Identity Talk 4 Educators LIVE

In this episode, I had a great conversation with Uche Njoku about his early life in Nigeria, his evolution as an educator, and what ultimately pushed him to resign from his principal role after a long, successful career. To learn more about Uche's work, you can visit his website at sneakerprincipal.wordpress.com or follow him on Instagram (@snkrprincipal), Twitter (@SNKRPrincipal), and LinkedIn. BIO: Hailing from Inglewood, California and a native of the Igbo tribe of southeastern Nigeria, Uche Njoku became a high school special education teacher and dean of students in the Bronx in 2005 through the New York City Teaching Fellows program. Starting in 2016, he served as a principal, first at The School of Mathematics, Science and Technology through the Arts (I.S. 318) in the Bronx's District 12, and then as the principal of John Jay School for Law in the Brooklyn North High Schools District. Uche is a member of the inaugural cohort of The Gray Fellowship for Principal Excellence, and a member of the 2021 cohort of The Cahn Fellows Distinguished Principals Program. He is also the first principal to serve as a member of the board of directors of PENCIL, a New York City not-for-profit organization founded with the goal of raising awareness about public education by inviting civic and business leaders into New York City public schools. Uche holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Media, with an allied field in African and African-American studies from the University of Rochester, as well as advanced degrees, including a masters degree in Educational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. Uche is an avid digital content creator, which includes The Sneaker Principal Podcast. A space for educators and allies working on closing the achievement gap in urban communities. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I'm honored to welcome Dr. Crystal Menzies to the podcast to talk about her personal journey in education, the founding of The EmanicpatED, her collaborative research work with the Maroon communities, and how teachers can incorporate Black historical counternarratives into the curriculum. To learn more about Crystal's work, you can visit the EmancipatED website at emancipatededucation.com or you can follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter (@emancipate_ed). BIO: Crystal Menzies, PhD (she/her) is an educator of Black and Brown youth, a postdoctoral researcher studying cultural community wealth, and the founder of EmancipatED. A former culturally responsive teacher in urban schools, Crystal aspired to teach her students about ways of being and thinking that did not center whiteness. However, she quickly realized that it would take more than being a “good teacher” to dismantle the systems of oppression that led to the systemic violence she and her students experienced. In an effort to tell a more expansive story of the Black experience across the Diaspora that didn't perpetuate trauma narratives, Crystal traveled the globe to learn about the rich history of resistance and liberation movements that are often made invisible in our collective history books. Drawing on her Guyanese and African American roots, the legacy of Black educators, educational psychology, liberatory pedagogy, and African-Diasporan history, Crystal founded EmancipatED to uncover our hidden Black history. Through research-based educational products that center Black communities, Crystal hopes to create environments in which Black people, as a collective, can find joy, empowerment, and community through multi-generational learning. Her flagship product is an exploration kit that shares the stories of Maroon communities, which offers Black and Brown families a model for how to navigate as liberated beings within oppressive systems. She lives in the Bay Area (or the Yay area as she affectionately refers to it) and enjoys reading, Marvel movies, and daydreaming of Black Futures. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this special episode, I got the chance to interview Christopher Clyde Green and Estelle Bougna Fomeju to learn about their personal journeys in education and the power of counternarratives in K-12 education. To learn more about Christopher and Estelle's work, you can check out their information below: Christopher Clyde Green - WEBSITE (chrisclydegreen.com); TWITTER (@ccgreen) Estelle Bougna Fomeju- WEBSITE (tissiconsulting.com); INSTAGRAM (@sallyspoetry) BIO: Estelle Bougna Fomeju is a pan-African Consultant in Education passionate about history, geopolitics, cultural inclusion, antiracism and indigenous worldviews. She founded Tissi, a consultancy in education for social change based in Mali, that works with schools and organizations worldwide. Her areas of expertise are education project management, culturally-inclusive and antiracist capacity building for educators, decolonial curriculum development and instructional design. Before founding Tissi, Estelle worked as a Senior Project Manager for a network of African international schools, where she managed the creation of IB schools in Mali and Botswana. Estelle was born in Cameroon and grew up in Guinea, Chad, and Mali then moved to France and the US for university. She graduated from Sciences Po Paris with a Masters in International Development in 2015. In 2021 she obtained a MED in Advanced Teaching from the University of People in partnership with the International Baccalaureate. With her work, she hopes to help fulfill the promise of education, that of equipping young people with adequate tools to analyze, question, and transform their environment. Christopher Clyde Green currently teaches IB Language A: Literature, Language and Literature, as well as TOK at Ecolé International de Genève (International School of Geneva) & Institut Le Rosey. Being an advocate for the International Baccalaureate he has been a IB examiner and reader for the past five years. A citizen of both Britain and Jamaica, he has previously taught at Oporto British School in Portugal and Mill Hill School in the United Kingdom. He is an alumnus of the University of London (Royal Holloway) and Cambridge University (Homerton College). Besides teaching, he has written professionally for various media outlets on music, education and culture and previously worked professionally in the entertainment industry as a writer and an actor. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Erica Glover to learn more about her personal journey in education, her love for basketball, the founding of Disrupter University, and so much more! To learn more about Dr. Glover's work, you can visit the Disrupter University website at disrupteruniversity.com or you can follow her on Instagram, Twitter (@drericaglover), and LinkedIn. BIO: Dr. Erica Glover is a servant of education, committed to equity and inclusion. Throughout her career in education, Dr. Glover has worked as an educator, administrator, and also within Human Resources. As a Disrupter, Dr. Glover's experiences reflect a common thread of one common theme: ensuring access and opportunities for marginalized groups of people. During her time as an educator, Dr. Glover supported students learning in self-contained units, as a result of behavioral concerns and emotional disabilities. She recognized the inequities faced by students placed in her classroom, and worked to provide her students more equitable learning opportunities, where students were able to experience teaching and learning with peers. As Dr. Glover transitioned into her role as an administrator, she remained dedicated to standing for equity and inclusion among students, teachers, and colleagues. She developed programs to support peer-to-peer mentorship, book clubs for educators within the building, alternative to suspension programs, and parent groups to support building initiatives. All the while, Dr. Glover supported colleagues with the process of reflecting on instructional practices and strategies to grow both students and educators. In 2017, Dr. Glover earned her doctorate degree in Urban Education, from Cleveland State University. With an emphasis on Policy and Planning, Dr. Glover has transferred her learning into reimagining the ways in which we socialize future teachers (current students and pre-service teachers), and in-service teachers. Within her more recent role as a Recruitment Manager, Dr. Glover continues to develop innovative systems and processes to recruit and retain underrepresented populations of people in education. Dr. Glover is also a former Division I athlete, playing semi-professional basketball for several seasons. Her experiences as an athlete led her to coach and train youth for twelve years. During this time, she also began a boys AAU basketball program, to provide youth from urban communities the opportunity to compete without the financial burden to commit. Through AAU programming, Dr. Glover was also able to provide players with educational support needed to advance as a student-athlete in college. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of chatting with Dawnavyn James to learn more about her educator journey, the creation of The Black History Club, her upcoming book "Beyond February", the importance of teaching Black History through children's books at the early childhood level, and so much more! To learn more about Dawnavyn's work, you can visit her website at linktr.ee/queendomteach follow her on Instagram (@queendomteaching), Twitter (@queendomteachin), and LinkedIn. BIO: Dawnavyn James is an early childhood and elementary educator. She has taught kindergarten, fifth grade, and all the grades in between. She graduated from Stephens College with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She previously taught kindergarten for the Columbia Public School District and is now pursuing her doctoral degree full-tme at the University of Buffalo, where she also serves as a fellow for the Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education. Dawnavyn also is the creator of The Black History Club and is passionate about embedding Black histories into curriculum. Dawnavyn's recent publications include Motivating Writers Through Blogging and A Recipe for Young Historians of Black History. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this week's episode, I had the honor of interviewing Sheila Akbar to learn about her journey in education, her love for poetry, her transition from being a Harvard pre-med to an education entrepreneur, and helpful tips for parents and high school students who preparing for college. To learn more Sheila's work, you can visit the Signet Education website at signeteducation.com or connect with her on LinkedIn. BIO: Sheila Akbar joined the Signet team in the summer of 2010, bringing with her a wealth of experience teaching SAT, ACT, GRE, literature, and composition in both one-on-one and classroom settings. Sheila loves both teaching and learning, and finds nothing more rewarding than working closely with students to overcome the challenges they face. After graduating from Harvard in 2002, Sheila spent two years working in financial services before continuing her academic career, which culminated into two doctorates. She brings her significant business and academic experience to bear on her current role at Signet. Her skills include speaking to every client to craft a tailored solution for their needs, managing the administrative team, and providing educational thought leadership for the company. Sheila holds a bachelor's degree and master's degree from Harvard University and two doctoral degrees from Indiana University. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I'm honored to have Kathy Lopes come on the podcast to talk about her journey in education and social work, the release of "Change the Narrative", how school leaders and administrators must engage in antiracist work within their school communities, and so much more! To learn more about Kathy's work, you can visit her company website at inklusionconsulting.com or follow her on Instagram, Twitter (@kathylopes21), and LinkedIn. BIO: Kathy Lopes is a licensed clinical social worker and educator with decades of experience working in education, mental health, non-profit, and government sectors. She began her career as a school social worker in both Boston, MA and Washington, DC, and is now settled back in her home state of Massachusetts where she has held numerous managerial and administrative roles in the field of social work and education. Throughout her career, equity and inclusion have remained an integral part of her leadership and strategic planning priority. Currently, she is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Newton Public Schools and holds a longstanding adjunct faculty role at Simmons University School of Social Work, teaching courses on racism, policy and leadership. She is a sought-after guest lecturer and public speaker on topics of cultural humility, equity, anti-racism and social justice. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I welcome my good friend Afrika Afeni Mills to the podcast to discuss her new book, "Open Windows, Open Minds", the pros and cons of writing in the white gaze, what it means to be pro-human, and so much more! To learn more about Afrika's work, you can visit her website at afrikaafenimills.com or follow her at Instagram (@open_windows_open_minds) and Twitter (@AfeniMills). BIO: Afrika Afeni Mills is an Education Consultant and the author of Open Windows, Open Minds: Developing Antiracist, Pro-Human Students with Corwin Press. She works with colleagues, teachers, coaches, and administrators to transform instructional practices. Afrika has been featured on podcasts, blogs, delivered keynote addresses, and facilitated sessions at conferences both virtually and across the United States. Afrika believes that all educators can be motivated, engaged, dynamic practitioners and leaders when provided with the support needed to create student-centered, culturally responsive learning environments that inspire wonder and creativity and nurture diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging from an antibias, antiracist, pro-human mindset. