Paradigmatic Silences

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This podcast will interview individuals on a variety of topics related to equity and transforming public education. Topics will also include explorations into Community Schooling, Project Based Learning, Restorative Practices, Disproportionality, Professional Development for Educators, Leadership Support, Implicit Bias, Systems of Oppression, White Supremacy Culture and the latest trends in education.

Michael Essien


    • Apr 28, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 43m AVG DURATION
    • 24 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Paradigmatic Silences with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Paradigmatic Silences

    Celia Jaffe: A Parent's Journey to Becoming President of California State PTA

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2021 43:12


    Celia Jaffe discusses her journey to becoming President of California State PTA. Her quest to be an active member in her community was influenced by her parents. In addition to the influences of her parents, Celia's daughter beginning elementary school provided the segway to a life of service as a member of the PTA. This life of service culminated in leading a statewide organization. capta.org

    Jennifer Abrams: Building A Professional Learning Community Through Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2021 55:04


    Jennifer Abrams shares her thoughts as an educator and the inspiration leading to the writing of several books, including "Having Hard Conversations." She discusses the importance of educators improving their practices and becoming a professional learning community. This transformation involves developing communication skills of individuals to strengthen collaboration of the professional learning community. Jennifer Abrams shares her upcoming book, "Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work," to be released on April 30. You can contact Jennifer Abrams and purchase her books through her website, jenniferabrams.com

    Michael & Manveer: A Conversation On Public Education

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 46:13


    Commissioner Manveer Sandhu of Travis Unified School District and Michael Essien, Principal in San Francisco engage in a conversation about Public Education. They conver a range of topics including Financial Literacy, Community Schools Strategy, Artificial Intelligence, Learning Loss, and Equity.

    Stagg High School: Youth Voice Speaks Out Against Decision to Remove Principal

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2021 38:32


    3 students, Joshua Boado, Toshi Boado, Maricela Magdaleno and 1 colleague, Ildeberto Ojeda, share their thoughts and interactions with Principal Ben Nakamura of Stagg High School in Stockton, CA. Mr. Nakamura will not be invited back as the leader of that community and the panelists for this episode have strong feelings about his removal. The panelists share what makes Principal Nakamura their favorite.

    Dr. Macheo Payne: Cal State East Bay Professor and Executive Director of Community & Youth Outreach

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2021 62:03


    Dr. Payne shares thoughts on how to improve outcomes for Black students attending Oakland Public Schools. The notions of "down stream" and "up stream" data analysis is explored as a method to improve setting goals and achieving outcomes for students and families. Dr. Payne is assisting with the fight to get Oakland Board of Education members to pass a Reparations Resolutions allocating $10,000,000 for Black students and families.

    Victor Tam, Principal of Edwin and Anita Lee Newcomer School (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2021 42:57


    Principal Victor Tam takes us inside the work he does as an educational leader in a newcomer school for Chinese speaking students. He explores the complexities of the job and the challenges his teachers, students and families face. He shares the uniqueness of his professional learning community's work to deliver quality English instruction while maintaining the student's culture and sense of belonging. He gives us a glimpse into the difficult choices Chinese families face in navigating the educational system. Twitter: @PrincipalTam

    Victor Tam, Principal of Edwin and Anita Lee Newcomer School (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2021 57:45


    Principal Victor Tam takes us inside the work he does as an educational leader in a newcomer school for Chinese speaking students. He explores the complexities of the job and the challenges his teachers, students and families face. He shares the uniqueness of his professional learning community's work to deliver quality English instruction while maintaining the student's culture and sense of belonging. He gives us a glimpse into the difficult choices Chinese families face in navigating the educational system. Twitter: @PrincipalTam

    Carla Llewelyn-Vasquez: Principal of Mission Education Center (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2021 40:59


    Principal Carla Llewelyn-Vasquez takes us inside the uniqueness of her Spanish speaking newcomer school, Mission Education Center. She explores the importance of her school and the challenges faced with being a transitional school for Spanish speaking students and families. Carla shares some of her primary schooling experiences as a child growing up in Panama. These early experiences helped develop her passion for education and equity. Twitter: @MECsfusd; email: Llewelyn-Vasquezc@sfusd.edu

    Carla Llewelyn-Vasquez: Principal of Mission Education Center (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2021 47:40


    Principal Carla Llewelyn-Vasquez takes us inside the uniqueness of her Spanish speaking newcomer school, Mission Education Center. She explores the importance of her school and the challenges faced with being a transitional school for Spanish speaking students and families. Carla shares some of her primary schooling experiences as a child growing up in Panama. These early experiences helped develop her passion for education and equity.

