Month: March 2023

116. Educators as First Responders with Dr. Deborah Offner

Dr. Deborah Offner is a clinical psychologist with expertise in adolescent development, student mental health, and school life.

She serves as Consulting Psychologist at Beacon Academy in Boston, a 14-month program between eighth and ninth grade that prepares students from communities with limited resources for entry into independent day and boarding high schools. She also provides ongoing professional consultation to several independent middle and secondary schools.

Dr. Offner maintains an active clinical practice where she works with middle, high school, and college students, and their families.

Her book, Educators as First Responders, shares the truth known all too well by educators: often, when a student is struggling, particularly in their adolescence, that student will often speak to a teacher first. Not a family member, not a parent, but a teacher.

Dr. Offner shares with us her observations and recommendations for how we may better support our unsung first responders: teachers.

Buy the book!

Visit our sponsor, Carney, Sandoe & Associates

115. Moms for Social Justice, Fighting Book Bans and Gag Orders

In this timely conversation, Gerardo is joined by Taylor Lyons, who represents Moms for Social Justice, an educational advocacy organization in Tennessee. The organization formed as a way to bring teachers and families together to raise consciousness and encourage diversity in the curriculum, especially through children’s and youth literature. This is a true grassroots organization that has been working side by side with classrooms and teachers for the last few years.

The right wing narrative would have you believe that progressive forces in your public schools are secretly brainwashing your children in the six-to-eight hours they are away from you. In fact, the opposite is true. According to numerous polls, most parents are very pleased with their children’s schools and teachers.

This is a deep conversation. We explore the pain of these manufactured culture wars, but the joy inherent in being in community with each other.

Learn more: https://www.momsforsocialjustice.us/

114. Pelo malo no existe/Bad Hair Doesn’t Exist with author Sulma Arzu-Brown

Sulma Arzu-Brown is the perfect bridge between Black History Month and Women\’s History month. Brilliant, spirited, creative, and lively, Sulma carries her Afro-Latina and Garifuna pride with her daily.

Like so many of us, becoming a parent renewed her commitment to cultural maintenance and pride. When her child came home having learning the concept of \”pelo malo,\” or \”bad hair,\” Sulma acted. She wrote the beautiful book El pelo malo no existe/Bad Hair Does Not Exist. She made sure that her children would love their hair, their culture, and their language, and resolved to bring those gifts to us.

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