A Virtual Village where teachers, school leaders, and community partners come together to create schools where ALL kids are valued, empowered, and experience success.
Fri, August 20, 2021
In this episode Justin Schleider, Elementary Phys Ed teacher, shares how he creates inclusive, responsive, and engaging classroom environments where all students are valued and experience success. He centers the experiences of historically underserved students in practice ways. Highlights *The significance of self-awareness and how personal experiences create the lens to teach from *Tangible ways for Physical Education and teachers, and all teachers can approach creating equitable learning environments *The ways in which education has changed and trends for the future (present and post COVID)
Fri, July 02, 2021
On this episode instructional leader and teacher development specialist, Taylor Gilley, talks about the ways she develops novice teachers to thrive in multicultural and urban classrooms. She shares how her own experiences going through an alternative certification program shaped her perspective, as well as how she found mentors who transformed her teaching trajectory.
Sun, June 13, 2021
In this episode Dr. Nicolette James shares her approach to instructional coaching using a humanity-centered approach to build teacher and student capacity. Creating safe spaces where teachers and students can be vulnerable is key in her efforts. Dr. James also shares the ways in which schools can strengthen home-to-school relationships and amplify the voices of young people through mentorship. She believes that schools can support the "whole" child.
Tue, May 25, 2021
In this episode, Jorge discusses the importance of teaching with empathy, both within and among adult learners in PLCs as well as with students in the classroom. Empathy is a catalyst for deeper understanding and it lays the foundation for partnership and helping students to develop their HOTS (higher order thinking skills.) Jorge also reminds teachers that creating transformational and equitable learning environments is a journey. He urges teachers to speak from heart within their PLCs but to also be ready to accept feedback when their perspective is harming other people. Jorge is a master teacher, education coach, SEL expert, author, and advocate.
Fri, May 07, 2021
In this show Lorena Germán speaks to teachers about the importance of creating safe spaces, healing spaces, and using curriculum to expand students’ understanding of what it means to be culturally responsive and anti-racist. One of the ways to do this is to build your PLN and by tapping into organizations like NCTE for the language and the community needed to do the heart work.
Tue, April 27, 2021
In this episode Derek McCoy dives deeper into the need for educators to "get uncomfortable" in order to grow. He shares his own education journey with loving, well-meaning teachers as well as teachers who were able to cultivate his gifts and provide the learning environment he needed. According to Derek, taking a breath happens in your comfort zone, but growth happens in discomfort. Far too many teachers teach the way they have been taught, using "whole group," as the default. Derek talks about the impact of this approach and the power in personalized learning. Connecting, leading, and growing with educators is Derek's mission and his passion.
Fri, April 16, 2021
This episode is dedicated to our new teachers and our preservice teachers who may desire to teach (or may be placed) in a culturally and linguistically diverse school. Maiya Turner shares how she fought the idea of becoming a teacher, what motivated her to make the leap into teaching, and what continues to motivate her to keep learning and growing. She brings a fresh perspective and offers advice for newer teachers who want to be more culturally responsive and connect with the students they serve.
Fri, April 02, 2021
In this episode, Instructional Technology Specialist, Dr. Will Deyamport shares the ways in which he supports teachers in creating engaging, high-level, relevant, and responsive learning environments using technology. Technology is not just a tool or suite of tools, it can be transformative, but it must be used intentionally by design.
Thu, March 25, 2021
In this episode, Hedreich Nichols shares her approach to meeting teachers they are at as they seek to create culturally responsive and caring classrooms. She encourages teachers to recognize historical context and discusses the language and strategy she uses when coaching, especially when educators are not sure how to navigate difficult conversations. Hedreich encourages teachers to honor and cherish all their identities while modeling critical thinking, critical caring, and empathy.