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I welcome Curtis Valentine to the podcast to share his journey in education, his earlier life as a Peace Corps volunteer, the founding of Real Men Teach, and so much more! To learn more about Real Men Teach, you can visit the organization's website at realmenteach.com or follow them on Twitter (@RealMenTeach2) and Instagram (@realmenteach). BIO: Curtis Valentine is Co-Director of the Progressive Policy Institute's Reinventing America's Schools Project. Curtis comes to this position with over 15 years experience in local, state, federal, and international education policy. Curtis currently serves as Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park and as At-Large member of the Prince George's County (MD) Board of Education. Prior to joining the Progressive Policy Institute, Curtis served as Consultant to the National Council on Teacher Quality. In the past, Curtis served as Executive Director for State Relations with Connections Education, a virtual K-12 public school provider, where he directed state level education policy in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Virginia. Prior to joining Connections Education, Curtis was International Affairs Fellow (IAF) with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Curtis was the first IAF posted to the Education Department where he served in Secretary Arne Duncan's Office of International Affairs. As a fellow, Curtis promoted American economic competitiveness by examining the education reform efforts of four developed countries (Finland, Poland, Canada, and South Africa). Curtis is a graduate of Morehouse College and Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. At Harvard Kennedy School's Commencement, Curtis received the highest student honor: the Robert F. Kennedy award for excellence in public service for his work in post-Katrina New Orleans. After graduating from Morehouse College, Curtis joined the Peace Corps and traveled to South Africa where he led a professional development-training program for primary school educators. After two years, Curtis returned to the Maryland and became an 8th grade Language Arts Teacher. A former appointee to the Governor's Workforce Investment Board in Maryland, Curtis is a Contributor to the Huffington Post, the Washington Post, The Atlantic, the National Council on Teacher Quality Blog, and the Council on Foreign Relation's Renewing America blog. Curtis is married to Dr. Daria Valentine, a Middle School Principal, and father to Curtis and Ivy Valentine, both public school students. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Lisa Talusan to learn about her journey in education, growing up as a second-generation Filipino-American, and her book, "The Identity-Conscious Educator". To learn more about Liza's work, you can visit her website at lizatalusan.com or follow her on Instagram (@ltalusan), Twitter (@ltalusan), and LinkedIn. BIO: Dr. Liza (LIE-zuh) Talusan (taLUS-ahn) is an educator, speaker, leader, writer, leadership coach and parent. With over 25 years of experience in PreK-20 education, Liza is an engaging facilitator in conversations about diversity, anti-racism, bias, privilege and power and creates environments that allow for people to discuss these difficult topics openly. Through her direct work with organizational leaders, staff, students, teachers, and communities, Liza empowers individuals to create a more inclusive organization, environment, community and team. Dr. Talusan has been invited to more than 350 organizations across the country and internationally to deliver keynote addresses and facilitate dialogue groups, training workshops, to develop strategic planning, support change management, and empower leaders. Having achieved her Professional Certified Coaching (PCC) level credentials, Liza helps clients set and achieve goals by tapping into what it means to lead a goal-centered life. Additionally, Liza is certified in the Intercultural Development Inventory, a tested assessment to guide teams in developing greater cross-cultural capacity and determining pre-and-post DEI outcomes. Liza is the recipient of numerous awards including "Best 40 Under 40"; NASPA Region I Mid-Level Professional Award; NASPA APIKC VIP Award; Asian Women for Health's Peer Leader Award; Promise in Action Mentoring Nominee; Network for Equity, Excellence in Education Award; the REAPA (AERA) Dissertation of the Year Award; the Harriet Buescher Lawrence Prize from Connecticut College; and a number of institutional grants: Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Child Development from Connecticut College, Masters of Arts in Higher Education Administration from New York University, Ph.D. in Higher Education from University of Massachusetts Boston, Certificate in Human Resources, Stonehill College, PCC Coaching Credentials, ICF Certified Coach, Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching Liza's cumulative research interests include the experiences of historically underrepresented and excluded populations; Asian American and Pacific Islander issues; socialization to graduate programs; navigating academic parenthood; cross-racial solidarity movements; recognizing and reducing unconscious bias; and the impact of federal financial aid policies. Liza's dissertation, "The Formation of Scholars: Critical Narratives of Asian American and Pacific Islander Doctoral Students in Higher Education" is available on ProQuest. Her new book “The Identity Conscious Educator: Building habits and skills for more inclusive schools” is published by Solution Tree Press and available at all bookstores. Liza's Top 5 StrengthsQuest Themes are Achiever, Maximizer, Discipline, Activator, and Connectedness. She is someone who is driven, results-oriented, effective and organized, engages others to reach their potential, and practices the principles of community and human connection. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I'm honored to have Rebekah Macden come on the podcast to share her journey in education, life as an international educator, the origin of the Maracujá program, and the need to foster identity and character development in our schools. To learn more about Rebekah's work, you can visit her website at rebekahmacden.com or connect with her on Instagram (@rebekahmacden and @maracujaeducation), Twitter (@rebekahmacden), and LinkedIn. BIO: Rebekah Macden is a dynamic international educator, consultant, speaker, and writer. Rebekah is also the co-creator of Maracujá, a character-driven SEL program that continues to have a life-changing impact on thousands of students in several schools around the globe. Growing up as a first-generation immigrant in a small Midwestern town in the USA played a monumental part in the shaping of Rebekah's multifaceted identity. Coming from a rich cultural heritage and a loving family of musicians, singers, ministers, educators, and social workers, Rebekah's passion for impacting others whether in mass numbers or 1-1, has been generations in the making. A visionary and innovative educator with 18 years of experience, Rebekah has developed and implemented student-centered programs that have had a transformative effect on students' lives and educational journeys. She is a powerful and engaging keynote speaker, thought leader, panelist, and facilitator of virtual and on-site training. As a fierce advocate for joy, purpose, and identity, Rebekah's mission is to transform the world of education by empowering others to find their unique voice and walk in true freedom. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

For this special episode, I'm excited to have the following three panelists lead this important discussion about using intersectionality as a tool to humanize diverse student identities and create classroom spaces that are inclusive, equitable, and foster a sense of belonging: Craig Martin is an experienced, award-winning school leader and a managing partner for CCM Education Consulting Group. Through his company, he partners with school leaders and organizations by supporting them in creating inclusive and student-centered learning environments. TWITTER - @CraigCMartin12 WEBSITE - https://www.craigcmartinleads.com Françoise Thenoux is an ABAR consultant, as well as an ESL and Spanish educator with almost 20 years of teaching experience. While working as an ESL teacher, she helped Latinx families understand the benefits of bilingualism via workshops and conferences. She is a passionate advocate for equitable, inclusive, social justice-oriented World Language curriculum. Francoise shares her passion and resources with a wide community through social media as "The Woke Spanish Teacher". INSTAGRAM - @thewokespanishteacher TWITTER - @TWSteacher Destiny Clarke is a former middle and high school English teacher who now serves as the Founder & CEO of DiscoverED with Destiny. Through her company, Destiny helps educators use equitable and LGBTQ+ inclusive strategies to create communities of care for LGBTQ+ youth. She is also the host of the Closeted History podcast. INSTAGRAM - @discoveredwithdestiny TWITTER - @discoveredwdes WEBSITE - https://www.discoveredwithdestiny.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

For the first time in our podcast's history, we are featuring our first married educator couple, Lorena & Roberto Germán. In our conversation, they shared about their collective journey in education, the founding of their company Multicultural Classroom, the importance of incorporating culturally sustaining practices into our classrooms, and so much more! To learn more about the Germáns' work, you can visit their website at multiculturalclassroom.com or follow them on Instagram (@multiculturalclassroom) and Twitter (@nenagerman). BIO: LORENA: Lorena is an immigrant from Dominican Republic and raised in the U.S. She attended public schooling from first grade through high school. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in English Communication from Emmanuel College and her Master of Arts in English from Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English. She is an advocate for the practice of a culturally sustaining pedagogical approach in education. Lorena has been in the field of education, working in various settings, since 2001. Her extensive experience in myriad of settings ranging from extracurricular youth work to community spaces to the traditional classroom equips her to offer sound advice on strong teaching practices. Specifically, her classroom experience has been as an ELA teacher from grades 6th through 12th. Lorena has held educational leadership positions at the department level, school-wide level, and in the larger district level from designing curriculum to strategizing for improvement. She is the Chair of the National Council of English Teacher's Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English and she's a co-founder of #DisruptTexts. She's also Director of Pedagogy at EduColor. ROBERTO: Roberto Germán is a Dominican-American native of Lawrence, Massachusetts. He is a product of Lawrence Public Schools, Central Catholic High School, and the Boys and Girls Club in Lawrence. As Director of the Middle School at Headwaters School, he brought inclusivity and social justice ideas into every aspect of his work there. Before that, he supported the opening of Magnolia Montessori For All, Austin's First Public Montessori School, serving as Director of Student Affairs and Services. Previously, Roberto served as Assistant Principal at the Guilmette Middle School in Lawrence, MA. Prior to that, he served as Director of Multicultural Affairs and Community Development for seven years at St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers, MA, where he led the school in fostering a culture that promoted social justice and equity. During his tenure at SJP, he was also a basketball coach and Spanish teacher. Mr. Germán is an alumnus of Andover Bread Loaf and an active member of the Bread Loaf Teacher Network. His role within ABL and with the BLTN is at the center of ABL's educational justice work within the public schools, youth, and community organizations. When he was twenty years old, Roberto introduced and co-led a spoken word movement in the city of Lawrence that took the city by storm from 2001-2003. This movement became the beginning of a writing revolution that inspired young people in the city of Lawrence to find their voices through the arts, particularly spoken word poetry and rap. He accomplished this with his former performing arts group, the Soul Kaliber Movement, and by his ability to collaborate with diverse organizations and individuals. Roberto's teaching experience includes serving as an English teacher at Lawrence High School and as a Spanish teacher at St. John's Preparatory School. He holds a Master's Degree from Boston College's Lynch School of Education in Educational Administration and a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English, from Merrimack College. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/identitytalk4educators/support

