State Of Education

Juliana Cohen, PhD works in the Department of Health Sciences at Merrimack College as an associate professor and as an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Cohen has her PhD in nutrition and her research focuses on pediatric nutrition, including school-based interventions, child/adolescent health and development, health disparities, and nutrition policies.

Parris Washington is a PhD candidate at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is the class of 2024 and is working towards her PhD in Human Genetics. Currently, her research focuses on hypothalamic development and mechanisms of sleep at the Seth Blackshaw Lab at Johns Hopkins University. In addition to her research interest, she advocates for science communication and policy in underserved communities. She is also a mentor at the Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). In this episode, we discuss her research interests and how she intends to influence science communication and policy. She’s proud of her graduation from an HBCU- Spelman College.

Dr. Seanna Leath is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. Dr. Leath’s PhD is in Education and Psychology. Her research focuses on healthy outcomes for black girls and women. In this episode she discusses her research work on targeted outcomes for black girls and women. She also currently runs the F.H.I.RE (Fostering Healthy Identities and REsilience) Lab at the University of Virginia.

Randall Kennedy, JD is a Harvard Professor of law. He teaches courses on Contracts, Civil Rights, Racial Relations and the Law, and Constitutional Law. Professor Kennedy has written several books and scholarly publications. Including the forthcoming, “Say it Loud On Race, Law, History and Culture.” He has studied at University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and received his J.D. from Yale Law School. He also was an editor for the Yale Law Journal. After law school, he served as a law clerk for Justice Thurgood Marshall and served on the NAACP Legal Defensive Fund. You can learn more about Professor Kennedy from his interviews on C-SPAN, “Common Law” podcast on UVA Law, The American Prospect and CNN.

Joseph B. Ryan, PhD (special education) is the Distinguished Professor of Special Education at the University of Clemson, College of Education. In addition to being a professor, he has been a K-12 teacher. He is the founder of Clemson LIFE(Learning Is For Everyone); where he helps teach adults with developmental disabilities life skills. Dr. Ryan is also a retired Captain of the US Navy Reserve. He has written over 90 publications, and is the Editor of the journal Beyond Behavior.

Iheoma U. Iruka, Ph.D., is a Research Professor of Public Policy at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition, Dr. Iruka is Director of the Early Childhood Health and Racial Equity Program at Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. Her Ph.D. is in Applied Developmental Psychology. Her research and public policy area(s) of work include: Child Health and Development, Early Care and Education, Pre-K Education, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Teacher Sarah McGhee recaps some of 2020’s most noted Education issues. Ms. McGhee is in her 6th year of teaching in Northern VA. She has a bachelors in History from VCU, a masters degree in secondary education from Marymount University and is currently taking class at George Washington University in Educational Leadership. She has taught in special education (autism) classrooms at the elementary level, as well as general education at the middle and high school level. Currently, she is a high school History teacher.

Dean Danielle Conway is the law Dean at Penn State Dickinson Law. In this episode, she discusses leadership and how the study of law can be the vehicle to leading. Dean Conway is also 1/5 of the “Sister Deans,” who are the driving force behind the momentous systemic changes occurring at the Association of American Law Schools. She is also a veteran and has written several publications.

It's election night and Distinguished Professors of History Lisa Tetrault and Allan Lichtman shed some light on voter governance, the history of voting in the United States, and a special election prediction based on scientific models is made.

Victor-Luis Vizcaino is an aspiring Anesthesiologist. Currently he is finishing up medical school and is working on getting matched in a Residency program. In this episode, Mr. Vizcaino discusses his journey to medical school, the process of medical school, and the importance of mentorship. You can follow his medical school journey on Twitter.

Noelle Palmer is a Mental Health professional in Minnesota. She also is a Caucasian mom of an adopted black son. In this episode, Noelle discusses such topics as racial reconciliation, mental health policing, and adoption. She’s the author of that now viral Facebook post regarding her experience with her son. She continues to advocate for racial reconciliation.

Brad Weinstein is co-author of “Hacking School Discipline.” He is also the Chief Innovation Officer and a co-founder of BehaviorFlip. BehaviorFlip is a software based on restorative justice practices in schools. Brad has been a teacher and in charge of curriculum design and instruction. In this episode l, he discusses some best practices for restorative justice in schools. You can find him sharing memes on social media via TeacherGoals.

