In this episode of Two Dope Teachers and a Mic, Gerardo sits down with Alix Guerrier, CEO of DonorsChoose, to talk about how classrooms become engines of justice when teachers are trusted with resources—and when young people are trusted with big ideas.

From robotics programs serving new immigrant students, to youth-led racial justice campaigns sparked by classroom reading groups, to hydroponic gardens blooming on school rooftops in Puerto Rico—this conversation pulls back the curtain on how creativity thrives when scarcity isn’t the dominant story.

Alix also breaks down what equity means beyond buzzwords, how data from over 90% of U.S. schools is shaping systemic insight, and why investing in kids is not just morally urgent—it’s economically undeniable.

Episode Chapters:

• 00:00 — Opening Question: What needs a remix in education?
• 05:00 — What DonorsChoose Is (and Isn’t)
• 12:00 — Classroom Stories that Spark Movements
• 30:00 — Acceleration vs. Remediation: Rethinking Learning Gaps
• 41:00 — What Equity Looks Like in Practice
• 47:00 — The Next 25 Years of DonorsChoose
• 52:00 — Top Five Rappers
• 55:00 — Closing Reflections

Links & Resources

Support Teachers & Classrooms

• DonorsChoose: https://www.donorschoose.org
• Fund real classroom needs across the U.S.

Follow DonorsChoose

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donorschoose
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/donorschoose/

Learning Resources Mentioned

• Zearn Math – Acceleration-focused math equity model
• https://www.zearn.org
• Math Mind by Shalinee Sharma — research on accelerating learning instead of remediating gaps

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In this in-depth conversation, Washington Monthly editor-in-chief Paul Glastris joins Gerardo to unpack how America’s obsession with elite college rankings distorts our sense of what higher education is for. From his days inside U.S. News & World Report to his years building an alternative ranking system rooted in upward mobility, research, and civic service, Glastris offers a powerful critique — and a hopeful vision for how colleges can once again serve democracy.

They dig into:

• The myth of “best” colleges and how exclusivity became a badge of honor
• Why schools like Fresno State and Berea College outshine Ivy League institutions in real impact
• How higher ed has become a political battleground — and what’s at stake for our democracy
• What vocational education really looks like when it’s not just political theater
• How students, families, and educators can use data wisely and choose institutions that serve the public good

Listen if you care about:

Educational equity • Democracy • College access • First-gen students • Public policy • Media and truth-telling

Guest:

Paul Glastris, Editor-in-Chief of The Washington Monthly

Follow him on X and BlueSky: @glastris

Explore the latest college rankings at washingtonmonthly.com

Host:

Gerardo A. Muñoz — 2021 Colorado Teacher of the Year, educator, scholar, disruptor, and co-host of Too Dope Teachers and a Mic

Music by:

Kevin Adams

Links Mentioned:

• Washington Monthly 2025 College Rankings: washingtonmonthly.com/college-guide
• Washington Monthly Podcast

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🎙️ Episode 102 (Throwback): “Artist in the Industry” with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad

Originally aired in 2021 — Revisited in 2025

In this powerful conversation, Gerardo Muñoz and Kevin Adams sit down with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, author of Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy. Together, they explore how teaching rooted in Black literary history, collectivism, and joy can transform classrooms into spaces of liberation, not compliance.

Dr. Muhammad breaks down her five pursuits of learning — identity, skills, intellectualism, criticality, and joy — and explains how these pursuits emerged from 19th-century Black literary societies that defined learning as a communal and purposeful act. The conversation bridges theory and practice, showing educators how to design lessons that humanize, empower, and center students of color.

From joyful pedagogy to abolitionist teaching, from curriculum design to hip-hop as literacy — this episode remains as relevant now as it was when first released.

🔄 2025 Update

Since our original conversation, Dr. Gholdy Muhammad has continued to shape the field of equity-centered education. Now a nationally recognized keynote speaker and professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, she has expanded her work through Unearthing Joy and new initiatives that help schools move beyond trauma-informed practices to healing-centered, joy-based learning.