For this special episode, I caught up with the one and only Patrick Harris II to learn about his unique journey in education, his new book, "The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers", and the important of controlling our personal narratives as educators in the midst of this Great Resignation period. To learn more about Patrick's work, you can visit his website at itspatrickharris.com or follow him on Instagram & Twitter (@PresidentPat). BIO: Patrick Harris II is a Black queer writer, storyteller, and middle school humanities teacher. He has won multiple national teaching awards for his leadership and innovation in the classroom, including recognitions from NCTE, ASCD, and ILA. Teaching and creating is only part of who Patrick is. He is a big brother, a cat dad, lover of all things horror, a WWE fanatic, and is obsessed with scenic hikes. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing Christina Rodriguez to learn about her journey in education, her Nicaraguan upbringing, life as a Latina in academia, the founding of Latinas with Masters, and so much more! To learn more about Christina's work, you can visit the Latinas with Masters website at latinaswithmasters.com and/or you can follow her on Instagram (@latinaswithmasters) and Twitter (@latinaswmasters). BIO: Christina V. Rodriguez is a first-generation Nicaraguan-American Latina with a multi-cultural and equity-minded mindset with a commitment in creating equitable opportunities for Women of Color in Business, Housing and Academia. Christina received her Bachelor's degree in Latino/a Studies from San Francisco State University and went on to receive her Master's degree (MBA) with an emphasis in Marketing at Notre Dame de Namur University. She is a currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership and provides 15+ years of marketing experience in the San Francisco Bay Area. When Christina is not working on Latinas with Masters or doing research for her dissertation, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two children, including their family dog Frijol. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the pleasure of welcoming my good friend Lizette Roman to the podcast to share her educator journey, as well as engage in a conversation about engaging our emerging bilingual learners in a culturally responsive manner within the classroom. She also shares how growing up as a first-generation Cuban-American has shaped her development as an educator. To learn more about Lizette's work, you can follow her on Instagram (@educating_with_love) and Twitter (@lizetteRoman13). BIO: Lizette Roman is a certified bilingual educator in one of the most heavily integrated school districts on Long Island, NY. The need for specialized, actionable teaching methodologies that can be implemented into the classroom became a pressing need, in order to effectively teach & connect with her students. Her classroom environment has been created so all students feel and know they are respected and that their individual needs will be met. Walking into her bilingual classroom, Lizette finds a variety of flexible seating arrangements, evident Sheltered Instruction Operation Protocol strategies & planning, differentiated instruction, flipped classroom & student lead 21st century lessons infused with technology! In addition to teaching her students the material necessary to progress through their studies, she also works to equip them with life skills that challenge many children of non-English speaking parents. She teaches them how to set goals for themselves, bring in a financial advisor to teach students about financial awareness, teach students how to handle conflict-resolution & to listen like a diplomat! Lizette also works to help advocate for parents by regularly meeting with them, speaking with them on the phone, to connect them to community resources for things like legal advice, or helping them communicate with medical professionals on behalf of their children. She strives to help them advocate for their children in the classroom which includes making suggestions on how to better help their children meet their individual needs, how to prioritize goals & setting them up for success with proper study skills & organization skills. Her main focus as a teacher is to build up her students & teach them self-love, providing them with the social & emotional confidence so they can feel confident in their ability in the classroom. It's from this place that Educating With Love was born. Lizette believes, with the right tools, teachers can do the same for their students. As both a speaker & consultant she is available to come to your educational facility or education conference to teach others how to implement these practices and strategies into their classroom. The goal of Educating With Love is to empower teachers to reach & teach their students with new confidence. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the special honor of interviewing Britt Hawthorne to learn more about her educator journey, life as an antiracist momma, and her new book, "Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide". To learn more about Britt's work, you can visit her website at britthawthrone.com or follow her on Facebook & Instagram (@britthawthorne). BIO: Britt Hawthorne (she/they) is an antiracist educator, teacher, speaker, visionary, and advocate. She is the current PBS Children's Media and Education- Educator and Community Engagement: Antiracist and Anti-bias Consultant and Advisor. She also serves on the Association Montessori International/USA Human Rights and Social Justice Committee and works with the Sankofa Learning Center, an African-centered learning ecosystem, in New Haven, Connecticut. She is committed to raising a generation of antiracist children by centering families of the global majority and fostering equitable learning environments for students and children of all ages and backgrounds. Britt's work moves the idea of equity in education from a goal to reality. She partners with action-orientated educators to create classroom environments that are inclusive and equitable for all learners. Britt was an antiracist educator in the classroom but was pushed out of teaching when her two Black sons experienced educational racism. Now, as an anti-racist facilitator, she creates spaces where the intersection of education and social justice may be explored. Her honest and inspiring journey to create space, documented on Instagram, has since garnered over 100k engaged readers as well as a deeply committed online community. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of welcoming April Boyce to the podcast for a deep dive into the significant impact of ableism at both the K-12 and higher education level. To learn more about April's work, you can visit the Beyond Inclusion website at gobeyondinclusion.org or follow her on Instagram (@gobeyondinclusion) and Tiktok (@ms.april_) BIO: April Boyce is a doctoral student and researcher based in Seattle, WA. She has been in the field of education for over ten years, serving as an early childhood educator, K-5 accessibility specialist, and adjunct professor for racial equity coursework. After working with students with disabilities, she became increasingly frustrated with the inequities and injustices my students faced within the education system. She began advocating for anti-racist and anti-ableist education through social media but was distracted by the noise of those not yet ready to engage in this work. April sensed the urgency to continue professional learning at a deeper level, so she created Beyond Inclusion to reach educators that are open to the possibilities of a more equitable education system. April's goal for Beyond Inclusion is to engage anti-racist/anti-ableist educators through learning opportunities that enable them with the skills to liberate every child. They welcome all teachers, specialists, and administrators at every stage of the journey to become more anti-racist/anti-ableist professionals. This is a space for educators to build connection, engage in the process of inquiry, and empower one another to reflect and transform our own practice and school communities. Through our collective work, she knows that meaningful change can be made in education. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I welcomed Dr. Qiana O'Leary to the podcast for a conversation about her personal journey in education, the founding of Minty Educational Services, the impact of Black women in educational leadership, and much more! To learn more about Dr. O'Leary's work, you can visit the Minty Educational Services website at minty-es.org or follow her on Instagram (@mintyes20). BIO: Dr. Qiana O'Leary is an Assistant Professor for the Texas A&M University System and the co-founder of Minty Educational Services, a former administrator for charters and public schools, and a Social Justice educator. She co-created and produced a web series highlighting the success of Black Educators teaching unique and creative lessons for students called BlackademX. Dr. O'Leary is dedicated to transforming schools by mentoring school leaders as they examine issues of equity, inclusion, and racism in their effort of becoming agents of radical school reform. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the special honor of being in community with Camille Joy for an in-depth conversation about her story of overcoming adversity, discovering joy through her faith and motherhood, creating harmony in her life as a thriving entrepreneur and a mother to a child with autism, and so much more!  To learn more about Camille's work, you can visit her website at mojpodcast.com and/or follow her on Facebook and Instagram (@momentsofjoypodcast)     BIO: Camille Joy is a wife and a Mom to 5 amazing boys. She wears many hats entrepreneur,  podcaster, survivor, advocate, and a voice of hope to the brokenhearted mommy. Like her name, Camille is a woman of joy who uses her various platforms to encourage  As a form of self-expression and healing, Camille Joy launched her podcast, Moments of Joy in 2018 to encourage, uplift, and motivate people who are rebuilding their lives after experiencing traumatic situations. Through the weekly podcast, she shares her own life experiences and inspiring stories from other moms around the world. On a new audio app called "Clubhouse" She is the founder of an international Moms Club, the largest parenting club on the app called The Real Moms Club. Her hope and mission is to unite moms from all over the world through community. They meet weekly for conversations all about Motherhood.    LINKS:   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/identitytalk4educatorslive/   Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/identity-talk-4-educators-live/id1509599570  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/23k0HRkXxi1OJSahtqS7xO   Google Podcasts - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xMDNjZGQ2Yy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwiA6NSi6rT1AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ&hl=en  Anchor - https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of chatting with teacher-librarian extraordinaire Julia E. Torres about her personal journey in education, her evolution in librarianship, the current banned books controversy impacting schools during the pandemic, and so much more! To learn more about Julia's work, you can visit her website at juliaetorres.com and you can also follow her on Instagram & Twitter (@juliaerin80). BIO: Julia E. Torres is a veteran language arts teacher and librarian in Denver Public schools. She is a teacher/activist committed to education as a practice of freedom. Her practice is grounded in the work of empowering students to use Language Arts to fuel transformative resistance and social progress. Julia has been awarded the 2020 NCTE Colorado Affiliate Teacher of Excellence award chosen as a 2020 Library Journal Mover and Shaker, and serves educators as a member of the ALAN (Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE) Board of Directors, Educolor Collective Steering Committee member, Book Love Foundation Board Member and Co-founder of #DisruptTexts. Through her work with The Educator Collaborative, and other organizations, Julia facilitates workshops and professional conversations about anti-bias/anti-racist education, social justice, and culturally sustaining pedagogies in Language Arts, as well as digital literacy and librarianship. Her work has been featured in several publications including NCTE's Council Chronicle, NPR, AlJazeera's The Stream, PBS Education, KQED's MindShift, NY Times Learning Network, The Chicago Tribune, ASCD's Education Update, Rethinking Schools, School Library Journal, and many more. Her forthcoming co-authored title Liven Up Your Library will be published by ISTE in 2022. LINKS: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/identitytalk4educatorslive/ Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/identity-talk-4-educators-live/id1509599570 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/23k0HRkXxi1OJSahtqS7xO Google Podcasts - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xMDNjZGQ2Yy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwiA6NSi6rT1AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ&hl=en Anchor - https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of welcoming Tony DelaRosa to the podcast to share his personal journey into education, how schools should combat anti-AAPI racism and xenophobia, the need for AAPI representation in the teaching profession, achieving cross-racial solidarity in the pursuit of collective liberation, and much more!  To learn more about Tony's work, you can visit his website at tonyrosaspeaks.com or follow him on   Instagram and Twitter (@tonyrosaspeaks).    