Know-It-All: The ABCs of Education

The juvenile justice and criminal justice systems ensnare far too many black and brown boys and men. Increasingly, women are caught in this dangerous web too. On this episode of Know-It-All, we are exploring the contours of some of the barriers to mental health and developmental wellness for communities of color that can lead to mass incarceration. Dr. Troy Waller is a licensed professional counselor with 15 years of counseling experience. He explains the implications of the breaks in various systems - education, criminal justice, and health care - that keep those systems from adequately protecting and serving black and brown people. He'll share his insights about how these systemic failures manifest and show up in the lives of adults, no matter their socioeconomic status. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and founder of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans and promotes equity in education in compliance with federal civil rights law.

There is much discussion about the role that mental health issues have played in schools and communities that have been impacted by recent college campus shootings and other school shootings. On this week's Know-It-All: The ABCs of Education, join us for an informative conversation with George Washington University Associate Professor of Counseling, Dr. Sam Steen. School counselors address mental health issues that arise and also support students' healthy social, emotional, and academic development.With his expertise and research on group counseling, Dr. Steen has identified key counseling strategies, particularly group counseling, that can produce positive outcomes for individuals inside schools and in communities as a whole.  Dr. Steen will share with us his enlightening perspective on the benefits and necessity of having counselors and other mental health professionals in the school environment.  Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans and promotes equity in education.

Eighty-two people were shot in Chicago over the July 4th weekend. Fourteen of those people died. Most of the victims were Black and Latino men. Dr. Roger A. Mitchell has made it his personal crusade to put an end to the senseless violence that consumes far too many sons and brothers, daughters and sisters, and that lays waste to entire communities. Named by Mayor Vincent Gray in Washington, DC as Chief Medical Examiner earlier this year after a stint as Regional Medical Examiner in New Jersey, Dr. Mitchell is breathing life into his unique profession of forensic pathology by sharing vital information with communities and invigorating a movement that had lost its focus. He talks to us about his heavy charge as Chief Medical Examiner, about his mission to save Black lives, and about his forthcoming memoir, The Price of Freedom: A Son's Journey. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and the President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates racial equity plans and promotes racial equity, particularly in education.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a puzzle. While the number of people diagnosed with ADHD is on the rise, there is still debate about whether ADHD is a real disorder, and debate about whether people, children especially, with ADHD should be prescribed medication to treat their symptoms. Despite the debates, there does seem to be a link between the symptoms of ADHD and mass-produced foods with lots of sodium, sugar, chemicals, and other additives. Dr. Rachel V. Gow is a neuroscientist whose expertise is ADHD, and particularly the impact of food, diet, and nutrition on the development and treatment of ADHD. She'll help us sort through the puzzle that is ADHD and talk about the importance of nutrition for children with ADHD and for all of us. Know-It-All Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans and works with entities to promote equity in education.  

Research has demonstrated that diversity among academic researchers, who typically have Ph.D.s, is much needed in order to ensure success and progress in the scholarship they produce. Recent collaborations between academic researchers and practitioners have brought that need to bear.  Dr. Shireen Lewis founded SisterMentors because of her own arduous journey to get a Ph.D. and her determination that other women of color would not have to travel that road alone. She talks with us about the importance of racial diversity in higher education, why the dissertation is the most difficult and most fulfilling part of the Ph.D. quest, and what needs to be done to grow Ph.D.s in and among our own communities. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans and promotes equity in compliance with federal civil rights law.

As we approach the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, an important new study reveals a separate and unequal system of education in this country. This new research indicates that the proliferation of charter schools is not benefiting our nation's most vulnerable children and is potentially detrimental to them. Not only that, but the current motivations behind the charter movement are not entirely altruistic. Dr. Gordon Lafer is the author of that study, and he joins us on this episode of Know-It-All to talk about the disturbing results and about what we can do to counter the movement and focus on equity for all of our children. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans and promotes equity in education in compliance with federal civil rights law.  

In a groundbreaking new study - The Broken Compass: Parental Involvement with Children's Education, Dr. Angel Harris and Dr. Keith Robinson have discovered that parental involvement, at least the way it is currently envisioned, doesn't quite work the way we think it does to ensure students' academic success. They will talk to us about their research, what it means for the future of parent engagement, what schools should focus on instead, and what parents can and should do to support their children. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans and promotes equity in education in compliance with federal law.

