Navigating STL Schools: A Podcast

"Misophonia, I try to equate to an allergy. It's not a phobia, it's a neurological sensory thing. And so there's a difference between 'I don't like peanuts' and 'I'm allergic to peanuts.'"   -Cris Edwards   Today's guest is Cris Edwards, founder of soQuiet, a nonprofit that offers advocacy, support, and resources for people who suffer from misophonia. Cris sits down with Staci to discuss the strug...

"Being able to lay out not only what you want but what you don't want, can allow you to stay there when having conversations with professionals. And if you can all agree on that future vision, then the steps to get there, that conversation becomes less confrontational and more about figuring out the best path."  -Sharon Spurlock   Today's guest is Sharon Spurlock, Senior Director of Family Support...

"Be yourself. Don't try to be someone else. Thrive within your own body. And please yourself. Please your family. Make sure that you have morals. And everything else from there should lead you to a great road for success." - Rudi Whittaker   Today's guest is Rudi Whittaker, a Vashon High School alumni and SLPS activist. Rudi sits down with Staci to discuss the benefits of choosing a community scho...

"Honestly what surprised me the most was the level of satisfaction I got from really trying to help people do something as simple as putting kids in school"  -Louis Kruger   Today's guest is Louis Kruger, Executive Director of Student Recruitment & Placement for SLPS, where he manages the process of parents applying for children to get into the district's magnet school program. Louis sits down wit...

"I believe that children do not have time to wait for adults to get it together."  - Tiara Jordan Today's guest is Tiara Jordan, Founder and Executive Director of Activate STL, an organization dedicated to educating, training and uplifting parents and their voices to ensure access to quality school options. Tiara sits down with Staci to discuss how Activate STL is mobilizing and organizing parents...

Today's guest is Cici Tompkins, Director of Children's Education Alliance of Missouri (CEAM), an organization on a mission to improve Missouri's K-12 educational system. Cici sits down with Staci to discuss how CEAM is helping parents find the best options for high-quality education, the first year of MO Scholars scholarships and grants, the current lack of education options for residents outside...

Today's guest is J ulius B Anthony , the president and founder of St. Louis Black Authors of Children's Literature , an organization that aims to improve early literacy in Black children and provide access to Black children's literature. Julius sits down with Staci to discuss the current state of Black children's literacy in St. Louis,  the inadequacy of multiculturalism in curriculums, the import...

"We're intentional and we know that we have documented proof that the children that we are serving have made great gains." -Stacy Johnson Today's guest is Stacy Johnson, the Chief Program Officer/Director of YWCA Head Start, a federally funded early education program that provides education, child care, and family support to low-income families. Stacy sits down with Staci to discuss what makes Hea...

"The family engagement, the youth engagement, and community engagement all have to be intertwined."  -John Saunders   Today's guest is John Saunders, the Executive Director of Wesley House Association, an organization that serves children, families, and senior adults within North St. Louis. John sits down with Staci to discuss Wesley House's methods of nurturing children into productive citizens,...

" Girls need to walk away from our program knowing that they are capable and they are confident and STEM is a place for them." -Cynthia Chapple   Today's guest is Cynthia Chapple, founder of Black Girls Do STEM, a nonprofit organization that provides resources for young black girls to empower them for a successful career in STEM. Cynthia sits down with Staci to discuss the benefits of STEM program...

"I know how things work, I was privy to that, I had a great family.. How do I then take that knowledge and those resources and give them to people who need them the most." -Zasmine Johnson    Today's guest is Zasmine Johnson, Program Manager for Blueprint4Summer, an organization that helps St. Louis area families find access to summer camps for their children. Zasmine sits down with Staci to discu...

"Children's literature offers children an opportunity to see their lived experiences reflected." -Ashley Montano   Today's guest is Ashley Montano, the founder of Juntos We Read, an organization that supports families raising bilingual children. In this episode, Ashley sits down with Staci to discuss the importance of building a strong foundation in a child's home language, the benefits of being b...

Today is a special episode with three guests, David Lee Dickerson, Addie Boeving and Joyce Sutherland-Wade. They are all working in the St. Louis Public School system and are the winners of the Navigating the Classroom Content.  In this episode, the teachers sit down with Staci to discuss the future of education in St. Louis, the challenges due to COVID-19, the impact of COVID-19 on children's emo...