BIO: Tony DelaRosa (he/siya) is an aspiring Anti-Bias & Anti-Racist Educator, Motivational Speaker, DEI Consultant, Poet, and overall Cultural Broker. In 2013, he co-founded Pulse Poetry, a school elective course and after school program which uses spoken word pedagogy and public speaking to empower youth voice in Indianapolis, Boston, Miami, and across the globe. He has a Masters in Teaching at Marian University and a Masters in Education with a focus on Arts Non-Profit Management from Harvard University.  In 2015, because of his work with Pulse Poetry, he was invited by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico to speak on the power and impact of Arts Education and International Exchange. He served as a Board Director of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) a 501c3 sponsored by the Ayala Foundation and Philippine Embassy to strengthen US to Philippine relations in the field of education. His work has been featured in NPR, Harvard Ed Magazine, the Smithsonian, Columbia University's Hechinger Report,  Hyphen Magazine: Asian American Unabridged and elsewhere. He's currently working on an education series called "#ISANGBAGSAKasVERB" which focuses on cross-racial & cross-ethnic coalition building to help communities practice solidarity in action and has co-founded NYC's first Asian American teacher support, development, and retention initiative called AATEND under NYC Men Teach, the NYC DOE, and Office of the Mayor.  In 2021, he was awarded the INSPIRE Award given by the National Association of Asian American Professionals & United Airlines. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of welcoming long-time education leader Dr. Ian Buchanan to the podcast to share his personal journey in education, his process for developing strong leaders through his company The Nia Education Group, his perspective on the current state of educational leadership during COVID-19, and so much more! To learn more about Dr. Ian's work, you can visit his company's website at niaeducationgroup.org and/or follow him on Twitter (@docianbuchanan). BIO: Dr. Ian Buchanan, President/CEO of Nia Education Group, has committed almost three decades in service of students, organizations, families and communities. “Dr. Ian” has an impressively broad range of leadership, coaching, teaching and professional development experiences. His work has primarily been in the sectors below: - Traditional Public School District Leadership (St. Louis Region) - Public (Portfolio) Charter District Leadership (Achievement School District-Tennessee) - Informal Science Education Leadership (National Science Foundation, St. Louis Science Center) - Education Nonprofit Leadership (Teach For America-St. Louis, Inspire STL) - Higher Education Administration (Harris-Stowe State University) - Adult Basic Education (The School of University City – Adult Education Program) - Board Leadership (Jamaa Academy, IamESTL Foundation) Capacity-building is a skill, passion and gift for Dr. Ian. This commitment to capacity-building is driven by two guiding principles. The first guiding principle is “To whom much is given, much is required.” Ian recognizes his level of access, opportunity and capital. He leverages that and decades of experience, technical skills and passion for change to help individuals and organizations reach their fullest potential. The second principle that undergirds the work at Nia Education Group is the West African concept, ubuntu. Loosely translated, in means, “I am because we are.” Nia Education Group understands that we can only achieve transformative change if we embrace a commitment to a collective responsibility. We do our work with the belief that our commitment to our clients will translate into structural and systemic change. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Jessica Wei Huang and learn about her personal journey in education, her socialization process as an Asian-American, the current state of anti-AAPI racism internationally, the dire need for cross-racial and cross-ethnic solidarity during the pandemic, and so much more. To learn more about Jessica's work, you can visit her website at jessicaweihuang.com or follow her on Instagram and Twitter (@huangjaz). BIO: Jessica Wei Huang has eighteen years of combined teaching and leadership experience. She believes that facilitating cross-cultural and diverse conversations around personal identity, cultural difference, and systemic inequities is a powerful way to build community and understanding in educational settings in order to drive systemic and dynamic change in school settings. She has co-facilitated professional development for school districts and non-profits in creating and sustaining a culture of equity and anti-racism and is also a certified coach for ACSA (Association of CA School Administrators). She is currently based out of Singapore. LINKS: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/identitytal... Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/23k0HRk... Google Podcasts - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0... Anchor - https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In the final episode of 2021, I bring on my good friend Dr. Melanie Dillett-Dukes for a timely conversation about the importance the radical self-love and liberation as educators. We also discuss her life abroad as a United Nations baby, how she navigated her multiple identities as a Black woman, the release of her debut book, "My Freedom Journey"', and so much more! To learn more about Dr. Dukes' work, you can visit the BeyondFree website at beyondfreellc.com or you can follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram (@maddukes). BIO: Dr. Melanie Dillett-Dukes is passionate about creating brave spaces for diverse groups of people to engage in discussions, empower action, and create change. Growing up outside of the United States for 15 years of her life, as a United Nations baby, gave her great insight into the intricacies of varying perspectives and their connection to practices and ideologies of people. With 20 plus years in the educational arena, Melanie has taught school-aged children from preschool to high school, founded her non-profit Creative Community to ignite student voices, coached teachers on culturally relevant pedagogy, designed curriculum, analyzed statewide data systems, and facilitated diversity, inclusion & equity workshops for adult professionals. To deepen her contemplative practices, she has completed intense training on Cognitive Based Compassion Training (CBCT) through Emory University. Her experience as an Equity Facilitator Fellow through CREATE, deepened her skills to facilitate conversations and create actionable items around identity, systemic oppression, and anti-racist work. In her current role, she is leading equity work with over 110 teachers and staff members and the parent/guardian community. Melanie's ability to listen for understanding, empathize, and to connect with others translates easily into developing organic and holistic coaching strategies that fosters growth mindsets and stimulates environments for people to thrive. ​ Over the many years of working in traditional education and facilitating sessions in equity, social justice, and anti-racist work in corporate and educational arenas, has revealed the deep need for healing and reconciliation. Motherhood and the deep desire to restore hope to people has led her on this journey of liberating the minds of people and creating platforms to create viable solutions to breaking systems that bind our true selves. Dr. Dillett-Dukes graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in education from Spelman College. She fostered her skills in curriculum development when she earned her Masters of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Melanie remained at Columbia to complete her Education Doctorate in International and Transcultural Studies with a specialization in Family and Community as Educator. She has inherited her mother's green thumb at a later stage in life, enjoys cooking her father's Belizean dishes, and watches her children embark on their unique journey of life in pure amazement. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of welcoming Dr. Stephanie Boyce to the podcast to share her personal journey in education, the founding of The FRESH Classroom, the release of her new book, "The FRESH Classroom: Why Culturally Responsive Education Can't Wait", the evolution of scholarship around culturally responsive teaching, and so much more! To learn more about Dr. Boyce's work, you can visit The FRESH Classroom website at thefreshclassroom.com or follow her on Instagram (@freshclassroom and @dr.srboyce) and Twitter (@Fresh_Classroom). BIO: Dr. Stephanie R. Boyce is an edupreneur driven by her passion to reshape the educational landscape by making culturally responsive teaching a way of life. For the last decade, Boyce has focused her studies and work on matters of racial justice and equity for historically marginalized people with a focus on educational spaces. She currently serves as the Chief Education Officer of Stephanie Boyce & Associates, LLC., the parent company of The FRESH Classroom, Professor & Director of the Writing Program at Paul Quinn College, and Lecturer of African American Studies at the University of Houston. Dr. Stephanie Boyce's ironic journey along the path of academia was anything but typical, having taken her from being a rebellious student in at-risk schools to teaching and leading in at-risk schools, and eventually serving as a researcher and advocate in the same schools. By the time her journey is half complete, she will be added to a list of phenomenal innovators who advocate tirelessly for the millions of students who may otherwise be left voiceless in classrooms across America. In addition to her work within educational institutions, Dr. Boyce works as an educational advocate partnering with allies in the fight for equitable policies and legislative priorities for ALL. In a world where the complicated processes and verbose industrious jargon cause many citizens, especially those in marginalized groups, to disengage with the legislative entities that govern them, Dr. Boyce's goal is to demystify complicated systems and show ALL people entry points into engaging with the political processes and collaborating with elected officials to ensure equitable outcomes for students and distribution of resources and opportunities.n addition to her work within educational institutions, Dr. Boyce works as an educational advocate partnering with allies in the fight for equitable policies and legislative priorities for ALL. In a world where the complicated processes and verbose industrious jargon cause many citizens, especially those in marginalized groups, to disengage with the legislative entities that govern them, Dr. Boyce's goal is to demystify complicated systems and show ALL people entry points into engaging with the political processes and collaborating with elected officials to ensure equitable outcomes for students and distribution of resources and opportunities. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this week's episode, I welcomed hip-hop educator Vernon Thompson Jr. to the podcast to share his personal journey in education, the making of "The Joe Clark Tape", the emergence of hip-hop pedagogy in education, and so much more! To learn more about Vernon's work, you can follow him on Instagram & Twitter (@vernonsthompson). You can also purchase "The Joe Clark Tape" right now on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Joe-Clark-Tape-Explicit/dp/B08V53DZ77) and Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-joe-clark-tape/1550842836). BIO: Vernon Thompson graduated from Quinnipiac University with a BA in Marketing. He was the school's first Division 1 walk-on to receive a scholarship. He also served as the Assistant Basketball Coach at Albertus Magnus College leading the school to its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance. He received his Masters in Special Education with a concentration in Learning Disabilities from Southern Connecticut State University. He completed his 092 Educational Administrators certification at the University of Bridgeport. He has taught in the Bridgeport Public school district for 14 years. In the 2018-2019 school year he served as Assistant Principal at Hartford Public High School, he is currently the Assistant Principal at Warren Harding High School. As a teacher he utilized community organizing and community relationships to advocate for Bassick students and families. He has made himself known as a Hip Hop Educator, utilizing Hip Hop Visual Arts to send positive messages to the urban community. His videos have received over 120,000 views. His most recent project titled "The Joe Clark Tape" has received nearly 10,000 streams in the last two months. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of welcoming award-winning principal Fatihah Abdur-Rahman to the podcast to share her inspirational journey into education, overcoming homelessness as a teenage mother, navigating the waters of educational leadership as a Black woman, and so much more! To learn more about Principal Rahman's work, you can follow her on Instagram (@principal_rahman) and subscribe to the Born to Win in Education podcast. BIO: Fatihah Abdur-Rahman is a passionate and dedicated educational leader who is committed to academic excellence. She views education as a way to defy societal challenges that impact urban communities. Rahman's desire in urban education was ignited while working as an assistant teacher at a Camden Head Start over twenty years ago. There she interacted with elementary students who were performing below their grade level, which prompted her to pursue a BS in Elementary Education. Rahman is a servant leader called to serve those who experienced many of the challenges she faced and overcame. After graduating from Oakwood University in Alabama, she returned to Camden ready to serve as a teacher in Camden City Public Schools. In her first year as a teacher, she made tremendous gains with her students, and was selected by her colleagues as Parkside Elementary School's teacher of the year. Some of her accomplishments include: being selected in 2008 by the Camden City BOE to pursue an MPA in Educational Leadership at Rutgers University. She also was the first educator from Camden, NJ to travel to South Africa with the Rutgers South Africa Initiative. Fatihah has served as an educator, School administrator, PLC facilitator, NJ trained mentor, and Camden PLUS resident. Rahman is currently completing the coursework for her Doctorates degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at Walden University, and plans to graduate in the near future. Fatihah attributes her professional achievement to education. As a visionary, Fatihah Abdur-Rahman sees beyond the here and now and recognize the potential in everyone she is called to serve. Rahman holds a high bar, and yet believes in providing high level of support for teachers and students. Through her implementation of social emotional learning programs, culturally relevant curriculum, and community driven approach, Ms. Abdur-Rahman envision a school where all of her students are valued, challenged, and prepared to break cycles and close gaps. Ms. Abdur-Rahman is also a transformational leader who sees herself as an agent of change. One of her goals is to re-envision the culture of parent and community engagement for the development of the whole child. It is her belief that education equality and equity can and will be achieved for all students. Fatihah Abdur-Rahman is change the narrative for many of her scholars. Not only is she changing the narrative, Fatihah is doing it in a short amount a time. In her tenured as principal at Forest Hill, Ms. Abdur-Rahman ran a Reader Are Leader Pop Up story time in the park to combat the summer reading slide. She engage families with her book giveaways at her Water Ice Wednesdays. During the school year, she opened her doors to the community with her Leaders are Readers series, Pearl to Wisdom Tea, and "Knot" for Me boy program that shared with young men those things that are "not for me" (drugs, gangs, bullying, etc.). She and her school community faithfully give and serve food at various shelters for women and families on what she calls Thankful Thursday. In years to come, she plan to have a greater impact through her various partnership and mindset that her scholars are born winners. They will win!!!! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

This week's episode is dedicated to all the music educators who are making a positive impact in schools all over the world! I had the honor of interviewing award-winning music teacher Franklin Willis to learn about his journey in education, how Music came into his life, the importance of culturally relevant teaching in the music classroom, and so much more! To learn more about Franklin's work, you can visit his website at fwillismusic.com or follow him on Instagram (@fwillismusic and @princerhythmcompany). BIO: For more than a decade, educator, and leader, Franklin Willis has served the students and families of the Metro Nashville Public Schools community. Through music, Willis has educated, mentored, and developed young minds to be forward thinking contributors to society. A servant leader specializing in authentic culturally relevant teaching, empowering student contributions, and developing teachers to reach their full capacity, Willis finds true joy when at the service of others. As Elementary Music Coach for MNPS, he equips teachers with instructional support and necessary resources to strengthen their professional acumen and enhance their classrooms. This includes shepherding colleagues and teachers through the reality's students are faced with around equity, inclusion and racism. Through his work, he has developed a passion in the cultivation of musicianship for young minds as every child has musical potential and deserves a music teacher who will see the best in them. Willis believes that music education is a vital tool to teach students about other cultures, create community, and inspire a love for learning. Willis consistently uses his network to provide opportunities for students to utilize their passion for music for all to see. This includes producing music videos and stadium performances at CMA Fest, a four-day music festival in Nashville, TN. Willis has created and facilitated professional development sessions for music teachers of all grade levels sharing his unique and relevant teaching practices. He consistently collaborates with colleagues, community organizations, local businesses, colleges, and universities to advocate for the importance of music education in our schools as well as developing curriculum that will lead to higher engagement from students. Through his work Willis has received national recognition for his commitment to student learning, his passion for the profession and his innovative teaching practices. He is a three-time recipient of the CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence Award. ('16, '18, '19). Willis is a children's book author and graduate of the University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Music Education with an emphasis in Choral Music in 2009. In 2012, he earned the Master of Education Degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Belmont University. Most recently Willis completed the Education Specialist Degree with an emphasis in Instructional Leadership from Tennessee Technological University. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had an awesome conversation with veteran international education leader Kevin Simpson about his personal journey in education, life as an international educator, the need to diversify the international teaching force, and so much more! To learn more about Kevin's work, you can visit the Association of International Educators & Leaders of Color website at aieloc.org and/or you can follow him on Instagram (@kdslglobal) or Twitter (@GlobalKdsl). BIO: KDSL Global is an education consulting company launched by Kevin Simpson in 2016 in the USA and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Simpson and his team have served thousands of schools, organizations, educators, and leaders worldwide in over 25 countries. The majority of this work in education has centered on American curriculum schools. Since 2008, Simpson has been focused on education in the MENA region, assisted numerous schools with accreditation, training, development, and served as a thought partner to investors on school start-up projects. Simpson is co-founder of the UAE Learning Network and leads the GCC ASCD Connected Community. In addition, he has co-authored papers on American curriculum in the MENA region with a focus on Common Core State Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, social studies, the arts, and the history of American Education in the UAE. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Michigan State University (USA). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing bestselling author and critical race sociologist Dr. Crystal Marie Fleming. In our conversation, she shares about her childhood and humble beginnings, her time at Wellesley College, her new book, "Rise Up!: How You Can Join in the Fight Against White Supremacy", her evolution as a scholar in academia, and so much more! To learn more about Dr. Fleming's work, you can visit her website at crystalfleming.com and follow her on Twitter (@alwaystheself). BIO: Crystal Marie Fleming is a critical race sociologist, the author of three books and an internationally recognized expert on racism and antiracism. Her work empowers people of all backgrounds to become change agents and dismantle white supremacy. She is Professor of Sociology and Africana Studies at SUNY Stony Brook where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on racism and ethnic relations, sociological theory and qualitative methods. Dr. Fleming's passion for speaking truth to power and promoting social transformation infuses her scholarship, writing and pedagogy. She earned a Ph.D. and a master's degree in Sociology from Harvard University and graduated with honors in Sociology and French from Wellesley College. Her research appears in leading journals such as Social Problems, The Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, Ethnic and Racial Studies, Poetics, Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race and Mindfulness. Her first book Resurrecting Slavery: Racial Legacies and White Supremacy in France (Temple University Press, 2017) uses critical race theory and qualitative research to significantly advance scholarship on racism in France and Europe. The book marshals ethnographic data, archival research and in-depth interviews with French activists and Afro-Caribbean descendants of slaves to consider how commemorations of enslavement and abolition both challenge and reproduce the racial order. Her critically acclaimed primer, How to Be Less Stupid About Race: On Racism, White Supremacy and the Racial Divide (Beacon Press, 2018), combines memoir, critical race theory, social commentary and satire to debunk common misconceptions about racism. The book earned a starred Kirkus review and has been widely praised as essential anti-racist reading by everyone from Publisher's Weekly to Bustle, ESPN/The Undefeated to the Los Angeles Lakers, Buzzfeed, Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and MarketWatch. Dr. Fleming's latest book, RISE UP! How You Can Join the Fight Against White Supremacy, is a YA nonfiction work that explores the roots of racism and its modern day legacies while empowering young people with actionable ways to create a more just and equitable world. It will be published in October of 2021 by Henry Holt for Young Readers. She is currently co-editing a fourth book, Beyond White Mindfulness: Critical Perspectives on Racism, Health and Wellbeing, forthcoming with Routledge and completing a fifth project, Words to Remake the World: A People's Dictionary for Social Change, under contract with Beacon Press. A public intellectual known for her frank talk and insouciant humor, Crystal's provocative writing, lectures and workshops engage a wide array of scholarly and social topics, from racism and white supremacy to pop culture, spirituality, feminism, sexuality and philosophy. Her work and commentary are regularly featured in a range of national and international media, including Courrier International, The Sunday Times, France24, Agency France Presse, Newsweek, Vox, Black Agenda Report, The CBS Sunday Morning Show, The Root, NPR, and the New York Times among others. She is represented by literary agent Michael Bourret and Outspoken Agency for keynotes and speaking engagements. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of speaking with fellow Math educator and Pan-African scholar Akil Parker. In our conversation, we touched on his personal journey in education, how attending HBCUs shaped his development as an educator, the founding of his company All This Math, the role that mathematics can play in the Pan-Africanism movement, and so much more! To learn more about Akil's work, you can visit the All This Math website at allthismath.com or you can follow him on Instagram and Twitter (@allthismath) BIO: Akil Parker retired from the School District of Philadelphia in 2018 to grow and develop his math tutoring and educational consulting company, All This Math, LLC. He works diligently to empower youth through mathematics education. He worked in Philadelphia Public School classrooms as a math teacher for over 15 years, teaching courses ranging from pre-algebra to calculus, including state-standardized test prep and SAT/ACT prep. He has transitioned from working on the front line in the classroom to working behind the scenes as a math tutor, preparing students to perform well in their classrooms. Even in a different capacity, his goal has remained to empower youth to understand mathematics as a viable tool for student benefit. His own children have inspired him to expand his mathematics teaching and tutoring beyond the classroom. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of welcoming 2021 Oregon Teacher of the Year Nicole Butler-Hooton as my special guest. In our conversation, Nicole shares her personal journey in education, how she centers her identity as an Indigenous educator in the classroom, her educational advocacy work throughout her home state of Oregon, transitioning from the classroom into her new role as a Teacher mentor for this new school year, and so much more! To learn more about Nicole's work, you can visit the CCSSO website at https://ntoy.ccsso.org/2021-state-teacher-of-the-year-oklahoma-jena-nelson/ or follow her on Instagram (@nbutlertoy2021) and Twitter (@ButlerHooton). BIO: “Be the Change you wish to see in the world,” by Mahatma Ghandi, is the quote that best describes 2021 Oregon Teacher of the Year Nicole Butler-Hooton. She is a thoughtful, connected, loyal Native American woman who believes in the value of family, friendships, community, and growth. She exemplifies living each day to its fullest. Born into a minority family where neither parent graduated high school and raised in a small coastal town, Butler-Hooton's personal drive to excel at the highest level resulted in her success in high school academics, sports, college, and in her personal and professional life. Butler-Hooton earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon (UO) in sociology with a minor in ethnic studies, and she was a recipient of the Sapsik'ʷałá grant, provided to high-performing Native American students striving to earn their Master's degree in education. Upon receiving her Master's, she secured a job in the Bethel school district teaching second grade at Irving Elementary in Eugene, Oregon, where she has taught for 15 years. Irving Elementary boasts a supportive community, which has empowered and affirmed Butler-Hooton's vibrant, inclusive, and culturally competent teaching style. Her colleagues, families, and students respect her well established classroom culture. Each day she teaches and transforms the lives of her students and families. Butler-Hooton's primary professional goal is to build rapport and make a positive difference. Butler-Hooton is involved in the Oregon Indian Education Association, Eugene Education Association, Northwest Christian University consortium, UO elementary education, and the Bethel School District professional learning community for culturally sustaining practices. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing Transformative Justice practioner and educator Neha Sobti. In our conversation, Neha shares about her personal journey in education, the need to decolonize restorative justice practice in our schools, life as a queer South Asian woman while engage in antiracist education work, and so much more! To learn more about Neha's work, you can follow her on Instagram and Twitter (@nehajoya). BIO: Neha Sobti is a Transformative Justice practitioner, anti-racist school leader, scholar and poet. She supports educators in creating school communities grounded in relationships, healing, care, and culturally sustaining practices. She dreams and leads conversations about dismantling systems of racism in schools while supporting you on your journey to adopt anti-racist and transformative practices. Neha is currently a Doctoral Student at New York University in the Department of Administration, Leadership and Technology. She writes on topics of school discipline and transformative/restorative justice in education. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the special honor of welcoming Tema Okun to the podcast to talk about her personal journey in education, her evolution as an antiracist scholar under the mentorship of the late Dr. Kenneth Jones, the publishing of her widely used article, "White Supremacy Culture", the need for white educators to transition from performative ally to active co-conspirator, and much more! To learn more about Tema's work, you can visit the White Supremacy Culture website at whitesupremacyculture.info or you can follow her on Instagram (@okuntema) and Twitter (@TemaOkun). BIO: Tema Okun has spent over 30 years working with and for organizations, schools, and community-based institutions as a trainer, facilitator, and coach focused on issues of racial justice and equity. Dr. Okun currently co-leads the Teaching for Equity Fellows Program at Duke University, which works with faculty seeking to develop stronger skills both teaching about race and racism and across lines of race, class, and gender. She was a member of the Educational Leadership faculty at National Louis University in Chicago and has taught undergraduate, master's, and doctoral level students in educational leadership and education. She is the author of the award-winning The Emperor Has No Clothes: Teaching About Race and Racism to People Who Don't Want to Know (2010, IAP) and the widely used article White Supremacy Culture. She publishes regularly on the pedagogy of racial and social justice. Tema is a participant in the Living School for Action and Contemplation and a member of the Bhumisphara Sangha under the leadership of Lama Rod Owens. She is an artist, a poet, and a writer. She lives in Durham, NC where she is fortunate to reside among beloved community. Her current project is deepening her ability to love her neighbor as herself. She is finding the instruction easy and the follow through challenging, given how we live in a culture that is afraid to help us do either or both. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the special honor of interviewing anti-bias anti-racist educator and consultant Liz Kleinrock to learn about her personal journey into education, growing up as a transracial adoptee, the release of her debut book, "Start Here, Start Now", what it means to be an ABAR educator, and so much more! To learn more about Liz's work, you can visit her personal website at teachandtransform.org or you can follow her on Instagram (@teachandtransform) and Twitter (@teachntransform). BIO: Liz Kleinrock is an anti-bias anti-racist educator and consultant based in Washington, DC. A transracial adoptee, Liz was born in South Korea and grew up in DC before attending Washington University in St. Louis, MO. After graduating, Liz moved to Oakland, California, where she served as an AmeriCorps teacher with Girls Inc. and Super Stars Literacy for two years. Following her service, Liz moved to Los Angeles, where she attended UCLA's Teacher Education Program, where she earned her M.Ed. After spending a year student teaching a 5th grade class in Watts, Liz joined the founding faculty of a startup school in East Hollywood where she spent seven years teaching 1st through 4th grades. In addition to classroom teaching, Liz also works as an anti-bias anti-racist facilitator for schools, organizations, and companies across the country. Her work has gained national recognition through a documentary short produced by Fluid Film, and media outlets such as CNN, The Washington Post, NPR, and BBC. In 2018, Liz received Teaching Tolerance's 2018 Award for Excellence in Teaching, and currently serves on the Teaching Tolerance Advisory Board. Liz is proud to share her 2019 TED Talk from "Education Everywhere" on building foundations of equity with young learners, and is the author of “Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community”. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing Siriana Abboud on the podcast. In our conversation, Siriana shares about her personal journey in education, the founding of Allusio Academy, the public perception of early childhood programs pre and post-COVID-19, her thoughts to the colonial situation in Palestine, and so much more! To learn more about Siriana's work, you can visit the Allusio Academy website at allusioacademy.com or you can follow her on Instagram (@allusio.academy) and Twitter (@siriana_). BIO: Siriana Abboud, founder of Allusio Academy, is devoted to a life in early childhood education. Her career began at Carnegie Mellon University. She received her B.S. in Psychology, with concentrations in developmental and social/personality psychology. Her additional major in French and Francophone Studies introduced her to bilingual acquisition and multilingual learning. At Columbia University, Teachers College, Siriana gained her Masters in Early Childhood Education, in both general and special education. There, she became the youngest student selected as a QUIERE scholar, studying education through social justice. She received an additional certification in French teaching. She has taught in twelve classrooms across New York City and Pittsburgh, ranging from infant to second grade. Her extensive experiences have equipped her with the knowledge and skills to serve students of all diverse backgrounds and abilities. Through her latest role as a head teacher in an NYC Universal Pre-K, Siriana developed an elementary mastery of Spanish, adding to her linguistic skills in English, Arabic, and French. Siriana values progressive pedagogies that are child-centered and informed by developmental research. As a teacher, she honors families as leaders of their child's education. Her approach is inspired by those of Reggio Emilia, Montessori, and other play-based philosophies. She invites children to explore their communities while bringing their world into the class. She has been featured on NPR's On Point Radio, Vogue Living Arabic, The Telegraph Food UK, and Pittsburgh Today Live. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing Buffalo's finest Dr. Tiffany M. Nyachae on the podcast to learn about her personal journey to education, her transition from the classroom to academia, how she manages racial battle fatigue as a Black woman in academia, the importance of incorporating 'race space' critical professional development in our school communities, and so much more! To learn more about Tiffany's work, you can visit The Evolving Education Project at evolvingeducationproject.com or you can follow her on Instagram (@tiffany.m.nyachae or @evolvingeducationproject) or Twitter (@tiffany_nyachae or @EvolvingEduProj) BIO: Tiffany M. Nyachae is Assistant Professor of Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at The Pennsylvania State University, College of Education. She is also podcaster, educational consultant, and founder of the Evolving Education Project; a fellow in the STAR (Scholars of Color Transitioning into Academic Research Institutions) Mentoring Program through the Literacy Research Association (LRA); and 2018-2020 Cultivating New Voices (CNV) Among Scholars of Color Fellow through the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). Dr. Nyachae earned her Ph.D. in Literacy Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and the Science of Learning at the University at Buffalo (SUNY). As a native and longtime resident of the city of Buffalo, NY, at the heart of her research agenda is, has been, and will be improving the educational experiences of students of Color. This agenda is evident in her research on supporting the racial literacy, social justice ideological becoming, and classroom practice of urban teachers committed to social justice through “race space” critical professional development. Additionally, she provides educational consulting and professional development to college/university faculty, school districts, administrators, and teachers through the Evolving Education Project. As a former middle school teacher of urban Black youth, Dr. Nyachae is interested in the continuous transparent and reflective work that is required from those who claim to center social justice in their leadership, instruction, and research. Thus, she also facilitates social justice literacy workshops and programming for youth of Color broadly—and for Black girls specifically at times—interrogating the degree to which these spaces are liberatory in actuality. Dr. Nyachae finds her greatest joy in learning with (and from) young people. Her publications have appeared in journals such as Urban Education, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Multicultural Learning and Teaching, Gender and Education, and Qualitative Inquiry. Finally, she also volunteers her service to various community and professional organizations. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this special episode, we switch things up a little bit! My wife Natalie makes her podcast debut as my co-host and we're excited to chat with our good friend Zenda Walker about her natural hair journey, creating the Know Your Hairitage book series, redefining hair education, her thoughts on the CROWN Act, and so much more! To learn more about Zenda's work, you can visit the Know Your Hairitage website at knowyourhairitage.com or you can follow her on Instagram (@zzenlife or @know_your_hairitage) and Twitter (@knowurhairitage). BIO: Zenda Walker is recognized as a dynamic and accomplished Marketing and Sales Executive with a proven track record in developing and executing strategic business plans that achieve sales goals for global beauty brands. She also has a strong background in managing marketing campaigns to increase profits and brand awareness, and she makes informed, data-driven decisions to support growth initiatives and transform key brands. Zenda is respected as a motivational, influential leader and collaborator who guides teams in realizing aggressive sales goals. She leverages a passion for the beauty industry to deliver exceptional customer service, and educate team members in best practices, service techniques, and product knowledge. Zenda drives new business by establishing strategic partnerships, and she is a natural networker and communicator, who fosters and maintains lasting relationships with strategic partners, C-Level executives, and key stakeholders. She also thrives in fast-paced, challenging environments that champion diversity and innovation. Zenda holds a Masters of Business Management from Cambridge College to support her exemplary educational and service background. She is also the author of the No. 1 Amazon New Release, "Know Your Hairitage: Zara's Wash Day", a children's book that celebrates diversity. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing early childhood educator Jerilee Melo on the podcast! In our conversation, she share about her early upbringing in Southern California, her family's influence in directing her to a career in teaching, the founding of Classroom to Go, the overall impact of COVID-19 on early childhood programs and students, and so much more! To learn more about Jerilee's work, you can visit the Classroom to Go website at missjerireads.wpcomstaging.com or you can follow her on Instagram (@classroomtogo). BIO: Jerilee Melo is the founder and creator of Classroom to Go, a mobile classroom that provides preschoolers with the social interaction they were missing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Born and raised in Southern California, she knew at a very early age that she wanted to be a teacher, just like her mother and two of her grandparents. Jerilee loved watching The Elephant Show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Lamb Chop's Play-Along, and Reading Rainbow as a child and still looks to those shows for inspiration. She has had the privilege of working with children for more than 16 years and was able to learn and teach in a variety of schools with various approaches to education including Montessori, Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, and Reggio Emilia. Prior to teaching, I was a co-director at My Gym Children's Fitness Center and even developed their Preschool Prep (Jump Start) program which is now offered at locations domestic and worldwide. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

