All of the Above Podcast

In our Season 2 finale we unpack the wonder and mystery of reading--and the work it takes to create a strong culture of literacy in today’s schools. We’re joined by literacy coach and Nationally Board Certified Teacher extraordinaire Geneviève DeBose Akinnagbe to hear about her work in building a culture of literacy in and out of her classroom. But first, we take a look at recent news in education...

Sometimes there’s so much going on in the world of education that it’s hard to keep up! Don’t worry, we got you covered with this special headlines-in-education episode. We invited one of our favorite English teachers, Mimi Dao, back on the set to help us unpack today’s news. She helps us dive into a range of stories including parents being fined for their kids’ bullying, online classes diminishin...

In a nation that prides itself on being a beacon of democracy, should the pledge of allegiance still be practiced in our public schools? Jeffrey walks us through the complex history of the pledge as we re-examine this classic schoolhouse tradition. But first, we take a look at recent education headlines about teachers of color getting low evaluation scores, a teacher tweeting for help to deport he...

Teach for America is one of the most impactful and controversial organizations in education today. Is it championing equity and opportunity or is it undermining the teaching profession? We are joined by two powerhouse educators who are TFA alum - Tanya Franklin and Marcus Hughes - to unpack the debate over Teach for America. But first, we begin the episode with a review of recent education headlin...

How can the story of one California high school inform our national discussion about school segregation? A new film explores how a once-integrated high school has become the most segregated in town. We bring filmmaker Pablo Miralles on to discuss his new film “Can We All Get Along? The Segregation of John Muir High School.” But first, we begin the episode with a review of recent education headline...

Educators love to say “it’s all about the kids,” but are they telling the truth when they say this? Manuel makes the case that this statement is a big lie and that educators really only care about doing things their way. We unpack the “it’s about the students!” trope and examine the extent to which classrooms and districts make space for student voice and input. But first, we begin the episode wit...

Is there anything more important in a school than having effective leadership? Without it, teachers can’t thrive in their role, systems erode, and everyone in the building has their talent stifled. So, what does it take to be an effective principal today? We invite two dynamic school principals - Amen Rahh of the University Pathways Public Service Academy and Susana Ansley Gutierrez of the Santee...

Schools are more racially segregated today than they have been since the time of the landmark Brown v. Board decision. How did this happen? Jeffrey breaks down the path towards today’s separate and unequal schools and we debate whether or not there’s a way out of this mess. But first, we begin the episode with a review of recent education news about a lack of preparation for California’s new scien...

The latest buzz in education circles is trauma-informed care, but too few educators really understand what that means or looks like in practice. Given what we know about trauma and its impact on our students, what needs to happen in our schools to support our students who have been impacted by trauma? We bring on trauma-educator Chavonne Taylor and social emotional learning director David Adams to...

It’s no secret that many of our highest-need schools face a revolving door of teachers—particularly inexperienced and ineffective ones. How can we work to ensure that our best teachers get placed where they are needed most? We bring on literacy coach and Nationally Board Certified Teacher extraordinaire Geneviève DeBose Akinnagbe to explore teacher quality in high-need schools. But first, we begin...

Behind every great educator is an origin story. In this episode, we explore why we decided to become teachers in the first place and we reflect on how one’s educator “origin story” impacts their work in the field. But first, we begin the episode with a review of recent education news about bias behind terms like “urban,” a plan to help formerly incarcerated students pay for community college, and...

Have school administrators forgotten what it’s like to be in the classroom? Classroom veteran Manuel Rustin airs out some common teacher complaints and administrator vet Jeffrey Garrett responds. But first, we begin the episode with a review of recent education news about restorative justice practices, Boston’s valedictorians, and universal pre-K in California. Subscribe now and join us for All of...

How do students today feel about the constant pressure to attend college? We sit down with some dope high school seniors to gain their perspectives about the modern “college or bust” climate of today’s schools. But first, we begin the episode with a review of recent education news about firearm training in PE classes, corporal punishment in today’s classrooms, and a push to take nutrition OUT of s...

In the wealthiest nation on earth, why do we STILL have schools in crisis? We begin this episode with a review of recent education news about ADHD diagnoses, a big financial aid boost in CA, and a BIG geography fail in DC. We’re then joined by three heavyweights in the field of education from the Partnership for L.A. Schools for an honest conversation about why school transformation is so difficul...

Schools are quick to implement and enforce dress codes, but how do these policies impact students’ experiences at school? We begin this episode with a review of recent education news before sending it over to a school library for a revealing talk with students about how dress codes impact their schooling.

We begin this episode with a review of recent education news and then we take a deep dive into the controversy surrounding school choice. With American schools more segregated than they were before Brown v. Board, are school choice measures addressing inequity or are they making segregation worse?

Are narrow definitions of “success” causing students to ghost their teachers? We begin this episode with a review of recent education headlines about teacher wages, grade inflation, and defrauded student loan borrowers. We then take a deep dive into the hidden dangers of setting high expectations devoid of authentic love and understanding. What’s the right balance between preaching “college and ca...

SEASON 2 PREMIERE! Are standards and assessments killing education, or are they the engine of equitable teaching and learning? We launch our second season with a review of recent headlines in education followed by a deep dive into the common core state standards. How are standards and assessments impacting our classrooms? Where do you stand in the standards debate?

We cap the end of our first season of All of the Above with a panel discussion about the never-ending debate over dress codes and school uniforms. The episode begins with quick headlines from the world of education, including a look at how a wave of lawsuits in state courts are fighting for equity in education. We have a special guest for our Show and Tell to discuss the problematic narratives aro...

In Episode 7 of All of the Above we take on the latest developments in American schooling, from teachers running for office this November to a recent challenge to Obama-era affirmative action guidelines. The episode begins with a look at recent headlines, including a new study that paints a bleak picture regarding wages for child care workers. In the “Show and Tell,” guest contributor Mimi Dao ref...

In Episode 6 of All of the Above we take on the latest developments in American schooling, from radical changes in math curriculum to the increasing criticism of online charter schools. The episode begins with a look at recent headlines, including a new study that reveals a racial divide in the suicide rate among young children. In the Show and Tell, guest contributor Nadia Elhawary reflects on th...

In Episode 5 of All of the Above we take on the latest developments in American schooling, from school desegregation plans in New York City to the connection between Starbucks’ implicit bias training and our own classrooms. The episode begins with a look at recent headlines, including a review of the political stand taken by state teachers of the year during their recent visit to the White House....

In Episode 4 we take on recent developments in American schooling, from the role of modern technology in our classrooms to the debate around discipline reform and the emergence of performance tasks as measures of college readiness. The episode begins with a look at recent headlines, including an overlooked incentive included in the new tax law that benefits private schools. In the Show and Tell, J...

In episode three we take on recent developments in American schooling including preparation for school shootings, the debate around college access, and the importance of the arts in our schools. The episode begins with a look at recent headlines, including Betsy Devos throwing serious shade at past administrations and calling public education "a dead end." In the Show and Tell, Manuel makes a powe...

In this episode of All of the Above we explore recent developments in American schooling from the diversifying student population to the shortage of teachers and more. The episode begins with a look at recent headlines in education, including the recent pressure placed on Apple to address the negative impact of children’s’ addictions to iPhones. Jeffrey then presents his case that the scarce amoun...