Barriers to Bridges

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New episode every 2 weeks! The Barriers to Bridges podcast is on a mission to share stories of leaders in education who break down barriers and build bridges of opportunity. Our focus is on the bridge that can be built between people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. These interviews include vulnerable stories of the experience that shaped them to lead not only themselves, but others around them. Melissa Bako (@Shark_Bako) and Dana Baron (@BaronDana) are the hosts of this podcast. With courage, love and a sprinkle of fun, we lead each other to greatness.

Dana Baron, Melissa Bako


    • Jun 16, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 3m AVG DURATION
    • 10 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Barriers to Bridges

    "Be Who You Needed" with Lisa Imfeld

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2021 65:57


    Call to action:Donate to: Operation Underground Railroad: https://ourrescue.org/Visit our website https://barrierstobridgespod.simplecast.com/Follow us on Twitter: @B_2_B_PodcastFollow us on Instagram: barriers_to_bridgesFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrierstoBridgesPodOr email us: barrierstobridgespod@gmail.com

    “Beautiful Mess” with Dana Baron

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2021 71:59


    Call to action:Donate to: https://leapsandboundspediatrictherapy.org/Visit our website https://barrierstobridgespod.simplecast.com/Follow us on Twitter: @B_2_B_PodcastFollow us on Instagram: barriers_to_bridgesFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrierstoBridgesPodOr email us: barrierstobridgespod@gmail.com

    “Love and Courage” with Shelly Yarbrough

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 68:56


    “Know Your Story” with Josh Godinez

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2021 71:25


    Call to action:Student Mental Health Week Resources:https://www.schoolcounselor-ca.org/smhw21professionaldevelopmentDonate to: https://www.komen.org/Visit our website https://barrierstobridgespod.simplecast.com/Follow us on Twitter: @B_2_B_PodcastFollow us on Instagram: barriers_to_bridgesFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrierstoBridgesPodOr email us: barrierstobridgespod@gmail.com

    “Anger to Advocacy” with Dr.Reggie Thompkins

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2021 96:13


    Topics of discussion in this episode: Growing up in with a single mom in povertyDoing well in school with the mindset that he wanted a different lifestyle Growing up in a crime-stricken neighborhood Being a tight-knit community Going to a school on the west sideBeing called a racist slur and his friends standing up for himRacial bias in grading and expectationsFinding sports in middle schoolHe remembers teachers and coach’s names that touched his lifeSplitting up his senior classHow his experience influences how he works with families Played basketball in college at Cal State San Bernardino The importance of sports for engagement Reflecting back on how hard it was for her mother Talking back and being a teenagerReflecting on his mother - mental illness and being raised in the SouthWorking at Stater Bros and how Bob Molina pushed him to do moreCoaching and becoming a PE TeacherBecoming an assistant principalStandard discipline practices and reflecting on being true to your values Interesting fashion choicesDoing what is best for kids AND the adults who work with kidsKids with behave badly when they don’t feel safeBeing scared to be a principal and receiving full support from his superintendent Being collaborative with your staffUnderstanding all studentsSupporting all kids Shifting mindsets and societal norms Suspensions and changing behaviors Kids who are engaged in sportsHis service in CIF and supporting cheerleading becoming a sportBoys and Girls ClubCall to action:Donate to: The Boys & Girls Clubhttps://www.bgca.org/Visit our website https://barrierstobridgespod.simplecast.com/Follow us on Twitter: @B_2_B_PodcastFollow us on Instagram: barriers_to_bridgesFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrierstoBridgesPodOr email us: barrierstobridgespod@gmail.com

