Our Classroom

In this episode of Our Classroom, Zakiya Jackson , President of The Expectations Project shares her insight and experience regarding where the church and public schools can meet. Key Moments: The role of the church in the current educational landscape Bridging the gap between the faith community and schools What has surprised Zakiya in this line of work Follow Zakiya - @expectationsproject Welcome...

Welcome to Season 2 of Our Classroom! In this episode, Roberto breaks down an article that he and Lorena originally published through Edutopia . The article examines the idea that school leaders should take an active role and set attainable goals to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are successful.  #education #schools #schoolleaders #DEI #diversity #equity #inclusion #...

Welcome to Our Classroom! In this episode, Stacy Seward , Executive Director of The Dream Network in Lawrence Massachusetts, joins to discuss the school-to-prison pipeline and prison to community re-entry, including a healing-centered transformative model along with financial literacy and economic power. Focal points: Origins of The Dream Network Wish teachers would have known or cared to know Sch...

This week's guest was Terra Lynch, Director of Middle School at Headwaters School in Austin, Texas.   We discussed the following: Director of Middle School role Triumphs & trials in the first year Expectations for year 2 ABAR efforts Welcome to Our Classroom! Terra Lynch spent a decade teaching Humanities at University Neighborhood High School in New York City, and a decade as a consultan...

Aiko Bethea stopped by Our Classroom to discuss her upcoming publication, the Magnolia Murder Series . We touched upon the following: ◦ Characters in the series ◦ Shifting POC stories from being steeped in suffering ◦ What it looks like when systemically marginalized communities define success on their own terms ◦ Favorite authors The  founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting , Aiko Bethea i...

In this episode of Our Classroom, Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul invites Lorena Germán to join her in one of the RedClayEd Community Conversations. As we transition from summer fun and flexibility, Sonja challenges the audience to consider the following themes: Nourishment Rejuvenation   Preparation   Anticipation   Reflection Questions How are we feeding ourselves physically, spiritually, e...

In the third and final part of our poetry series with author Ummi Modeste, she shares and analyzes the poem Hyphenated from her book Because I Knew. This is one of her favorite poems as it speaks to the struggle of tracing her roots.  R. Ummi Modeste is a native of Brooklyn, NY where she attended and graduated from the New York City Public School System. She retired from t...

Part Two of our poetry series with author  Ummi Modeste  explores immigration from a number of different angles. In this episode, Ummi reads the poem Dreaming A Decolonized World   from her book  Because I Knew.  This is a passionate conversation that we invite you to join. Click the image above to   listen   to the episode now! R. Ummi Modeste is...

If you dig poetry then you are in for a treat! This is part one of a 3-part poetry series w/ author Ummi Modeste . In this episode, Ummi reads the poem Quien Soy Yo from her book Because I Knew. We then had the opportunity to analyze the poem and discuss ways to apply it in the classroom. R. Ummi Modeste is a native of Brooklyn, NY where she attended and graduated from the New York City Public Sch...

Welcome to Our Classroom! In this brief episode, Math Educator and Consultant Kwame Sarfo-Mensah wraps up our conversation about math including talking about supporting bilingual learners.  Kwame Sarfo-Mensah is a 15-year veteran urban educator and the founder & CEO of Identity Talk Consulting, LLC., an independent educational consulting firm that provides professional development and con...

As we proceed (P. Diddy voice) with the math strategies you need! In part 2 of Mathin' It Up w/ Kwame Sarfo-Mensah , we discuss Math & Hip Hop, creating a STEM Speaker Series, Culturally Responsive Teaching in math, standardized testing, and the difference between math in the USA and math in Western African countries. Kwame Sarfo-Mensah is a 15-year veteran urban educator and the founder &...

I don’t even like math like that but this was fun! 😂 My mom commented, “I wish I had a math teacher like you when I was in school!” Brother Kwame Sarfo-Mensah out here getting love from mom dukes! I guess he was a good guest to have on the show and I will have to bring him back in the future! Yes, I used all exclamation points is this caption! Check out this lively conversation where we talk abou...

