Sofia believes that education is a fundamental right and not a privilege for the select few, and aims to lead from her Latina identity. Her recent focus has been taking her seat at decision-making tables and traveling the country as a keynote speaker where she can amplify the lived experiences of the Latino community for the sake of social change and informing education policy.
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]]>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.
]]>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.
]]>Miss B has a captivating story, contagious energy, and a powerful message. Listen and enjoy!
]]>Always smiling, always joyful, this passionate and dedicated teacher has continued to push forward for students and communities from which they come.
A veteran teacher, John has always sought ways to elevate educational opportunities and equity in his community and beyond. Even as he runs for the Utah state board of education, John humanizes his opponent and the people of his state. This despite a ballot initiative pushing for increased privatization, which presents a threat to young people who would MOST benefit from a powerful and uplifting educational experience.
In this episode, John will share with you his journey, his commitment to students, and ways you can support public education for ALL.
]]>Privatization is violence.
Failure to see that school privatization is a tool of Christian Nationalism and White Supremacy is deadly. To the future prospects of the students they exploit for flash-in-the-pan snake oil pedagogies. To the very possibility of civil society.
Dr. Josh Cowen joins me for episode 132 of Too Dope Teachers and a Mic to discuss the peril of school vouchers and the destruction they have wrought upon education and society. He discusses his new book, The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers.
Whatever you believe about vouchers, let me assure you, after reading this book, and talking with Dr. Cowen…it’s worse. Worse than you can imagine. The outcomes are awful, and the deception is dystopian. You’ll see why so many of us see privatization and all it’s cousins as a slippery slope that ultimately will destroy public education. And while there are abstract and unproven arguments about the unfulfilled promise of public education, there is still a promise.
It is now October. Many of you in Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska have this choice to make, and those of you in fourteen other states have a lot of work to get these repealed. This episode is a hard listen, but essential for anyone who wants to see systemic justice in education.
Buy The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers
]]>In this episode, Elena also shows us why her intuitive and human-centered approach is so powerful. An unexpected moment of vulnerability arises, and she receives it with heart and profound empathy.
And. Stay tuned. An in-person conversation may be in the future.
Hispanic Heritage Month: From now until October 15, if you sign up for Patreon at the $10/month level, you will receive our series of Hispanic Heritage stickers!
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Purchase the book, Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching and other powerful writings of Elena Aguilar.
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]]>Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, herself a mathematician and data analyst, has spent her career teaching adults to tell impactful and motivational stories using data. She has published professional books on the subject, but comes on the TooDope Teachers and a Mic podcast to share her latest book, which could change the tide for young people in our classrooms. Daphne Draws Data is a wonderful book on using data to tell stories. Cole joins Gerardo to kick off SEASON 10 of the podcast.
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]]>This brilliant scholar and change-maker of Trinidadian and Venezuelan heritage joined Gerardo for a conversation that is only the tip of the iceberg. An authentically intellectual and curious learner, Dr. Charles represents most what what we dream of being in school district leadership. He is philosophical and a problem-solver, and his passion for prime numbers is only out-matched by his determination that ALL DPS students have access to the best education available to them.
Dr. Charles shares his passion for ways in which generative AI can support us at all levels of education. You will feel a little out of your depth on this episode, but stick with it. There is much to glean from this conversation.
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]]>Colorado Education Association present Amie Baca-Oehlert joins Gerardo and Kev to discuss the state of education. She names the harsh realities but also demonstrates the simple ways that we can right this ship for ALL kids.
Read the state of education report here!
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