The Teacher's Forum

Bryan Stanton joins The Teacher’s Forum for a special Pride Month conversation about education, identity, advocacy, and belonging. An award-winning theater educator and founder of Teaching While Queer, Bryan reflects on his journey from being outed as a teenager to becoming a national voice for LGBTQ+ educators and students. Bryan shares the experiences that shaped his commitment to creating inclu...

Nick Makoha joins The Teacher’s Forum for a powerful conversation on poetry, exile, identity, and the transformative power of language. Born in Uganda and later settling in London, Makoha reflects on how displacement, memory, and the Black diasporic experience shaped both his life and his art. Nick discusses why poetry remains one of the most vital forms of human expression and protest, particular...

Who is school really for? In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum , David sits down with Dr. Meisha Ross Porter, the first Black woman to serve as Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, to explore what it takes to lead for equity in a system that often resists change. Drawing on her journey from Bronx youth organizer to leading the largest school district in the country, Dr. Porter shares how...

In this powerful episode of The Teacher's Forum , David sits down with Daniel Harris, as he shares his 30-year journey from a law student to a pioneer in equity work at John Burroughs School in St. Louis, and founder of The Equity Exchange. Daniel reveals the secrets to creating spaces where diverse voices are heard, valued, and impact real change—especially when it feels like the system is w...

In 1898, a democratically elected government in Wilmington, North Carolina was overthrown in a violent coup, the only successful coup d’état in United States history. For decades, the truth of what happened was buried. In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum , David speaks with Guy Hill about the Wilmington Coup of 1898 and the destruction of a thriving Black community. Together, they unpack how wh...

In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum , David speaks with Dr. Celene Ibrahim, about teaching Islam in America, religious misconceptions, and how educators can approach religion in the classroom. They discuss her personal journey from Catholicism to Islam, the role of religion in public life, and how educators can approach complex religious topics in the classroom. Dr. Ibrahim also addresses commo...

In this special episode of The Teacher’s Forum , David shares the keynote address he delivered at Providence Day School’s Black History Month celebration, marking one hundred years since Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week, the foundation of what would become Black History Month. Drawing on Toni Morrison’s assertion that “definitions belong to the definers,” David reflects on Woodson’s de...

In this episode of the Teachers Forum, David speaks with Jeffrey Riley, former Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, about the intersection of artificial intelligence and education. They discuss the importance of AI literacy for both educators and students, the potential benefits and pitfalls of AI in the classroom, and the evolving role of teachers in an AI-driven worl...

In this special episode of the Teachers Forum, David is joined by Emmy-nominated producer and anti-racist educator Ernest Crim III to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his 97th birthday. Together, they delve into the complexities of King's later years, exploring his evolving views on economic justice, non-violence, and the ongoing struggle for civil rights. Through a rich dial...

In this thought-provoking episode of The Teacher’s Forum , David Harris is joined by Charlotte Jacobs and Roderick L. Carey to examine the narratives shaping conversations about gender and education. The episode opens with a classroom incident that raises questions about how boys experience discipline, attention, and belonging in schools (01:44), before turning to reactions to the CBS documentary...

In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum , David Harris speaks with Dr. James Ford about the recent immigration enforcement actions in Charlotte and their impact on students, families, and schools (02:35). Dr. Ford discusses what educators must do during moments of crisis to ensure students’ physical and emotional safety (05:46), the pressures teachers feel to remain silent (10:30), and why claims o...

In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum , David sits down with Dr. Keith Pochick, an ER doctor turned middle school teacher, to explore his remarkable journey from emergency medicine to the classroom at Providence Day School in Charlotte. Dr. Pochick reflects on what pushed him to leave the ER and pursue teaching (01:37), sharing the rewards and challenges of life as an emergency physician (05:24)...

In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum , David welcomes back Brian Li, a pioneering educator in financial literacy whose first appearance remains the podcast’s most-downloaded episode. Brian shares his journey since that conversation (02:43), offering an update on his expanding work promoting financial education in schools and communities across the country (04:07). He discusses why the hunger for...