Henry J. Turner and Kathy Lopes join Roberto to discuss their new book Change the Narrative : How to Foster an Antiracist Culture in Your School . In addition, they share about their co-authoring process, their challenge in writing about assessments, and the content that most resonates with them. Henry J. Turner serves as principal at Newton North High School in Newton, Massachusetts. He is most p...

It’s great to learn and journey with others. Thom Gibson is my go-to person for all EdTech related questions. In this episode of Our Classroom, we discussed EdTech and Edupreneurship . We also touched up fatherhood and the challenge of trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Thom Gibson is a two-time teacher of the year educator, creative director at New EdTech Classroom, educational consu...

Student voice matters! In this episode of Our Classroom, I had my first student guest, Clara Mangali . We discussed how her senior research project led to her creating a Justice & Healing virtual workshop for educators and students. Clara Mangali (she/her) is a student seeking to affect change through activism, community building, and identity development. She currently resides on the ancestra...

Since y’all kept stressing me about bringing Lorena Germán back on the podcast, I found a way to do it without giving her an opportunity to turn my interview into a flirt session with me! This is the shortest episode that I have published, yet it is fruitful. This is an excerpt from her Textured Teaching presentation several months ago at the ICTE (Iowa Council of Teachers of English) Conference....

Well… I tried to keep the interview focused on Textured Teaching but your girl Lorena was wildin’ (dropped the “g” because she was out of control)! Nonetheless, before she snuck in to give me a kiss, we managed to discuss:     ◦    The impact of Textured Teaching since being published in Sept 2021     ◦    What has sur...

All the way from London, UK! Author Marisa Taylor checked into Our Classroom to discuss Using Bilingual Books to Teach Self-Love & Diversity . She touched upon: -The personal experiences that inspired her book ´Happy within´ -Her observations of how other countries responding to the concepts of bilingualism and diversity -Steps monolingual families can implement now to learn a new language and...

It's Women's History Month and fortunately an Extraordinary Latina was the most recent guest .In this episode of Our Classroom we were joined by Isis Ortiz-Belton who is making power moves in the financial services and banking industry.  We discussed Isis': Education journey Co-authorship of the book Extraordinary Latinas Women she admires ISIS ORTIZ-BELTON is a financial services and banking...

New York City represent, represent! Dr. Gloria Rosario Wallace dished out the marvelous as we discussed Liberation Pedagogy including: - What is Liberation Pedagogy and why should people learn about it? -The trials and triumphs of co-founding a high school in Brooklyn, NY where she implemented Liberatory and Critical pedagogy to design an inclusive learning community -Considerations for...

After a brief hiatus, it felt great to be back in conversation with amazing people! Tonight in Our Classroom Roberto was joined by Alexis and Chanté   @letstalk_sis . They discussed Advocacy & Affirmation in Predominantly White Spaces including: - The top two or three most difficult topics that they find themselves addressing -The Utah Parent Opt-Out Law and what race-related advocac...

In honor of   Black History Month ,   Lorena German   and   Britt Hawthorne   came together to talk about different aspects of   Blackness . Like the last one, this mini summit featured short 20 minute conversations with guests. This bonus episode features  Lorena  &  Tanesha B. Forman  breaking colorism all the way down.  #podcasts #teach...

In honor of   Black History Month ,   Lorena German   and   Britt Hawthorne   came together to talk about different aspects of   Blackness . Like the last one, this mini summit featured short 20 minute conversations with guests. This bonus episode features Lorena & Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz  talking about healing and Blackness , as well as what it should look like...

In honor of   Black History Month ,   Lorena German   and   Britt Hawthorne   came together to talk about different aspects of   Blackness . Like the last one, this mini summit featured short 20 minute conversations with guests. This bonus episode features   Britt   &   Roberto   talking about Blackness , the diaspora, and Latinidad. #podcasts...

In honor of Black History Month , Lorena German and Britt Hawthorne came together to talk about different aspects of Blackness . Like the last one, this mini summit featured short 20 minute conversations with guests. This bonus episode features Britt & Lorena talking about Black biracial identity, teaching about Black History Month , the difference between race, culture, and ethnicity… and mor...