For parents and educators, talking with children about sex can be awkward and uncomfortable. Especially today when so much of the wrong information is readily accessible to kids, talking to them about sex has never been more critical. My guest, Deborah Roffman, is a human sexuality expert and the author of several books, including the most recent Talk to Me First: Everything You Need to Know to Become Your Kids' "Go-To" Person About Sex. She'll discuss how and when adults should talk with children about sex and the dangers of not doing so. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans and promotes equity in education in compliance with federal law.

High-poverty schools require considerable resources and deliberate action to adequately support children and families, to address the institutional barriers to opportunity children face, and to ensure students' academic and life success. While the challenges are many, there is a blueprint for what works. Turnaround for Children, Inc. Founder, President, and CEO Pamela Cantor, M.D. talks to us about school turnaround and about why it is necessary, especially in high-poverty schools, for turnaround experts to partner with schools and educators and with students and families to systematically address the impacts of poverty on teaching and learning. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans with schools and promotes equity in education in compliance with federal law.

Ensuring access to educational opportunity for children who are incarcerated is critical to ensuring their life success. Successfully delivering high-quality academic programming to students in juvenile detention facilities while also supporting their social and emotional needs is incredibly important and also can provide valuable lessons for all educators about what works well for any child. Barbara Paz Cornejo is Vice Principal at the Maya Angelou Academy located at the New Beginnings Youth Development Center, a juvenile detention facility in Washington, D.C. She talks with us about her experiences successfully educating children behind bars, and she shares information for educators and caregivers about how best to educate, and love, all of our children. Host Allison R. Brown is the President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans and promotes equity in education in compliance with federal law.

Maria Montessori believed in children's instinctual ability to teach themselves. My guest, Dr. Jessica Phillips-Silver, shares that belief. Dr. Phillips-Silver is a neuroscientist and expert on healthy brain development in children. She has also studied Montessori education extensively. On this episode of Know-It-All, Dr. Phillips-Silver shares with us how parents and educators can adopt the Montessori mindset to let children lead the way to their own academic, social, and emotional nirvana. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans and promotes equity in education in compliance with federal law.

Kimberlé Crenshaw is the creator of, and the nation's pre-eminent legal scholar on, Critical Race Theory. As co-founder of the African American Policy Forum, she also has focused national attention on the role of gender in the struggle for racial justice. On this episode of Know-It-All: The ABCs of Education, Professor Crenshaw will talk us through the gender dynamics of My Brother's Keeper. On February 27, President Obama stood for and with some of this country's most undervalued and marginalized assets - boys and men of color - to create My Brother's Keeper. This initiative is a partnership between the federal government and private entities in support of boys and young men of color. We'll talk with Professor Crenshaw about what this means for women and girls of color and how we should all use this opportunity to advance as a community united.

On today's episode of Know-It-All: The ABCs of Education, we are replaying one of our most popular shows - The Superintendents' Roundtable. Superintendents all over the country are under mounting pressure to ensure high academic achievement for their students, provide safe and nurturing school environments, and treat students equitably.  Our guests, all superintendents, will divulge the insider secrets to keeping their heads under such pressures. Dr. Eugene White, Superintendent of Schools for Indianapolis Public Schools in Indiana; Dr. Maria Ott, recently retired Superintendent of Schools for the Rowland Unified School District in California; and Ricardo Medina, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District in California, will be our guests. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans and promotes equity in education in compliance with federal law.

On January 8, the United States Department of Justice and Department of Education announced the release of the first-ever joint guidance on student discipline. The guidance provides information to schools and school districts about their obligations under the law to eliminate and prevent racial discrimination in the way that they discipline students. My guests, Shaheena Simons, Deputy Chief of the Educational Opportunities Section of the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, and Jonathan Stith, Executive Director of the Alliance for Educational Justice, will talk about the guidance and why its release is such a critical moment for education equity. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans and promotes equity in education in compliance with federal civil rights law.