In 2025, as many schools continue to navigate political attacks on culturally responsive education and Black Studies curricula, Dr. Muhammad’s message — that children of color deserve brilliance, joy, and excellence — resonates even louder. Her framework remains a beacon for educators seeking to humanize instruction in a time when educational equity is under threat.

🎧 Listen for:

• The roots of culturally and historically responsive literacy
• Why joy is an act of resistance
• What “abolitionist teaching” looks like in real classrooms
• How to center identity and genius in every lesson
• Dr. Muhammad’s Top 5 MCs (you won’t want to miss it)

📚 Learn more about Dr. Muhammad’s work: www.hillpedagogies.com

Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @GholdyM

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In this solo episode, Gerardo processes the shooting death of right wing influencer Charlie Kirk by exploring the hidden dangers of teaching debate the traditional way. Drawing on previously published writing that draws a line between traditional debate and the “own-the-libs” take-no-prisoners style of Kirk, Ben Shapiro, Jordan Peterson and others, as well as personal experience as a debate coach, he argues that when debate rewards domination over empathy, it doesn’t just distort classrooms—it fuels toxic politics and real-world violence.

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In this episode of Too Dope Teachers and a Mic, Gerardo is joined by Sahba Rohani, Executive Director of Roots Connected, to dive into what it means to center belonging in schools. From her TED Talk on the power of names to her decades of work in intentionally diverse communities, Sahba shares how small shifts in mindset and practice can transform classrooms, staff culture, and whole school communities. Together, Gerardo and Sahba unpack anti-bias education as more than a curriculum add-on—it’s a lens, a practice, and a path toward joy and justice.

Show Notes

In this powerful conversation, Gerardo and Sahba explore:

• The story behind Sahba’s TED Talk on names, identity, and belonging.
• Why belonging isn’t “soft work”—it’s the foundation of learning and thriving.
• How small shifts in practice (like reframing a simple classroom question) can have big impact.
• Roots Connected’s dual process for change: internal transformation + practice shifts.
• Building intentional community with students, families, and staff.
• Staying grounded and persistent in the face of DEI pushback.
• The radical power of joy in justice-centered education.
• And of course… Sahba’s Top 5 hip hop & R&B legends (spoiler: GenX R&B family, this one’s for you).

Resources & Links:

• Roots Connected
• Sahba’s TED Talk
• EmbraceRace

Follow Roots Connected on Instagram and LinkedIn

Listen in for practical takeaways, mindset shifts, and a reminder that joy itself is radical.

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In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jamila Sams—educator, visionary, and founder of We Do It 4 the Culture—to talk about the movement that’s transforming school culture through hip hop, empowerment, and equity. From classrooms to district offices, Jamila’s work helps educators center student voice, cultural relevance, and joy in learning.

We dive into her journey as the founder of this unique resource, what it means to lead with authenticity, what it means to think critically, dialogically, and with joy, and how hip hop continues to serve as a cross-generational universe of healing and liberation. Jamila shares the origin story of We Do It 4 the Culture, the real meaning of culturally responsive action, and what schools must do if they’re serious about social emotional wellness, critical thinking, and liberation.

If you’re about that life—about students, about joy, about liberation—this conversation is for you.

Plus an absolutely fire top five RIGHT HERE.

💥 Tap in. Turn it up. Take notes.
🎙️ www.wedoit4theculture.com
📲 Follow @SEL4theculture on socials
🔗 Subscribe, share, SUPPORT and stay dope.

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Back in October, Sofia González, teacher, thinker, writer, speaker and activist and Gerardo finally found time for this interview. This was prior to the 2024 election and all that followed. What ensued was a great conversation–provocative, humorous, and energetic. As we brace ourselves to face another four years of anxiety, frustration, fear, and state-encouraged violence, this conversation remains a reminder that the struggle is truly beautiful, and full of opportunities for all of us to engage differently, as the people we are. To quote the great poet Audre Lorde, “We are the ones we have been waiting for,” exemplified by Ms. G.