Thu, March 18, 2021
In this episode, Curriculum Specialist and Instructional Coach, Nyree Clark shares how she pours into her teachers, students, and her entire school community through a culturally responsive and social justice lens. She helps teachers to navigate the shift from multicultural education to culturally responsive, equity-centered, and student-centered practices. And, she does it all with an infectious joy.
Wed, March 10, 2021
In this episode Dr. Desiree Alexander discusses what it means to be culturally responsive in her capacity with the teachers she supports across the United States. To Desiree, being "Humanity-Centered" at the Heart of Culturally Responsive Teaching. For the past 19 years, she has worked with several different types of schools (charter, public private, district-level, middle, high) and with all kinds of teachers. She has served as a teacher, librarian, district instructional technology coach, and is currently an education consultant, dynamic speaker, and trainer.
Tue, March 02, 2021
Maurice Woods, graphic designer, and founder at Inneract Project shares how he is using design to empower Black, Brown, and underrepresented communities. Design is more than an activity, more than curriculum; it is seeing and thinking about the world critically; it is connecting the outside world to the classroom, and much more.
Tue, February 23, 2021
In this episode, Master Teacher, Instructional Coach, and Turnaround Specialist, Benita Gordon talks about the mindset and everyday moves she makes as a culturally responsive educator. With over twenty years of experience working in a variety of schools, she leverages her knowledge of how to build connections with students and how to cultivate a responsive community that meets the needs of all students.
Fri, February 12, 2021
In this episode, Kevin Cooper shares how he leads and supports students, teachers, and families through a culturally responsive, equity-centered, and advocacy-based lens. Through his role as assistant principal, he leads by example, and empowers his teachers to build authentic relationships with students, to grow and reflect in learning communities, and to disrupt deficit thinking.
Wed, February 03, 2021
In this episode, Elissa Frazier shares a way for teachers and school leaders to reflect on the relationship between intent and action and how they directly connect with the stories we tell ourselves.
Sun, January 17, 2021
In this episode, Toutoule Ntoya talks about the ways in which he brings a culturally responsive maker mentality into learning spaces. Toutoule engages his science teacher mindset, his athletic mindset, his STEM maker space mindset, his musician mindset, his teacher, student, and administrator mindset and he draws from those multidimensional intersections. And, as a culturally responsive educator, he shares practical ways to make school a place where ALL kids can thrive.
Wed, January 06, 2021
In this conversation with Marian Dingle, she shares how she develops deep connections with her students and what she does to ensure that her students don't take their cultural identity off to enter the classroom (virtual) walls.
Wed, December 23, 2020
Art Teacher, photographer, and 27-year seasoned educator Craig West shares the pain, pivots, and progress giving birth to possibility in his teaching practice. Through his love of students and his belief that we have the power to use our experiences to shape who and what we become, he enters each day of teaching through a humanizing lens.
Wed, December 16, 2020
Knikole Taylor, Instructional Technology Coach, Author & Connector, shares how she empowers teachers through centering pedagogy first. As an educator for nineteen years, she inspires through envisioning possibilities and developing human-centered relationships.
Wed, December 09, 2020
Using a "for us by us" approach, Martine Brown shares how she builds the capacity of others through instructional coaching, how she bulids relationships, and how she continues to innovate --even in these unprecedented times. Martine is a Digital Learning Facilitator in a large school district in Texas. She is also the author of 21 Lessons of Tech Integration Coaching.
Tue, December 01, 2020
On this episode, Janine Gomez, co-founder and executive director at “ I dream Public Charter School,” in Washington D.C., cultivates the skills and mindset Black and Brown students need to pursue their dreams. She has created a school where students fall in love with the challenges of learning, take risks, collaborate with others, and are encouraged to use their gifts for the good of the world. In her own personal experiences growing up, she attended both private and public school, and she saw the stark difference in the way students were cultivated to dream. In this episode she shares the way that she and her coaches center community and family engagement, inquiry-based curriculum, and “dream time.”