College tuition and associated costs are rising, making it more and more difficult for students to enroll in college and stay there through graduation. On this episode, my guests and I will talk about scholarships - traditional and not - as tools for educational equity. Nkechi Taifa is the founder of SCHOLARgifts, a crowdfunding platform for educational opportunities. Felecia Hatcher is the co-owner of Feverish Ice Cream & Gourmet Pops. She is also the author of The "C" Student's Guide to Scholarships and is widely regarded as the Scholarship Guru.  Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other organizations to create education equity plans and promote equity in education in compliance with federal civil rights law.

Teachers are the life force of any education system, which makes them easy targets. 2013 has been quite a year for teachers - from standardized testing protests to teacher evaluation showdowns and more.  This week's guest is Elizabeth Davis, an educator with 41 years experience as a classroom teacher and the new President of the Washington Teachers Union in Washington, D.C. She is lifting her own voice on behalf of teacher voices all over DC and the nation, and she'll talk to us about what 2013 has meant for teachers and what is to come for teachers in the new year. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and non-profit organizations to create education equity plans and promote equity in education in compliance with federal law.

It's our one-year anniversary! Know-It-All: The ABCs of Education is turning one. For this very special episode of Know-It-All, we are giving back the racial bribe, as Michelle Alexander implored us to do in The New Jim Crow, and as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was in the process of doing before he was assassinated. We have assembled an all-star cast to bridge the racial divide and tackle poverty. Dr. Deborah Hicks is the author of The Road Out: A Teacher's Odyssey in Poor America, in which she breathes life into the two-dimensional caricature that so often permeates the national consciousness when it comes to poor whites. An eerily familiar story for children of color. Dr. Ivory Toldson is a scholar of world renown who is annihilating stereotypes about black children through his extensive research and publications about racial equity. Dr. Paul Gorski is a multicultural education expert who is debunking the culture of poverty myth through works such as his recent book, Reaching and Teaching Students in Poverty. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other organizations to create education equity plans and promote equity in education in compliance with federal law.

Protest and resistance have been grassroots tools that communities use to create systemic change. Today, protests in education are demanding common-sense approaches to education and education reform. Students, parents and families, teachers are banding together in cities across the country in protest of, among other things, school discipline policies and practices, teacher evaluation rubrics, and standardized tests. My guest, Jesse Hagopian, is a history teacher at Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington. Jesse recently organized his fellow teachers at Garfield and other Seattle schools and refused to administer the state standardized test, the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress). This boycott has led to several other local efforts to resist the national push to test public-school students, rather than provide meaningful, teacher-developed assessment. Jesse will talk to us about the MAP boycott and about how it fits in the larger picture of resistance and protest in education. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and non-profit organizations to create education equity plans and promote equity in education in compliance with federal civil rights law.

Boys are in a state of crisis. At least, that's what my guest, Dr. Warren Farrell, argues. And his argument is compelling. Sixty percent of first-year college students are women. Boys are more likely to be suspended from school or labeled ADHD than their female counterparts. Dr. Farrell joins us to talk about the boy crisis and its origins - what he calls the Myth of Male Power, also the title of one of his books.  Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and non-profit organizations to create education equity plans and promote equity in education in compliance with federal civil rights laws.

It's our one-year anniversary! Know-It-All: The ABCs of Education is turning one. For this very special episode of Know-It-All, we are giving back the racial bribe, as Michelle Alexander implored us to do in The New Jim Crow, and as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was in the process of doing before he was assassinated. We have assembled an all-star cast to bridge the racial divide and tackle poverty. Dr. Deborah Hicks is the author of The Road Out: A Teacher's Odyssey in Poor America, in which she breathes life into the two-dimensional caricature that so often permeates the national consciousness when it comes to poor whites. An eerily familiar story for children of color. Dr. Ivory Toldson is a scholar of world renown who is annihilating stereotypes about black children through his extensive research and publications about racial equity. Dr. Paul Gorski is a multicultural education expert who is debunking the culture of poverty myth through works such as his recent book, Reaching and Teaching Students in Poverty. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other organizations to create education equity plans and promote equity in education in compliance with federal law.

