ExpandED Conversations Podcast

Renee Racette, Ph.D., is an education professional with 13 years of experience with the St. Louis Public Schools.  Starting as a chemistry teacher in 2005, she loved supporting students in learning about acid/base titrations and the periodic table.  However, she realized she could make a greater impact in the lives of children outside of the classroom and began her school leadership journey.  Spending time in both neighborhood (also known as comprehensive schools) and magnet schools, issues of equity and the unequal impacts of policy were highlighted in real time before her.  This proved to be the spark behind her decision to complete a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. The desegregation plans in place in the St. Louis region have created a distinct system of separate and unequal schools that remains deeply entrenched in the status quo.  As a school leader, she felt the limits of this system and recognized that it was going to require a different kind of advocacy to make the impact she desired. Dr. Racette is currently serving as a fellow at the Illinois State Board of Education where she works in the Center for Teaching and Learning.  She is involved in a multitude of projects there including the Diverse Learner Ready Teacher initiative, the reauthorization of the state Perkins plan, the Equity Advisory Work Group, and supporting the Early Childhood Education Division in writing the FY20 ECE Block Grants.   Advocacy as a principal Racette’s transition out of the principal role into educational policy initiatives Addressing educational policies Committee work and representation Racette’s local community work After the fellowship is complete Connect with Dr. Renee Twitter: @STL_educator LinkedIn: Renee Racette, Ph.D. rlacette@gmail.com  

During this ExpandEd Conversations episode, we hear from Jessica Jones, a non-binary educator and activist specializing in contemporary literacies and LGBTQ+ justice. They have served as an educator in various capacities for ten years, with most of their career spent as a high school Language Arts teacher. Early in their teaching career, Jessica observed the numerous barriers that queer and transgender students face within our education system and was inspired to challenge these inequities through both student advocacy.and youth empowerment. It is Jessica’s strongly held belief that our work toward a socially just education system must include unconditional support and inclusion of our LGBTQ+ youth.

Leah Burnett is an avid food justice pioneer in St. Louis. Join the conversation to learn more about the intersections of food justice and education. 

This episode of the ExpandED Conversations Podcast features José Luis Vilson is a full-time math teacher, writer, speaker, and activist in New York City, NY. He is the author of This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education, and has spoken about education, math, and race for a number of organizations and publications, including The New York Times, Education Week, The Guardian, Al Jazeera America, Huffington Post, Edutopia, GOOD, and El Diario / La Prensa, NY. He is the founder of EduColor, a Math for America Master Teacher and a National Board Certified teacher. He is also the executive director of EduColor, an organization dedicated to education and social justice.

The ExpandED Conversations Podcast discussed the current climate of education and the community members who are innovating the ways we better educate students, support teachers and build community across sectors. We want to address ways to systematically eliminate the inequities that exist in education.  Today we welcome Dr. April Warren-Grice, Founder of Liberated Genius, a location independent creation space for equity, access and wellness. 

This week we sit down with the founders of Books N Bros, 11 year old Sidney Keys and Winnie Caldwell. For more information about Books N Bros, or how to get involved with this wonderful organization, please visit their website at: www.BooksNBros.com   Thank you for listening and please make sure to visit us online: Web - ExpandEDEquity.com Twitter - @closethegapstl Facebook - Facebook.com/expandedequity Instagram - @expandedlearningcollab

In this ExpandED Conversations episode, we sit down with Dr. Sarah Hobson and two of her students. During our time together we learn more about the real world research being done by Community Allies to both educate, elevate and improve the St. Louis community. Make sure to visit Community Allies website for more information: http://www.communityalliesconsulting.com   Thank you for listening and please make sure to visit us online: Web - ExpandEDEquity.com Twitter - @closethegapstl Facebook - Facebook.com/expandedequity Instagram - @expandedlearningcollab

We sat down with Dr. Anna Guzon, writer, teacher and former physician. Anna shares her work as founder of Your Words STL, a local organization that uses one on one tutoring, creative writing workshops, and collaborative writing projects and how she works to amplify the voices of St. Louis youth. Join us as we learn more about her passion and purpose in changing the landscape of education through student creativity and expression.   http://www.yourwordsstl.org/   Thank you for listening and please make sure to visit us online: Web - ExpandEDEquity.com Twitter - @closethegapstl Facebook - Facebook.com/expandedequity Instagram - @expandedlearningcollab

Kristy Jackson shares her journey to co-founding GLAMM-Girls Lead and Make Moves her views on the education landscape as well as advice for the community to create equity in education for all. For more about GLAMM-Girls Lead and Make Moves, please visit: Web - glammgirls.com Twitter - @GLAMMGirlsCan Facebook - Facebook.com/GLAMMSTL   Thank you for listening and please make sure to visit us online: Web - ExpandEDEquity.com Twitter - @closethegapstl Facebook - Facebook.com/expandedequity Instagram - @expandedlearningcollab