    Debra Watkins: Equity Warrioress Fighting for Black Children (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2021 40:18


    Debra shares her experiences as a K-12 student educated in prediminantly white community of Pomona. Debra received her undergraduate degree from Pitzer College and two Master Degrees from Stanford University. She is the Co-founder, A Black Educator Network (ABEN4ACE.ORG); Co-founder, Black Students of California United (BlackStudentsCU.org); Co-founder, Cultural Imperative Program with Tony Browder. Also, Debra created the Green Scholars Program, which focuses on Black students receiving a STEM education. You can contact Debra Watkins through her organization, follow her on Twitter, or email her directly: aben4ace.org , @aben4ace , debrawatkins@aben4ace.org

    Debra Watkins: Equity Warrioress Fighting for Black Children (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2021 31:18


    Debra shares her experiences as a K-12 student educated in prediminantly white community of Pomona. Debra received her undergraduate degree from Pitzer College and two Master Degrees from Stanford University. She is the Co-founder, A Black Educator Network (ABEN4ACE.ORG); Co-founder, Black Students of California United (BlackStudentsCU.org); Co-founder, Cultural Imperative Program with Tony Browder. Also, Debra created the Green Scholars Program, which focuses on Black students receiving a STEM education. You can contact Debra Watkins through her organization, follow her on Twitter, or email her directly: aben4ace.org , @aben4ace , debrawatkins@aben4ace.org

    Black Leadership in the Field of Education (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 42:48


    Principals Charleston Brown, Emmanuel Stewart, Joseph Truss, and Michael Essien share their experiences as equity leaders working to close the opportunity gap. They share personal challenges, commitment to the work, and their insights on systemic oppression. Advice is offered for new Black administrators and to those who are aspiring. charleston.h.brown@gmail.com , ess22563@gmail.com , @trussleadership , @MichaelCEssien

    Black Leadership in the Field of Education (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2020 44:34


    Principals Charleston Brown, Emmanuel Stewart, Joseph Truss, and Michael Essien share their experiences as equity leaders working to close the opportunity gap. They share personal challenges, commitment to the work, and their insights on systemic oppression. Advice is offered for new Black administrators and to those who are aspiring.

    Dora Dome: Critical Race Theory & Due Process (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 43:57


    Attorney Dora Dome shares her thoughts on Critical Race Theory and its ability to surface and name issues of race and inequity in our society and within our education system. She discusses the role of Due Process in addressing fairness and equity. Website: www.doradomelaw.com ; Email: dora@doradomelaw.com

    Dora Dome: Critical Race Theory & Due Process (Part 1 of 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 48:37


    Attorney Dora Dome shares her thoughts on Critical Race Theory and its ability to surface and name issues of race and inequity in our society and within our education system. She discusses the role of Due Process in addressing fairness and equity.

    Kyle Serrette (NEA): A Champion of the Community Schools Strategy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 52:36


    A Senior Policy Analyst for the National Education Assocation discusses Community Schools (Whole Child Framework) as a model to address equity and improve educational outcomes for students, parents, and educators. The success of this model involves parents and organizations advocating for their needs to be addressed through a proven model. Successes in the state of Kentucky and the City of Cincinnati are attributed to what Kyle describes as a "Grass Roots meets Grass Tops" philosophy.

    Kenitra Mitchell & Guthrie Fleischman (Part 2): Community School Leaders @ Juan Crespi Middle School

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 39:16


    Episode 7: Kenitra Mitchell (Community School Site Director) and Guthrie Fleischman (Principal) share their thoughts on Community Schooling and its importance in the work they do to serve students and families at Juan Crespi Middle School. They take us inside their thoughts on the impact of the Brown vs Board of Education decision on Black and Brown students and families. kmitchell@wccusd.net , gfleischman@wccusd.net

    Kenitra Mitchell & Guthrie Fleischman (Part 1): Community School Leaders @ Juan Crespi Middle School

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2020 38:35


    Episode 6: Kenitra Mitchell (Community School Site Director) and Guthrie Fleischman (Principal) share their thoughts on Community Schooling and its importance in the work they do to serve students and families at Juan Crespi Middle School. They take us inside their thoughts on the impact of the Brown vs Board of Education decision on Black and Brown students and families. kmitchell@wccusd.net , gfleischman@wccusd.net

    Alida Fisher: Special Education Advocate & SFUSD Parent of 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2020 61:08


    Episode 5: Mrs. Alida Fisher shares her journey and experiences as a parent of 4 children attending school in San Francisco Unified School District. She takes us inside her work as a Special Education Advocate. And, she shares her experiences with Distance Learning as a parent and advocate.

    Lyndsey Schlax: Educator & Activist (Part 2) - some explicit language

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2020 52:15


    Episode 4 explores Lyndsey's powerul idea of a HIPPOCRATIC OATH FOR EDUCATORS. She shares her thoughts on segregation in schools, the opportunity gap, the role of white parents in improving education, and incorporating Black and Brown voices at the leadership levels in education.

    Lyndsey Schlax: Educator and Activist (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2020 41:21


    Episode 3 is Part 1 of 2 of a conversation with a Bay Area administrator Mrs. Lyndsey Schlax. You will learn about Lindsey's personal journey as a K-12 student that helped shape who she as an educator and activist. Also, in Part 1 Lyndsey will share her core values and ideas to improve education.

    Matt Alexander: Educator & Community Organizer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2020 59:50


    Episode 2: Matt Alexander is a founding member and former principal of June Jordan School for Equity. He empowered students and gave voice to families in a new small school focused on community needs. His school moved from traditional grading to Student Portfolio Defense. In addition, Matt is a community organizer working in the community to change policies and insuring equitable outcomes for marginalized families in the City of San Francisco.

    Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2020 7:12


    Episode 1 defines the meaning of Paradigmatic Silences and describes who I am as an educator. It explores my experiences as a teacher trying to improve outcomes for Black and Brown students and the frustrations that led me to become an administrator.

    Welcome to Paradigmatic Silences.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2020 0:34


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