Hip-hop music is ubiquitous. While it has been many things to many people over the years, it has consistently been a vehicle of artistic expression for people who otherwise might not have had such a prominent platform. Hip hop is poetry, music, sociology, even macroeconomics. It can be a viable educational tool, when used correctly. My guest, Larry "Lak" Henderson, CEO of SmartMusic Entertainment, will talk about hip hop music and how he uses hip hop to reach a generation. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other entities to create education equity plans and promote equity in education in compliance with federal law.

Arts instruction in school has taken a back seat to standardized tests, STEM programs, and a focus on college and career readiness. Yet there is a consistently vocal public lament over the loss of the arts in school. Many people know intuitively that this is devastating to our children and to our nation. Art Basel is the world's premier platform for Modern and contemporary art. With three annual art shows in Basel, Switzerland; Hong Kong; and Miami, Florida, Art Basel brings together artists of all types. I will join Dr. Natalie Hopkinson of the Interactivity Foundation as she hosts public discussions of her project, The Future of the Arts & Society, at Art Basel in Miami next month. On today's episode of Know-It-All, Dr. Hopkinson and I will talk about why art is still so important and how it relates to equity in education. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other entities to create education equity plans and promote equity in education in compliance with federal civil rights laws.

President Obama visited Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) last week to discuss his administration's education agenda. He called for high-quality pre-school for every 4-year-old in the country, access to high-speed Internet for all students, lower college costs, and schools that are redesigned to teach high-tech skills. My guests, Heather Hiles, Founder and CEO of PathBrite, and Dr. Debra Mahone, Director of State and Federal Programs for the Prince George's County Public School District, will talk to us about what technology in education really looks like for educators and why technology is critical to ensuring equity for all students. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other organizations to create education equity plans and promote equity in education.

I have invited some of my lawyer friends to Know-It-All to talk about the law and education and the work they do every day to ensure that children all over this nation receive a quality education. We'll talk about the school-to-prison pipeline, access to advanced courses, special education, charter schools, and more.  Join me; Shakti Belway, a civil rights attorney and expert; Timothy Riveria of the Advocates for Justice and Education, Inc.; and Stephen Chen, a civil rights attorney for the federal government, for an in-depth look at how the law impacts education. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other entities to create education equity plans and promote equity in education. 

Why is it important to talk about poverty in education?  How do we do that in a way that is respectful and meaningful? Many times, discussions about education reform intentionally conflate race and class.  There are a few reasons for this, including that the federal courts have slowly closed the courthouse doors to claims of race discrimination in education.  Courts also have almost completely prohibited voluntary efforts to create racial diversity in schools.  As a result, equity proponents have been forced into a difficult position - using socioeconomic status as a proxy for race.  This often leaves educators, community members, and others thinking about poverty only in terms of race.  Our special guest, Dr. Adriane Williams, will equip listeners with the necessary tools to navigate between the overlapping worlds of race and poverty in education.

Well-intentioned parents, coaches, and educators do their best to encourage children to succeed. When that encouragement emanates from a fixed mindset, however, rather than a growth mindset, it can be detrimental. Dr. Carol S. Dweck is the author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Her research has shown that we are raising a generation of children, many of whom do not cope well with loss and who internalize their individual failures rather than using those opportunities as personal development. On this episode of Know-It-All, we'll talk about Mindset, which has changed many an outlook on life, parenting approaches, education strategies, coaching methods, business leadership perspectives, and so on. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and founder of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other organizations to create education equity plans and promote educational equity in compliance with federal civil rights law.

The Education Trust recently released a new report, "The State of Education for Native Students." This report found that while achievement gaps for students of color are slowly closing, academic achievement for American Indian and Alaska Native students has stagnated, contributing to widening gaps between Native students and their white peers. On this episode of Know-It-All, the author of the report, Natasha Ushomirsky, and Daria Hall, both from the Education Trust, will join us to talk about the report's findings and about those schools that have gotten it right for Native students. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other entities to create education equity plans and promote equity in education.

Allison Brown Consulting (ABC) and the Interactivity Foundation (IF) have partnered to create a new method of engaging school and district community members. This ABC-IF discussion and engagement model brings together parents, administrators, teachers, staff, and other community members with a trained IF facilitator for a series of in-depth conversations about issues related to equity in their schools and possible solutions to those issues that will bring the most benefit to students. After the series of discussions is complete, ABC and IF generate a report based on the school community's recommendations and based in federal civil rights law that requires equity in education. ABC and IF piloted this discussion and engagement model at Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School in D.C. The principal at Yu Ying, Maquita Alexander, joins Dr. Natalie Hopkinson and Allison R. Brown to talk about the school's experiences with the new method and her advice for other schools who also wish to put equity first. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other organizations to develop educational equity plans and promote student equity.

