Too Dope Teachers and a Mic

You may remember the summer of 2020. We were caught in the grip of the initial months COVID-19 pandemic. A racial reckoning was beginning to materialize across the nation and, frankly, the world. When our guest that summer, Dr. Bettina Love, spoke with us at the NEA Racial & Social Justice Virtual Conference that year, she uttered the words "it is good to be here" and it was. We were surviving...

Dr. Erica Glover is brilliant, and able to speak on most anything, from hoops to equity to student voice to hip hop! In this joyful and amazing conversation, we get Dr. Glover’s take on QUEENS Angel Reese and Caitlin Clarke, the weather, the origins of Disrupter University, and, most importantly, her new book, Centering Student Voice: A Guide for Cultivating Emotionally Intelligent Educators and C...

Dr. Erica Glover is brilliant, and able to speak on most anything, from hoops to equity to student voice to hip hop! In this joyful and amazing conversation, we get Dr. Glover's take on QUEENS Angel Reese and Caitlin Clarke, the weather, the origins of Disrupter University, and, most importantly, her new book, Centering Student Voice: A Guide for Cultivating Emotionally Intelligent Educators and C...

Dr. Deborah Offner is a clinical psychologist with expertise in adolescent development, student mental health, and school life. She serves as Consulting Psychologist at Beacon Academy in Boston, a 14-month program between eighth and ninth grade that prepares students from communities with limited resources for entry into independent day and boarding high schools. She also provides ongoing professi...

Dr. Deborah Offner is a clinical psychologist with expertise in adolescent development, student mental health, and school life. She serves as Consulting Psychologist at Beacon Academy in Boston, a 14-month program between eighth and ninth grade that prepares students from communities with limited resources for entry into independent day and boarding high schools. She also provides ongoing professi...

Chicanologues 02. Denver Mayoral Candidate Lisa Calderón

Denver Mayoral Candidate Lisa Calderón talks with Gerardo Muñoz on the Chicanologues.

In this timely conversation, Gerardo is joined by Taylor Lyons, who represents Moms for Social Justice, an educational advocacy organization in Tennessee. The organization formed as a way to bring teachers and families together to raise consciousness and encourage diversity in the curriculum, especially through children’s and youth literature. This is a true grassroots organization that has been w...

In this timely conversation, Gerardo is joined by Taylor Lyons, who represents Moms for Social Justice, an educational advocacy organization in Tennessee. The organization formed as a way to bring teachers and families together to raise consciousness and encourage diversity in the curriculum, especially through children's and youth literature. This is a true grassroots organization that has been w...

Nedra Rudolph is one of thousands of educational professionals that many of us see but never truly SEE. Having worked in Title 1 schools, as a Dean of Students, a paraprofessional, and a family liason. These professionals are categorically invaluable, and grossly undercompensated. She had a great situation, but like in so many situations, when leadership changes, so does culture. Never was the old...

Sulma Arzu-Brown is the perfect bridge between Black History Month and Women\’s History month. Brilliant, spirited, creative, and lively, Sulma carries her Afro-Latina and Garifuna pride with her daily. Like so many of us, becoming a parent renewed her commitment to cultural maintenance and pride. When her child came home having learning the concept of \”pelo malo,\” or \”bad hair,\” Sulma acted....

Produced by Gerardo A. Muñoz Edited and mixed by Gerardo A. Muñoz Music composed and performed by Kevin Adams Too Dope Teachers and a Mic is a TooDope Production. Copyright 2023

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of White supremacy, violence, and racism. Be advised. Central Park Karen. BBQ Becky. These incidents have become tropes. Many of us laugh, if even in an exasperated way, when reminded of these incidents. But there is a deeper and more insidious reality for Black and Brown people. Violence, literal and symbolic alike, stalks us. If we are lucky, we...

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of White supremacy, violence, and racism. Be advised. Central Park Karen. BBQ Becky. These incidents have become tropes. Many of us laugh, if even in an exasperated way, when reminded of these incidents. But there is a deeper and more insidious reality for Black and Brown people. Violence, literal and symbolic alike, stalks us. If we are lucky, we...

Kevin forgot the podcast email password years ago. He texts Gerardo stuff to tweet. He has a vague notion that Instagram and Tik Tok might not be the same thing. He doesn\’t answer 67% of texts. And yet, he is using #ChatGPT for lesson planning. Our good friend Angela Watson of 40 Hour Teacher Work Week fame has developed content around the same topic, although way better and detailed than we did,...

Kevin knows about technology after all!

Valyn Lyric Turner is a spoken word poet, theatre artist, songwriter, and activist hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, the ancestral homeland of the Cherokee and Creek native nations. Valyn is a Senior Posse Scholar at Boston University where she double majors in Theatre Arts and Spanish. Some of her acting credits include starring in the radio drama “Iris”, local online safety series “Digital Citizens...

Valyn Lyric Turner is a spoken word poet, theatre artist, songwriter, and activist hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, the ancestral homeland of the Cherokee and Creek native nations. Valyn is a Senior Posse Scholar at Boston University where she double majors in Theatre Arts and Spanish. Some of her acting credits include starring in the radio drama “Iris”, local online safety series “Digital Citizens...

Branta Lockett moved through her educational odyssey at the highest levels. W.E.B. DuBois would have absolutely drafted her for his Talented Tenth All Star Team. Highly Gifted and Talented, International Baccalaureate, Brown University, she brought her sterling credentials to Denver, hoping to be the difference for all students, especially Black students. Her first two years as a Denver teacher we...

Dishonesty in education policy is not a new thing. From the criminalization of Black education to the arrests and trials of the East LA 13 to now, individuals from historically marginalized, oppressed, and excluded communities have received the message that our histories, our contributions, and our humanness are not welcome in our schools. A few months ago Monica Washington (2014 Texas Teacher of...

Dishonesty in education policy is not a new thing. From the criminalization of Black education to the arrests and trials of the East LA 13 to now, individuals from historically marginalized, oppressed, and excluded communities have received the message that our histories, our contributions, and our humanness are not welcome in our schools. A few months ago Monica Washington (2014 Texas Teacher of...

Branta Lockett moved through her educational odyssey at the highest levels. W.E.B. DuBois would have absolutely drafted her for his Talented Tenth All Star Team. Highly Gifted and Talented, International Baccalaureate, Brown University, she brought her sterling credentials to Denver, hoping to be the difference for all students, especially Black students. Her first two years as a Denver teacher we...

In October 2022, Aurora Public Schools middle school band teacher Jimmy Day II was named Colorado Teacher of the Year. He became the first Black male to receive the honor, as well as the first graduate of a Historically Black College or University to be named Colorado Teacher of the Year. Gerardo was onhand to witness the historical event, and got to sit down with this creative, passionate, and br...

In October 2022, Aurora Public Schools middle school band teacher Jimmy Day II was named Colorado Teacher of the Year. He became the first Black male to receive the honor, as well as the first graduate of a Historically Black College or University to be named Colorado Teacher of the Year. Gerardo was onhand to witness the historical event, and got to sit down with this creative, passionate, and br...

I discovered Maribel González’s terrific @decolonizeinstruction account on Instagram, and was absolutely inspired by the ideas she shares there. A Native Xicana educator and Unschool Mama, she authored the books Social Justice and You, Be Your True Self, Build Strong Communities, Be a Changemaker and Choose Justice, she has also served as Director at the Center for Intergenerational Learning and N...