's a shame, considering how animals - real ones - can enrich a child's upbringing.

Chicago’s recent teacher strike was -- for an old teacher like me -- depressing. Depressing because the kids went without school while their teachers complained about many things.

Virginia Reinken thinks today will be a typical day. The Coronado High School computer technology teacher doesn’t think she’ll get misty when she ends 50 years in the Scottsdale Unified School District.

In 1980 William Clay, the president of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers union (PATCO) told their convention that they must “learn the rules of the game,” which were “that you don’t put the interest of any other group ahead of your own.” They must be “selfish and pragmatic” and emphasize that “what’s good for the federal employees (is) good for the nation.”

August 20, 2004

Bill Holden sits alone at Sluggo's Sports Grill in Mesa, wearing a face that is equal parts pain, patience and hope.

Has American public education failed Latino families?

With how students feel about test-taking, it is perhaps appropriate that Arizona’s biggest test – AIMS – is a four-letter word. But for the Maricopa Unified School District, a new train of thought in testing students has students excited to complete the exam and administrators receiving national acclaim for the results.

“Romney’s quote: ‘47 percent will vote for Obama’ because of entitlements, is right on. That’s why this country keeps getting deeper in debt. Democrats encourage a welfare-state by giving what they don’t have for votes. The Republicans encourage citizens to work for their benefits and self-respect. That’s what makes a society great.”

A Gilbert couple with a background in comedy are hoping to give the East Valley something to laugh about.

May 2, 2005

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There are 18,654 high schools in the United States, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. There will be 106 players on the field for Super Bowl XLI. Two of the players — Chicago Bears tackle John Tait and defensive tackle Tank Johnson — graduated from Tempe McClintock High School.

His acceptance speech was easily the most brief, but the thoughts shared Friday night by United Food Bank President and CEO Bob Evans were certainly among the most poignant.

Al Pedrique, who managed the Diamondbacks the second half of this past season and was invited to return as thirdbase coach, was hired Wednesday by the Houston Astros as a special assistant to the general manager.

Emily McLaughlin made a vow as she patted Elaine Taubman’s arm.