Sofia is 2019 teacher of the year with the National Society of High School Scholars, nonprofit leader for organization Project 214, and education activist from the Chicagoland area. She is a sought-after public speaker regarding the state of education who is known for her cutting-edge presentations and dynamic illustrations with a passion that’s infectious. A High School teacher, 15-year veteran, teacher leader, and alum in a variety of spaces like Fulbright, Latinos for Education, Latinx Education Collaborative-Storytellers for Change, and Urban Leaders Fellowship, Sofia’s passion and energy towards education equity remains a leading voice for the 21st-century classroom and beyond. 

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About two years ago, Kevin and Gerardo’s paths diverged. Facing burnout, Gerardo left the classroom to manage aspiring and new educator programs at the central office level, and Kevin became an assistant principal. The last two years have been challenging for us both. Questions arose as to whether the podcast would last. What would happen now that Too Dope Teachers were no longer in the classroom? Could the fellas ever ever ever coordinate calendars?

It has been a challenge, but this season, we bring to you “OG Episodes” that bring us back to our roots: no guests, nothing flashy, just a couple of educators remixing the conversation on race, power, and education.

This episode was supposed to be out prior to the announcement of school closures, but instead we are bringing it after. Check out our emergency episode, a conversation with two students from one of the closing schools for an in-depth look.

We hope you enjoy this episode, whether to get needed affirmation and levity as you continue your important classroom work, or if you are considering other options, while still wanting to remain in education.

About two years ago, Kevin and Gerardo’s paths diverged. Facing burnout, Gerardo left the classroom to manage aspiring and new educator programs at the central office level, and Kevin became an assistant principal. The last two years have been challenging for us both. Questions arose as to whether the podcast would last. What would happen now that Too Dope Teachers were no longer in the classroom? Could the fellas ever ever ever coordinate calendars?

It has been a challenge, but this season, we bring to you “OG Episodes” that bring us back to our roots: no guests, nothing flashy, just a couple of educators remixing the conversation on race, power, and education.

This episode was supposed to be out prior to the announcement of school closures, but instead we are bringing it after. Check out our emergency episode, a conversation with two students from one of the closing schools for an in-depth look.

We hope you enjoy this episode, whether to get needed affirmation and levity as you continue your important classroom work, or if you are considering other options, while still wanting to remain in education.

Visit our sponsors!

Support the pod!

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Citing declining enrollment, demographic shifts, and building under-use as primary factors, Denver Public Schools superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero announced his proposal to close or consolidate a number of schools. On school that is proposed for consolidation is the Denver Center for International Studies at Baker, where we met. It is a school that we feel profound affection for and belief in.

In this emergency episode, we speak with DCIS students Sophia and Camila, who are helping to organize their peers and families to protest the re-structuring of their school.

Very frequently, students are the last to know about decisions and policies that directly impact them. Oftentimes, across American public education, “student voice” is trivialized, downplayed, dismissed, and disrespected. If you go back to our emergency episode with students in the opening months of the COVID-19 pandemic, you will see that students were not included in that discussion either. This is, unfortunately, not a problem unique to this district, it is everywhere.

Student voice matters. Yesterday, today, and always.

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When Fatimah Basir reached out to the podcast to promote her book, I’m a Big Fish, Not a Guppy, we had to know more. Not only is this energetic and motivating educator imaginative, creative, and joyful, she also sets a powerful example for how to take on important work for youth and communities. Miss B knows her purpose, knows what she is up against, but more importantly, she draws strength from her family, friends and beloved NYC community.

Miss B has a captivating story, contagious energy, and a powerful message. Listen and enjoy!

Buy the book! 

Follow Miss Bee!

Plan your future by visiting our sponsors, Tori and Alex! 

Support the Podcast on Patreon!

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