Tue, November 24, 2020
World renown author Mandy Froehlich shares practical ways to create a culture of care for both teachers and students to disrupt teacher burnout in a time where digital inequity and COVID are everywhere. Through her experiences as an educational consultant, instructional coach, digital equity expert, and mental health advocate, she reminds us to focus on the small, but impactful wins to gain momentum and create a culture of care.
Tue, November 17, 2020
In this episode, Amber Bolden discusses how she centers staying relevant, challenging her students, and tapping into their greatness. She challenges educators to examine their ask and offer. Are they cultivating learning environments where students are valued because of what they bring? Are teachers developing habits of mind and skills that can sustain and transfer? But, Amber doesn't just ask the questions, she shares her practices and process for implementation.
Wed, November 11, 2020
In this episode Dr. Kelly Ferguson demystifies culturally responsive teaching and shares the practical ways that teachers can move from ideas to implementation. She also shares some very real challenges that culturally responsive teachers may face and how to overcome them.
Tue, November 03, 2020
In this episode Caia Brown shares how she cultivates the next generation of STEM heroes in her multicultural middle-school classrooms. She believes that the ultimate goal is to help students succeed in life beyond succeeding with the curriculum.
Tue, October 27, 2020
In this episode, Briellen Griffin shares the ways that Grow Your Own (GYO) is helping schools build the capacity of their diverse teachers through creating knowledge pipelines and community representation. But, how the heck does that look on the ground? From idea to implementation, she walks us through the amazing work she is doing and talks about how we can pour into each other and grow together.
Tue, October 20, 2020
In this episode, educator and equity consultant, Salandra Grice centers the often overlooked, but important mindset work into our conversations around equity in schools. She brings practical applications of cultural responsiveness and ways for teachers to reflect and take a self, school-based, and cultural audit towards reaching and responding to the needs of every student, every day.
Tue, October 13, 2020
As a resource coordinator, Amy Bedford brings a collaborative, asset-based, and reflexive stance to the work that she does in urban schools. In this episode, she shares the value in having a partnership mindset, the power in building relationships, and practical ways to implement centers as vehicles for critical thinking in classrooms.
Tue, October 06, 2020
Developing the next STEAM leaders and innovators of color is Nadiyah Johnson's passion and purpose as she leads Jet Constellations' Milky Way Tech Initiative [https://themilkywaymke.com/ ]. In this episode, she gives insights into her why, the impact that she is making, and how she connects with schools, community organizations, and business partners.
Tue, September 29, 2020
Special Education Teacher and Instructional Coach, Brandee Johnson shares the way that she waters her students, how she partners with teachers and parents, and how she creates safe learning spaces.
Tue, September 22, 2020
Terrence Pruitt, Founder of Project Restore Initiative, shares the power in racial healing as a tool and a process for schools to build meaningful relationships, celebrate our common humanity, recognizing our collective potential. Terrence shares his journey in successfully redesigning school discipline towards cultural transformation.
Tue, September 15, 2020
Alexes M. Terry, Educator, Author, and Consultant, shares her inspiring story and discusses practical ways to create more equitable learning environments where all students are heard, valued, and are set up for success. She uses culturally responsive teaching practices and her own life experiences to create classrooms where African-American students have what they need to thrive in school and beyond.
Tue, September 15, 2020
In this episode, Assistant Principal, William Jeffery reminds us that we can be the seed, the soil, the planter, and the water as educators in different seasons; we water others, but we need to find the place where we grow our best.
Tue, September 15, 2020
In this episode, Lydia Mercer, Director of Professional Development & Impact at MHA Labs, asks "how are you showing up," and "how are you letting young people know bits and pieces of who you are?" She believes in the brilliance of young people and urges all of us to reimagine education, reflect, and think creatively--even in the midst of COVID.
Tue, September 15, 2020
In this episode I welcome you into our virtual village and share my journey and inspiration for creating a connected community where the sum of our collective intentional actions can create schools where all kids are valued, empowered, and experience success.
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