Professor Julie E. McConnell, Esq is a Clinical Law Professor and Director of the Children’s Defense Clinic at University of Richmond School of Law. In this episode, she speaks on the topic of juvenile representation and related issues. She frequently speaks and gives trainings on best practices in juvenile law. Prior to becoming a lawyer, she worked in the community as an organizer, was a counselor, and special education teacher.

Dr. Valerie Fitzhugh is an Associate Professor of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. She is a clinical Pathologist who specializes in bone and soft tissue pathology and cytopathology. In addition, she is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is the Interim Chair of the Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine at Rutgers and the Interim Chair at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School as well. Adding to the many hats she wears, Dr. Fitzhugh is also the Chair and Medical Director of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Clara Maass Medical Center. In this episode she discusses being a black woman in Medicine, Pathology, and as a Professor. She also discusses pathologies of different diseases, such as Colon and Ovarian Cancer. Lastly, she discusses her recommendations for building a more diverse pipeline in the field of Pathology. Dr. Fitzhugh has received various accolades, including 2017, 2018, 2019 Golden Apple Teaching Award Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, 2017 Top Five Featured Pathologist, 40 Under Forty 2017 from the American Society of Clinical Pathology and the Pathology Power List by The Pathologist Magazine in 2016, 2018, and 2019. You can find her on Twitter using the platform to inform, educate, and attract people to the field of Pathology.

Hilderbrand Pelzer III

is an elementary school Principal in Philadelphia. He is the author of "Unlocking Potential: Organizing a School Inside a Prison." In this episode he discusses teacher effectiveness, urban education, and the importance of teaching how to read correctly.

Dr Jalan Burton MD, MPH is a licensed Pediatrician and public health expert primarily serving the District of Columbia and surrounding Maryland and Virginia. She has over a decade of experience in primary care, children with special needs, public health, youth development, practice management, physician wellness, and health care consulting. She is the Founder Healthy Home Pediatrics. Here, she discusses social determinants of health like food swamps and other public health issues.

Stephanie Machacek,CNS is a Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Health Coach. Stephanie works with women to find the underlying cause of their symptoms and correct them through nutrition and lifestyle. Here, she gives us some of the basics on nutrition. She is also the Founder of SuperMama by Design. SuperMama by Design has an active and engaging Facebook group titled, Super Mama Nutrition Community. Stephanie is a wife and mom of four happy, and healthy kids.

Kimberly Sanders,MS is President of Ukeru Systems. Ukeru Systems utilizes trauma informed and research based approaches as an alternative to use of force in schools. Ukeru has reduced use of force by more than 99% and saved over $17 million dollars at parent organization, Grafton Integrated Health Network. Kim has over 25 years of experience in behaviorial health. She is also a sought after expert both nationally and internationally.

Accomplished attorney David Greco discusses how he is currently defending the most vulnerable children against use of force. He also discusses some recommendations for US education reform. David Greco graduated magna cum laude from law school, and he helped open up the San Diego office of his law firm RMO LLP. David is currently serving on the Executive Board of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section.

Current Minnesota Teacher of the Year- Ms. Jessica Davis, School Counselor and Professor of Counseling in Atlanta, GA- Dr. Ty Crook, and Director of School Counseling in Northern Virginia-Ms. Alixandra Tate discuss the current State of Education and race in light of the publicized death of Mr. George Floyd.

Lesley Butterfield-Harrop, RN is our guest this episode. She discusses trauma, resliency, and processing emotions with children. There are so many nuggets here for building mental health skills with your children. Lesley holds a Bachelors degree in nursing, graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Arlington. She works as a Registered Nurse, with years of experience in Community Health. Lesley serves on the Board of Directors for NAMI-Virginia, on State Council Representative for IFSP, as Secretary on her local SEAC committee, as well as serving on the board for the Prevention Council of Roanoke County, VA. Lesley also functions as a freelance writer and public speaker, sharing her thoughts and experiences of raising a child with special needs, navigating single motherhood after familial trauma, and raising awareness of advocacy within her community. She lives in Roanoke with her four children who love dance parties in the kitchen.

Dr. Jay Wamsted is a seasoned Math teacher who has published numerous articles. He has been published in the Harvard Ed Review and has given a Tedx Talk. In this episode, he discusses race and education. He also gives some sage advice as a Caucasian male teacher teaching Math in urban Atlanta, Georgia.

COVID-19 has made it a tough time for everybody, but certain student populations are more impacted than others. We explore this in our conversation. State of Education and Education Law attorney Keith Peck discuss distance learning compensatory services under the IDEA during the time of COVID-19.