"The history of St. Louis is one that is profoundly written by people coming from different parts of the world." -Arrey Obenson Today's guest is Arrey Obenson, the president and CEO of the International Institute, a refugee resettlement agency in St. Louis. Arrey is also the author of Bridging the Opportunity Gap, a lawyer by trade, a husband, and a father. In this episode, Arrey sits down with St...

Today's guest is Donald Gouwens, Associate Department Chair and Associate Clinical Professor at UMSL. In his work at UMSL, Donald developed a school psychology program that trains hundreds of students who work in schools across the country. In this episode, Donald sits down with Staci to discuss the current status of school psychology in St. Louis public schools, the importance of prevention and e...

"I just know that this is urgent, and I know that we've got to figure out a way to get kids into the right environment where they can learn, where they do feel affirmed, where they do feel valued."      -Peter Franzen Today's guest is Peter Franzen, the Associate Executive Director at CEAM (Children's Education Alliance of Missouri). In his work at CEAM, Peter works for policy change to support ef...

"Every one of those children were brought into this world with unlimited potential and our responsibility as adults and communities is making sure kids can reach their full potential." -Robbyn Wahby Today's guest is Robbyn Wahby, Executive Director of the Missouri Charter Public School Commission, where she oversees charter schools and makes sure they are performing according to state standards. R...

"I've realized that the impact of black males in any education is tremendous." Dr. Albert Sanders Today's guest is Dr. Albert Sanders, a Pre-K teacher in the St. Louis Public Schools, where he has been teaching for 22 years. Dr. Sanders received the 2019 Missouri Regional Teacher of the year award, and he holds a Doctorate of Education. In this episode, Dr. Sanders sits down with Staci to discuss...

"It's time for us to take a stand to say, even if I don't know, I'm willing. Even if I haven't been told yet, I'm willing to listen. Even if I haven't been doing it, I'm willing to try." -Krystal Barnett Today's guest is Krystal Barnett, the founder of Bridge 2 Hope. Krystal has been a northside St. Louis resident for 38 years; she's a mother to two children and the leader of a booming new campaig...

"I am hopeful that this dialogue can get us focusing on the resource that's most important to this community, and that's kids; not the dollars, and not the buildings."  -Dr. Kelvin Adams Today's guest is Dr. Kelvin Adams, Superintendent of Schools for the Saint Louis Public School District. Dr. Adams has a PhD in Educational Leadership and has been working in education since the late 1970s. In thi...

My biggest dream is that one day we have future generations that can't even connect to the realities that we are living in today. - Ohun Ashe Today's guest is Ohun Ashe, activist and founder of For the Culture STL, an organization that helps connect people with black-owned businesses and events in St. Louis. In this episode, Ohun sits down with Staci to discuss how St. Louis has changed since 2014...

"Knowledge is power, and education is a game-changer." Carline Adah   Today's guest is Carline Adah, LIFT director and youth program director at LOVEtheLOU, an organization committed to uplifting and empowering St. Louis youth to reach their fullest potential. Carline and LOVEtheLOU are taking a holistic approach to mentoring students. In this episode, Carline sits down with Staci to discuss the i...

"Knowing who your child's teachers are, what school they're in, the things they're learning in the classroom, is extremely important."    Today's guest is Joshua Johnson, founder and CEO of Dope Dad, a network of fathers that aims to mentor and support other men to be good dads. Joshua, a lifelong St. Louisan, is the proud father of a 5-year-old daughter. In this episode, Joshua sits down with Sta...

"I want to make sure that children who come into a school and I engage with, that they walk away having had an experience where they were valued, where they were known, seen and loved, where their opinions mattered, where they could contribute."   Today's guest is Kimberly Townsend, founder and executive director at The Leadership School, a charter school in St. Louis. Kimberly has 15 years in the...

"My goal [is] just making sure that all students can really get a quality education and they don't have to be lucky to get that, and making that the norm, not the exception." - Adam Layne   Today's guest is Adam Layne, newly elected St. Louis Public Schools school board member. Adam began teaching high school math in SLPS in 2011, and has been working since then toward educational equity and quali...