In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum , David sits down with Dr. Latrisha Chattin to explore the realities of special education and its impact on students of color. From her personal journey growing up in North Philadelphia (05:09) to her leadership in the field, Dr. Chattin offers deep insight into what special education is (12:18), how students are identified (13:32), and the rights parents hav...

In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum, David sits down with Jonathan Santos Silva and Dr. RoseMary Clairmont to explore the revitalization of Native education. From Dr. Clairmont's journey from the classroom to tribal leadership (04:12) to Jonathan's powerful origin story beginning with a library card (07:31), they reveal the ongoing presence and resilience of Native communities (11:42)...

In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum , David reconnects with his former student, award-winning playwright and screenwriter Ismail Khalidi, to explore identity, art, and Palestine. From growing up Palestinian in America (05:45) to the influence of family and education (11:53) and his journey to playwriting (17:42), Ismail or Sim as he is known, shares how storytelling becomes both art and resista...

In Part II of this compelling Pride Month conversation, David continues his interview with Dr. Rodney Glasgow, focusing on the recent pause of the NAIS People of Color Conference (POCC) and the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), and what that means for equity work in independent schools. Rodney reflects on the decision to pause the conferences and how it conflicts with their activist...

In Part I of this powerful Pride Month conversation, David speaks with Dr. Rodney Glasgow, a prominent educator and advocate for equity and inclusion, about the intersections of race, class, and sexual orientation, and the role of educators in today’s challenging climate. Rodney reflects on growing up in Baltimore and how it shaped his understanding of racial and economic segregation (04:45) . He...

In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum , David speaks with Michael and Lana Manson, founders of the Musical Arts Institute in Chicago, in celebration of African American Music Appreciation Month. They discuss their musical roots, the role of HBCUs in shaping their journeys, and the power of diverse musical training. The conversation explores the impact of music education on personal expression, cr...

In this episode of The Teachers Forum, David interviews David Spellmon, a behavior specialist who integrates hip hop pedagogy into education. Spellmon shares his unique journey into education, emphasizing the importance of cultural relevance and social emotional learning. He discusses the resistance educators may have towards hip hop and how he addresses these concerns by highlighting the original...

In this episode of the Teachers Forum, host David Harris speaks with Freda Lin, co-director of the YURI Education Project, about her journey from a conflicted racial identity in a homogenous suburb to becoming an activist for Asian American studies in education. Frieda shares her experiences at Northwestern University, where she fought for the establishment of Asian American studies, and discusses...

In this episode of the Teachers Forum, host David Harris interviews former student Michael Lamb, who shares his journey from being a student at the University of Chicago Lab School to becoming a teacher in the South Side of Chicago. Michael discusses the challenges and opportunities he faced while teaching in the Ickes community, emphasizing the importance of understanding students' backgroun...

In this episode of the Teachers Forum, David Harris interviews Abeer Ramadan- Shinnawi, a Palestinian-American educator and equity advocate. Abeer shares her journey from being a child of Palestinian immigrants to becoming a teacher and advocate for Muslim and Arab students in the Baltimore area. She discusses her early education experiences in both the U.S. and Palestine, the challenges of cultur...

In this episode of the Teachers Forum, David sits down with esteemed educator and historian, Dr. Charles Branham to discuss Black History Month 2025. The also discuss the ongoing backlash against African-American advancements, particularly in the context of Black History Month. He explores historical patterns of resistance to African-American progress, the impact of Donald Trump's presidency,...

In this episode of the Teachers Forum podcast, host David Harris interviews J. Stacy Utley, a critically acclaimed visual artist and educator from Charlotte, North Carolina. They discuss Stacy's journey into education, his evolution as an artist, and the importance of storytelling in art. Stacy shares his experiences in architecture and public art, emphasizing the significance of representati...