    “Strong in Faith” with LeAnn Southward

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2021 69:40


    Topics of discussion in this episode: Growing up in a household with high expectations and a strong faith in GodFinishing college quickly and getting married at a young ageTackling failure and challengesSupporting her husband going back to school to be a pastor while being a teacher and having young childrenStruggling with the mixed feelings of setting boundaries and balancing the expectations of being a public figureFinding the positive in something that you are experiencing as negativeFinding your community of supportHaving a miscarriage and leaning on her faith to get her through itIntroverts versus ExtrovertsFeeling the calling to lead a campus in a transition to using technologyTransitioning to remote learning when schools shut down while supporting her campusTeachers communicating with families Changing expectations and being flexible while setting boundaries Transitioning to being a virtual teacher The strong emotions of transitioning to something you didn’t expect or possibly wantPIVOT !!!!Virtual teachers and students : WE SEE YOU, WE HEAR YOU and WE APPRECIATE YOU! Call to action:Donate to: Guide Dogs for the Blind https://secure2.convio.net/gd/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20101a?4583.donation=form1&df_id=4583&mfc_pref=T&s_src=IBGMM21000&utm_source=IBGMM21000&pk_vid=e180022a50057f411616777384afc72f&NONCE_TOKEN=B4EDA1024FE12D29AAE9D841BB8675DBMentioned: Documentary “Pick of the Litter”https://g.co/kgs/rWcrzsVisit our website https://barrierstobridgespod.simplecast.com/Follow us on Twitter: @B_2_B_PodcastFollow us on Instagram: barriers_to_bridgesFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrierstoBridgesPodOr email us: barrierstobridgespod@gmail.com

    Happy International Women’s Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2021 52:14


    Call to action:Donate to: Stop AAPI Hatewww.stopaapihate.orgVisit our website https://barrierstobridgespod.simplecast.com/Follow us on Twitter: @B_2_B_PodcastFollow us on Instagram: barriers_to_bridgesFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrierstoBridgesPodOr email us: barrierstobridgespod@gmail.com

    Inclusion Benefits All with Tricia Thompson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2021 61:21


    Topics of discussion in this episode: The importance to stay grounded and have a circle of people you can be real withHer Cuban Dad migrated to this country and this instilled in her the importance of the American dream. Her experience of how different education can be when you go to an all-girls school and her thoughts around gender differences in education How she started out as a Math major in college and the barriers she faced which ultimately resulted in her changing her major Her career as a teacher and how someone planted the seed with her and told her she should become an administratorShe explains how being a Principal stretched herAn open position in the Special Education department that really spoke to herBeing a Mom of 5 kids in a blended family and a role model for themHaving a supportive husband and being a supportive wife of a first responderBoundaries and mental health in her own life and with her staffManaging stressPositives that have come out of the pandemicGeneral education and Special education to meet the needs of all students Inclusion of students with disabilities BENEFITS ALL ABC HopesCall to action:Donate to: ABC Hopes https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E350775&id=7Visit our website https://barrierstobridgespod.simplecast.com/Follow us on Twitter: @B_2_B_PodcastFollow us on Instagram: barriers_to_bridgesFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrierstoBridgesPodOr email us: barrierstobridgespod@gmail.com

    Find Your Voice with Melissa Bako

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2021 67:13


    Topics of discussion in this episode: Leadership lessons she learned throughout her storyGrowing up in Michigan How her love for coaching brought her to the field of educationMoving to California and the surprising opportunity of Athletic Director at a new High SchoolExperiencing the death of her Dad and how that changed herAll the challenges of being a new assistant principal and being moved to a new school Finding her voice and passion in Social Emotional Learning with students and staff on her campusCall to action:Donate to https://www.als.org/donateVisit our website https://barrierstobridgespod.simplecast.com/Follow us on Twitter: @B_2_B_PodcastFollow us on Instagram: barriers_to_bridgesFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrierstoBridgesPodOr email us: barrierstobridgespod@gmail.com

    We are ready to launch!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2021 7:25


    Title: We are ready to Launch!Episode Summary: In this episode we share how this podcast came to be and some of the reasons why we are so excited to share it with an audience.Topics of discussion in this episode: IntroductionsMission and VisionHow the idea for the podcast came aboutGoal is to interview all different types of job rolesCall to action:Visit our website https://barrierstobridgespod.simplecast.com/Follow us on Twitter: @B_2_B_PodcastFollow us on Instagram: barriers_to_bridgesFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrierstoBridgesPodOr email us: barrierstobridgespod@gmail.com

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