American Promise is a documentary that has generated incredible buzz and won critical acclaim. Husband and wife filmmakers, Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster, will join us to discuss this important work. In the film, the exclusive and private Dalton School in NYC has recently committed to opening its doors to a more diverse student population. The film follows Idris and Seun, two African American boys, and their families from the day the boys first enroll as 5-year-olds at Dalton through to their graduation 12 years later. The audience is allowed to enter an intimate space with the families as race and class and well-meaning diversity aspirations collide. As the filmmakers tell us, "Opportunity is the first step." _______ Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other entities to create education equity plans and promote student equity.

Through the voices of students, we will explore current issues in education and education reform. From learning outside the classroom to the school-to-prison pipeline to students' recommendations for what to do better in education, we'll touch on all of it. You'll also hear more about the new discussion model that Allison Brown Consulting (ABC) has developed in collaboration with the Interactivity Foundation. _______ Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other entities to develop education equity plans and promote student equity.

ADHD, Peer Pressure, Bullying ... Stress. We are ailing, and our children seem to be the worst afflicted. Strong adult/child attachments are key to raising healthy children. The adults in that equation have to be us - their parents. Not their teachers, daycare providers, social workers. Us. But instead of keeping our children close, we push them into the unwitting arms of their peers. Think Lord of the Flies. Our peer-oriented children are more focused on social acceptance than on inquisitive, intellectual, independent living. Our guest, Dr. Gabor Maté, is the internationally-renowned author of Hold on to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter and When the Body Says No: The Stress-Disease Connection. He'll talk us through how to reconnect with our

Food deserts, lack of green spaces for physical activity, economic disinvestment. All of these contribute to significant health and wellness disparities for Black and Latino urban communities.  Our guests on this episode of Know-It-All: The ABCs of Education are Autumn Saxton-Ross, Ph.D., and Wilson, a 13-year-old champion triathlete. Dr. Saxton-Ross is the Program Director for the PLACE MATTERS initiative at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. She will share how she has dedicated her life to improving the health of communities through engagement, activity, education, exposure, and opportunity, because, in her words, "a healthy life is lived better outdoors." Wilson will talk with us about how important physical activity and sports are to his personal and academic success. _______ Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and non-profits to develop educational equity plans and promote student equity.

On August 24 and 28, thousands will gather in the nation's capital to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Attendees will be coming to pledge their commitment to continue the work that needs to be done to make progress in equity for all people in this nation. On this episode of Know-It-All, youth from different parts of the country will talk to us about how they have been impacted by Trayvon Martin's death and the jury verdict acquitting his killer and what we must do as a nation to move forward 50 years after the March on Washington. My very special co-host will be my 10-year-old son, Masai. ___________ Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools and other organizations to develop education equity plans and promote equity in education.

The Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University recently released a groundbreaking report on racial inequity in higher education - Separate and Unequal: How Higher Education Reinforces the Intergenerational Reproduction of White Privilege.  One of the study's co-authors, Dr. Jeff Strohl, will join us to discuss the study's findings. We'll talk about whether there are two separate tracks into higher education institutions, one track for white students and another for black and Latino students. We'll also discuss resources in those different tracks and the role of white privilege in perpetuating inequity in higher ed. _______ Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans for schools and helps organizations to promote student equity.

Today's industrial revolution is digital. Students must have fluency in science and technology in order to see real success in school and in life. Despite efforts to increase access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education for students of color, digital entrepreneurs continue to be overwhelmingly white. My guest, Kathryn Finney, is changing that. Kathy is the founder of digitalUNdivided, which develops programs, projects, and forward thinking initiatives that bridge the digital knowledge gap, particularly for women of color. ______ Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and founder of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans for schools and works with organizations to promote student equity.