For this week's episode, we're going international with my good friend and special guest Adrienne Waller! In our conversation, Adrienne goes in depth about life as a Black woman expat and international educator, the founding of Worldwide Educator, how teaching abroad has impacted her educational practice and worldview, why more educators should tap into Clubhouse, and much more! To learn more about Adrienne's work, you can visit her company's website at worldwideeducator.org or follow her on Instagram (@worldwideeducator) and Twitter (@worldwideeduc8r) BIO: Adrienne Waller is originally from Metro-Detroit, Michigan, USA. She studied at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor for undergraduate studies with a concentration in Organizational Studies and Sociology. She received her masters for National Louis University in Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education. Adrienne has been in education for 15 years doing parent involvement work, teaching and leadership; serving in public, private and charter schools in the US, Qatar and China. Her leadership learning includes earning a Cambridge Leadership Certificate, Michigan School Administrator's Certificate (August 2021) and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate. Matched with her leadership qualifications is a teaching certificate in Illinois for Elementary Education, Special Education, Middle School Social Studies and Middle School Math. Adrienne is the owner of Worldwide Educator, LLC an education consulting company focused on empowering educators to own their instructional genius while activating students. She has worked with educators across the country and the world in a variety of topics including but not limited to Differentiated Instruction, Student Centered Learning and Effective English Language Arts Instruction. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the special honor of interviewing educator and scholar Dr. Debbie Reese!  In our conversation, Dr. Reese goes in depth about her personal journey in education, the founding of her organization, American Indian in Children's Literature (AICL), the misrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in children's books, and so much more!  To learn more about Dr. Reese's work, you can visit the AICL website at americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net or follow her on Twitter (@debreese) or Instagram (@dreese_nambe).     BIO: Dr. Debbie Reese is an educator and founder of American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL). She is tribally enrolled at Nambe Owingeh, a federally recognized tribe, and grew up on Nambe's reservation. She earned her teaching degree from the University of New Mexico and taught elementary school in Albuquerque before moving to Oklahoma to work on a Master's degree in school administration.    During her time in Oklahoma, Dr. Reese taught at Riverside Indian School in Anadarko. Then she moved back to Nambé and taught at Santa Fe Indian School in Santa Fe and Pojoaque Elementary School in Pojoaque (just down the road from Nambé).    In the early 1990s, she moved to Illinois to work on a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. At the time, the University of Illinois had a stereotypical Indian mascot. Working alongside Native students and our allies, they were able to establish the Native American House at the University, and soon after that, launched an American Indian Studies program. A few years later, the university's mascot was discontinued.   During graduate school at Illinois, she reviewed for Horn Book. She has written for library publications such as Horn Book Magazine and School Library Journal, and educational publications like Language Arts, published by the National Council for Teachers of English. She has served on the Multicultural Advisory Board for Reading is Fundamental, and the board for Reach Out and Read American Indian/Alaska Native. Dr Reese has been invited to give lectures and workshops around the country and has recently begun using technology to work with libraries and colleagues in Canada, too. In 2018, she was selected to deliver the American Library Association's 2019 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

This week's episode was necessary and special! If you are a Black woman in education, this episode is for you! For this conversation, I welcomed my good friend and thriving edupreneur Deidra Fogarty to the podcast to talk about her personal journey in education, the founding of Black Girls Teach, the need for school districts to create safe community spaces for Black women educators, and much more! To learn more about Deidra's work, you can visit the Black Girls Teach website at blackgirlsteach.com or follow @blackgirlsteach on all social media platforms. BIO: Deidra Fogarty is a native of Bridgeport, Connecticut and is currently an Educator, Literacy Consultant and Entrepreneur. Deidra has worked in education for over a decade in various capacities. Her natural leadership ability allowed her to venture into leadership positions in Washington Metropolitan area. After a decade working in education and frustration with the current state of it, Deidra decided to make a pivot in her career entering back into the classroom as a teacher. Deidra used this as an opportunity to develop her teacher craft by working with students who needed the most academic support. With her new setting and role, came a happier mindset, thus allowing her to use her time to focus on her other passions such as diverse children's literature, supporting teachers, providing resources literacy to parents and bringing awareness to current issues in Urban Education. She, along with her sister, launched a successful subscription service called WAM! Book Bundle where she provides a selection of diverse children's books to parents and educators each month. Through all of her ventures, Deidra realized that there was a void in Urban Education. Along her journey, there was never a support system, community or outlet for Black women in Education, besides her own educator friends. She knew that women like herself often felt isolated and frustrated with not being able to share their thoughts about Education and their role in it, unapologetically. She wanted to create a community where other Black women working in Education could discuss topics, get advice, share best practices and connect with one another. She wanted to create a way for more people to see and hear the perspective of Black women working in Education. Black Girls Teach was the solution. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting it up with my good friend Bobby Morgan. In our conversation, Bobby shares his personal journey in education, the founding of Liberation Lab, his thoughts on the state of teacher performance evaluations, the need for antiracist solidarity in the fight for liberation, and much more. To learn more about Bobby's work, you can follow him on Instagram (@liberation.lab), Twitter (@myliberationlab) or you visit his website at myliberationlab.com. BIO: Bobby Morgan is an educator, writer, speaker, and consultant who specializes in working with other educators to promote equity and culturally responsive teaching practices. With over a decade in education, primarily in under resourced populations, Bobby is passionate about cultivating the brilliance in Black and Brown communities. Through coaching, workshops, and meaningful professional development, Bobby desires to change the educational landscape, ensuring pathways of success for students. In addition to his work within educational institutions, Bobby works as an educational advocate partnering with allies in the fight for equitable policies and legislative priorities for all students. He founded Liberation Lab, an educational consulting firm to build pathways for internal and external accountability. Internal accountability for teachers to put liberatory practices to work, immediately benefitting student outcomes. External accountability will come through empowering parents and families with the resources necessary to hold schools accountable for more than aspirations of equity. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I welcome Yaribel Mercedes to the podcast to talk about your personal journey in education, life as a teacher influencer on social media, the need for principal preparation programs to train principal candidates into anti-racist school leaders, and much more! To learn more about Yaribel's work, you can follow @yari_mercedes on Instagram. BIO: Yaribel Mercedes is a graduate of the 2018 Cohort o the Summer Principals Academy, New York City. Currently, she serves as an Academic Response Team Specialist, situated in Manhattan's Borough/Citywide Office, for the Department of Education. As an ART Specialist, she works in a collaborative partnership with districts, school leaders, and various stakeholders to build capacity and accelerate student learning. More specifically, she leads through a social justice and anti-racist leadership disposition to advance racial equity, inclusion, access, and opportunity. As a radicalized being, she understands the impact of race in education, and her passion and purpose is grounded in her commitment to disrupt racist and oppressive systems, structures, and policies that marginalize and minoritize Black, Indigenous, students of color. She deeply believes in the brilliance of every child and work with community stakeholders to cultivate curiosity, knowledge, intellect, and skills for all students to achieve at the highest level possible. Her greatest superpowers are words, writing them, speaking them, and BEING them. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I was honored to have educator, speaker and activist Ernest Crim III on the podcast to talk about his personal journey in education, the inspiration behind the making of his book, "Black History Saved My Life", how his college years served as a pivotal point for his evolution as an activist, and much more! To learn more about Ernest's work, you can visit his website at ernestcrim.com or follow him on all social media platforms with the handle @mrcrim3. BIO: Ernest Crim III is a self-proclaimed Black History Advocate who is a native of the southside of Chicago and a product of the late 80s. He is a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alum who advocates for Black History, equity and justice as a speaker, cultural consultant, sociopolitical commentator, cast member on the PBS documentary ‘Divided We Fall', author of the Amazon best-seller Black History Saved My Life, former City Council Candidate and high school social science instructor. As a consultant and speaker, he uses his experience with fighting a hate crime that went viral, to teach the important role Black History plays in becoming cultural compliant and equitable in the workplace, school and broader community. He has spoken at various conferences and institutions nationally, such as the United States Department of Education's Black History Month panel, the University of Chicago, Illinois State University and Nevada State College. Internationally, he's been a featured speaker in Canada and the United Kingdom. As an educator and activist, Mr. Crim has been awarded “Most Inspiring Teacher” more than five times, the “Joliet Chamber of Commerce's Great Teacher Award”, the National Hook-up of Black Women's “Gold Star Award for Education”, the P.E.P.S. “Community Activist of the Year Award”, and the “Dr. Isaac Singleton Award for Extraordinary Service” by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Joliet. His debut book, Black History Saved My Life: How My Viral Hate Crime led to an Awakening, which chronicles his experiences and triumphs with racism in relation to the hate crime he was the target of, is an Amazon best-seller. He has been featured on WVON radio, the NY Post, the Chicago Sun-Times and Tribune, PBS as a cast member on the documentary Divided We Fall, NPR, CBS, Matter of Fact (a television show produced by former CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien), the podcast of Red Table Talk co-host Adrienne Banfield-Norris, which is entitled Positively Gam and several other podcasts. Mr. Crim hopes to use his life experiences to inspire others to fight injustices and educate themselves for the purpose of empowerment, equity and justice. Black History saved Ernest's life. What's going to save yours? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I had the honor of having Akiea "Ki" Gross on the podcast to talk about their personal journey in education, the founding of Woke Kindergarten, what needs to be done to improve our education system for our early childhood educators and students, the need to create queer-affirming, abolitionist learning spaces in our schools, etc. To learn more about Ki's work, you can visit the Woke Kindergarten website at wokekindergarten.org and you can follow them on Instagram (@WokeKindergarten, @WhyAbolition, @WomxynAmplify and @SistersUnsigned) and Twitter (@akieag). BIO: Akiea “Ki” Gross (they/them) is an abolitionist early educator, coach, consultant and creative entrepreneur currently innovating ways to unlearn, heal, liberate and create with their pedagogy, Woke Kindergarten. In the many years they spent teaching in classrooms, their experiences spanned infancy to 6th grade. Prior to leaving the school system, they served as a Kindergarten Teacher and an Instructional Coach of Inquiry-Based Learning in Harlem. Recently, Ki was selected as the Early Childhood Education Assembly's 2020 Social Justice Award Recipient and has participated as a speaker, panelist and moderator for many organizations and events including Bank Street's Black Lives Matter at Schools Week Symposiums, SXSW EDU, Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented, Teachers for Social Justice, Montclair State, UMBC, NYPL, Abolitionist Teaching Network and more. It was their experiences with the carceral state of schooling and the trauma enacted upon Black children in these systems, that galvanized them to create #BlackTeachersMatter, Black Teachers Mentor and Equitable Schools years ago. As their ideologies and experiences with abolition evolved, they dissolved Equitable Schools and created @WhyAbolition. Their commitment to creating safe, inclusive and liberatory spaces for BIPOC queer & trans artists also led them to create Sisters Unsigned, an intimate concert series that amplifies the voices of independent queer, trans, gender and genre expansive BIPOC artists and creators. Along with their partner Sonic and creative team, Womxyn Amplify, they've directed, curated and hosted many other creative pursuits including Sisters Unsigned presents: Women in Hip Hop, Archway Pride, and SEASONS: A Voyage Through Sound, their team's 2020 artist residency at National Sawdust. Currently, they serve as Coaching Manager for 4.0 Schools, an early stage investor and incubator for education entrepreneurs, and are working on the release of a few entrepreneurial projects of their own. They hold an M.A. in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College, an M.S. in Childhood Education/Special Education from the Progressive Education Institute/Touro College and two B.A.'s in Child Development and Family Studies and Psychology, respectively. You can find them on Twitter @akieag and their work on Instagram @WokeKindergarten, @WhyAbolition, @WomxynAmplify and @SistersUnsigned. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

For this week's episode, we welcome ethnic studies teacher and curriculum specialist Lucia Reyes to the podcast to talk about her personal journey in education, her Chicana heritage, the importance of incorporating ethnic studies into our K-12 curriculum, the founding of her company, ESTE Publishing, and much more! To learn more about Lucia's work, you can visit the ESTE Publishing website at estepublishing.com or you can follow her on Instagram with the handles @the_rebellious_history_teacher (Personal) and @a_rebellious_education (Business).    BIO:  Lucia Reyes is a proud Chicana mama to one special little human & a “Mama Reyes” to hundreds of special bigger humans. She is a 7th grade Social Studies & 7th/8th grade Ethnic Studies public school teacher and the founder of ESTE Publishing. Through ESTE, which stands for Empowering Students Through Education, she offers services & curriculum that is 100% dedicated to racial equity, social justice, & decolonized historical truth. SHE IS NOT A NEUTRAL EDUCATOR. She has spent 20 years in education advocating for the most underserved & underestimated youth in Los Angeles County to have the same educational access, rights, & opportunities as other kids. She's tired of fighting. She just wants to teach but she's seen too much, knows too much, hugged too many sobbing kids, seen too many kids struggle in a system that was designed to hold them down instead of lift them up. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

This special episode is dedicated to the librarians and media specialists who are holding it down in their schools! I had the honor of interviewing K.C. Boyd, Sandra Albini, and Forrest Evans, who took the time to share their personal journeys to librarianship, the significant role that librarians play in supporting students and teachers, the need for racial equity and diversity within the librarian media specialist field, and much more! To learn more about their work, you can check out their respective websites or follow them on their social media handles: K.C. BOYD: Website: kcboyd.com; Social Media: (IG & TWITTER - @boss_librarian) SANDRA ALBINI: Social Media: IG - @hoodlibrarian FORREST EVANS: Website: favoritelibrarian.com Social Media: (IG - @favoritelibrarian, TWITTER - @MsForrestnoGump) BIO: K.C. Boyd is currently a school librarian with the Washington D.C. School System. She has previously worked as the Lead Librarian for the East St. Louis District #189 in East St. Louis, IL., a Area Library Coordinator for Chicago Public Schools and a District Coordinator for the Mayor Daley Book Club for Middle School Students. She is a second generation educator and holds Master's degrees in Library Information Science, Media Communications, and Education Leadership. Boyd currently serves on the executive boards for the District of Columbia Library Association and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. She is an active committee member for the American Library Association Chapter Council representing Washington, D.C., American Association of School Librarians Digital Tools, American Library Association's Center for the Future of Libraries Advisory Group, Every Library Institute and Advisory Board, and the Washington Teachers' Union Equity Collaborative. In addition, Boyd is a National Ambassador representing the Washington D.C. are for the Checkology Virtual Classroom and The News Literacy Project. Sandra (Maríne) Albini earned a BA in English from Cal Poly Pomona. As an undergrad, she worked as a Foster Child Caregiver in a group home for teenage girls in L.A. County. She earned an MA in English from Cal State University, Los Angeles. Sandra has worked as an English and AVID teacher for almost two decades. She has taught in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and Santa Clara County, all at Title I schools. She occasionally teaches night classes in adult education. Sandra has recently completed an MLIS degree and Teacher Librarian credential from San José State University. Sandra has worked as a Teacher Librarian for three years. She was also the 2020 recipient of the California State Library Association's Leadership for Diversity scholarship. Sandra is now an active member of the CSLA Leadership for Diversity committee. Forrest Evans is an Atlanta-based, licensed librarian working at the Auburn Avenue Research Library. Evans has worked in various libraries from Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the south to special collections and television. The avid DC Comic Book collector combating under education, and fighting for gender equality. Their love for reading fuels my passion to circulate Black and Queer Literature, and resources. The low country native, also known for her published poetry in Pen+Brush, Lavender Review: Lesbian Poetry and Art, TQ Review: A Journal of Trans and Queer Voices, and The Apogee Journal. When the poet is not in the library, they are with their Queer Tribe combating xenophobia or sharing joy. For more information about Evans, visit favoritelibrarian.com or their official social media. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

With the national conversation about critical race theory gaining so much momentum in recent weeks, I invited Dr. Angel Jones and Dr. Kate Slater to educate our listeners of what critical race theory is, the true origins of the theory, and the specific actions that K-12 educators can take to integrate the basic tenets of the theory into their curriculum and daily teaching practice. They also shared about the ups and downs they experienced being women in the Academy. To learn more about Dr. Jones' work, you can visit her website at angeljonesphd.com and follow her on all social media platforms with the handle @angeljonesphd. To learn more about Dr. Slater's work, you can visit her website at kateaslater.com and follow her on Instagram (@katerslater). BIO: Dr. Angel Jones is a passionate educator with 15+ years of experience in K-12 and Higher Education. At her core, as both an educator and a researcher, she endeavors to improve the lives of marginalized students while providing opportunities for their stories to be told. Broadly, her research focuses on the experiences of Black and Brown students at historically White institutions. More specifically, she examines how their experiences impact their mental health and overall well-being. Her areas of interest include microaggressions, racial battle fatigue, gendered-racism, and the psychological impact of each on Students of Color. Additionally, her research is informed by Critical Race Theory, Critical Race Feminism, and other theoretical frameworks that acknowledge and highlight the impact of race, gender, and other marginalized identities on the experiences of Students of Color. ​She is a proud first-generation college student who received her Ph.D. in Education from George Washington University with a focus on inequality in Higher Education. She also has an M.Ed. and Ed.S. in School Counseling from Georgia State University, as well as a B.A. in Political Science from Syracuse University. She is also a Brooklyn native and proud Afro Latina. Dr. Kate Slater is a White anti-racist scholar and educator. She is currently the Assistant Dean of Graduate Student Affairs at Brandeis University. Previously, she was the Associate Director & Manager of Programs at the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers, a nonprofit that promotes racial equity in the American educational sector. She is also a lecturer at the University of New Hampshire for the course Teaching Race, which explores the history of race and racism in America. Her doctoral research centers the experiences of underrepresented minorities students in higher education, and in particular, at predominantly White institutions. She also investigates White racial identity formation and how racism operates individually, organizationally, and systemically. She leads facilitations, trainings, and affinity groups with K-12 institutions and universities, as well as with numerous private organizations. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

In this episode, I welcomed special education professors Dr. Jen Newton and Dr. Mira Cole Williams to the podcast for an important conversation about combating ableism in our K-12 schools. They also shared how ableism plays into the national conversation about critical race theory, the founding of the Teaching is Intellectual Platform, the actions that educators & school districts must take to integrate anti-ableist practices into their school communities, the future of special education during the COVID-19 pandemic, and much more! This episode is dedicated to all the special education teachers and inclusion teachers who are in the trenches! To learn more about their work, you can visit their website at teachingisintellectual.com or you can follow them on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter with the handle @teachingisintellectual. BIO: Jen Newton, PhD is an assistant professor in special education. Dr. Newton's research interests include strengths-based approaches to families, early childhood inclusion, inclusive teacher preparation, and socially just and equitable educational practices. She presents locally, regionally, and nationally on a range of inclusive educational topics. She served as an early interventionist and an inclusive prekindergarten teacher prior to pursuing doctoral studies. Dr. Newton earned her doctorate in special education with a focus on teacher education from the University of Kansas and spent four years as an assistant professor at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., then three years at Saint Louis University before finding her home at Ohio University. Mira Cole Williams, PhD, is an associate professor in the Educational Foundations and Exceptionalities Department at James Madison University. Dr. Williams earned a doctoral degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education from the University of Virginia. She also received her Master's of Teaching and B.S. in Psychology from the University of Virginia. Dr. Williams taught for six years in inclusive early childhood preschool and elementary classrooms in Virginia. In addition, she served as an educational specialist, consulting with teachers and families of children with disabilities, focusing on differentiating instruction and providing curricular access to all children. She is a strong advocate of high-quality teacher preparation in the area of Early Childhood Inclusive and Special Education and is focused on social justice and equity for young children and their families. She presents locally and nationally on a range of topics related to improving teacher preparation, inclusive practices in early childhood education, and disrupting microaggressions in P-16 educational settings. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support