English-language learner children are a growing segment of the student population in American schools. While they work to acquire the English language, they are also typical students - curious, inquisitive, bright, funny, with special needs and without. Guest, Dr. Maria N. Trejo, is an expert in educational services and needs of English language learner students, struggling readers, and equity issues for all students. She worked for the California State Department of Education as a top-level administrator at various capacities. She has been an expert for the U.S. Department of Justice in cases brought to ensure that English-language learner students are adequately served in school, and she works with school districts to support all students equitably. _______ Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which works with schools to develop education equity reports and helps non-profit organizations to promote student equity.

Segregation by race and income in American schools is increasing. Though not measurable by today's standardized testing tools, the social and emotional benefits of diversity and integration for ALL students are tremendous. My guest, Michael J. Petrilli, will discuss his book The Diverse Schools Dilemma: A Parent's Guide to Socioeconomically Mixed Public Schools about his own quest to find a racially and socioeconomically diverse school for his white, middle-class children. Michael is also executive vice president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a think tank focused on K-12 education policy. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans for schools and helps non-profit organizations to promote equity in education.

Daily stress, malnutrition, lack of physical activity, and low expectations and dangerous stereotypes threaten the well-being of children living in poverty. Although these things can be overcome, it is an uphill climb. On this episode of Know-It-All, we'll talk with Dr. Robert Atkins, Associate Professor at Rutgers University and currently the National Program Director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's New Jersey Health Initiatives (NJHI) program. Dr. Atkins has been the Director of the School Nurse Certification Program and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Nursing at Rutgers. Dr. Atkins is not your typical school nurse, and he has dedicated his life to improving health outcomes for students in under-resourced, urban neighborhoods through service, scholarship, and education. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates Education Equity Plans for schools and assists non-profit organizations to promote educational equity.

We are expanding the national conversation about equity in education to include private schools. Many private schools offer their students unique and engaging curricula and safe, holistically nurturing environments. Many private schools also serve diverse student populations. Jeff Sindler, Head of School for a private school in the Washington D.C. area, will discuss how private schools ensure their doors are open to students of all backgrounds and where private schools fit in school reform conversations and efforts. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates education equity plans for schools and helps non-profit organizations to promote equity in education.

Diversity is the word of the day after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Fisher v. University of Texas. On this episode of Know-It-All, we'll take a look at diversity and multiculturalism in education through a different lens - gifted education. What is gifted education and, for purposes of equity, what should it be? My guest, Dr. Donna Y. Ford, is the author of several books, including Multicultural Gifted Education and the recently-released Recruiting & Retaining Culturally Different Students in Gifted Education. She'll talk to us about seeking and maintaining diversity for K-12 students in gifted and advanced courses. Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates educational equity plans for schools and helps non-profit organizations to promote equity in education.

Teenagers deal with a lot. Puberty and their changing bodies and emotions. Social hierarchies and dynamics that play out publicly through social media. Schools have to grapple with all that children bring with them. Despite our changing times, drugs and alcohol continue to be a temptation for many teens, and far too many teens succumb to addiction. My guest, Rufus L. Brown, is the Director of Steps to Life, a transitional housing program in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has been counseling and supporting individuals caught in the dangerous web of substance abuse and addiction for many years, and he will talk to us about what educators and families can do to help their children who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), which creates educational equity plans for schools and assists non-profit organizations to promote educational equity in their communities.

Autism and other disorders on the autism spectrum are difficult to understand. Although we don't know with any certainty what causes autism, parents and educators of children with autism have come up with remarkable strategies to support their children and nurture their gifts, and to be advocates for their children. My guests, Kerry Dillman and Markeycion McKinney, of LEARN Behavior Consultation Services, will talk to us about their work to equip parents and caregivers with the tools they need to support children with autism. Tamara Kassabian, incredible mommy to a child with autism, will share insights from her experiences working to give her child the love and care that he needs. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC).

We're talking about race, class, and education. On Friday, the Washington Post published a piece by my community discussion partner, Dr. Natalie Hopkinson, entitled "Organic Chemistry: Two Tracks of Schooling Raise Questions About Class, Race and Community." This episode of Know-It-All continues the conversation. My guest, Dr. Paul C. Gorski, is a professor of education and founder of the undergraduate Social Justice program at George Mason University. He is also the founder of EdChange, a non-profit organization that helps celebrate diversity and promote educational equity. Dr. Gorski will talk to us about the danger of the myth that all poor people are of one culture and thus hold the same values. _______ Know-It-All Host Allison R. Brown is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC), providing educational equity plans for schools and helping non-profit organizations to promote educational equity.

Grassroots activism in education is responsible for birthing the movements that gave us Brown v. Board and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and is now responsible for the recent national focus on standardized testing, racial disparities in student discipline, school closures, and other pressing issues. My guest, Daniel del Pielago, is an Education Organizer for Empower DC in Washington, D.C. He has dedicated his life to grassroots activism in educating young people, particularly young people in and from under-resourced communities. He will talk to us about how he lives what he wants to see and how he works cooperatively with systems to promote innovative change for children. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC).

It is Memorial Day, and we are honoring those who have lost their lives for this country. We will talk about how to teach our children to be advocates for, and students of, peace. And we'll discuss the role of faith and spirituality in peace education. Susan G. Burton is the Director of the United Methodist Seminar Program on National and International Affairs on Capitol Hill. She facilitates social justice learning experiences for students in which they come to understand the intersection of faith, justice, and service. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC).

Public charter vs. traditional public schools, local communities vs. outside reformers, black vs. white. There are many distractions and red herrings in discussions about education reform. My guest, Dr. Andre Perry, has put many of those distractions on the table in his fascinating novel, The Garden Path: The Miseducation of a City. The novel is set in post-Katrina New Orleans, which has become a key education reform battleground. In Dr. Perry's take, the students prevail over all else. As the former CEO of a charter school network in New Orleans and a university professor there, Dr. Perry crafted The Garden Path on a solid foundation of personal experience. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC).

Girls' athletics are just the tip of the iceberg that is gender equity in schools. Many educators are aware that Title IX requires schools to allow girls equal access to school sports. But not everyone knows that Title IX also prohibits sex-based discrimination in school, which can take many forms. Guest, Dr. Susan Strauss, is the author of Sexual Harassment and Bullying - A Guide to Keeping Kids Safe and Holding Schools Accountable. She will talk to us about bullying and sexual harassment in schools and tell us how to stop sex-based discrimination when it happens and prevent it from occurring in the future. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC).

To show our appreciation for teachers this week, check out this oldie but goodie - Black Male Educators and Why Equity Requires Them. My guests were Joseph Isaac and Rennie Taylor, who are incredible teachers that consistently go above and beyond for the sake of their students. They talked about what it means to be black male educators.

Student equity and education advocacy rhetoric has often pitted teachers and educators against, essentially, everyone else. But, teachers are doing tremendous things to force change for equity from within and to deliver empowering social justice instruction to their students. My guests will talk to us about the language of equity and what it takes for teachers to be successful advocates for equity in their schools. Enid Lee is the Director of Enidlee Consultants and is a teacher educator, researcher, writer, consultant, facilitator, and speaker. Deborah Menkart is the Executive Director of Teaching for Change, which provides teachers and parents with the tools to create schools where students learn to read, write, and change the world. Host, Allison R. Brown, Esq., is a civil rights attorney and President of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC).

How can we keep our children safe? Schools are still the safest places to be, but since the Newtown, Connecticut tragedy, debate about whether to put more police and guns in schools continues to rage. Even pop culture has grabbed hold - from HBO's Vice to Fox's Glee, guns in school is a hot topic. Jim Eichner is Managing Director of Programs for Advancement Project, which recently released A Real Fix: The Gun-Free Way to School Safety. Jim will talk to us about how we can keep students safe by, among other things, asking them what they want. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC).

Dr. Pedro Noguera is the Peter L. Agnew Professor of Education at New York University. He is a world-renowned sociologist, researcher, and prolific author of several publications, including the seminal book, "The Trouble with Black Boys...and Other Reflections on Race, Equity, and the Future of Public Education." Dr. Noguera will expound on his critique of current approaches to education reform that are too focused on privatization, high stakes testing, and punitive student discipline. We will talk about how schools can focus on ensuring life successes of students and youth by focusing on true racial and socioeconomic equity. Host, Allison R. Brown, is a civil rights attorney and owner of Allison Brown Consulting (ABC).