The Conscious Educator

Anti-racism work is critical to interrupting and dismantling the systems of oppression that negatively impact marginalized students. As the words anti-racism and equity are the new buzzwords in education, educators truly committed to anti-racism know that this is not to remain just a hashtag or slogan on a shirt. However, becoming an educator committed to eradicating systems of oppression in classrooms and schools is not for the faint of heart and there are many obstacles that can hinder this important work. Here today to talk with us about how teachers can stay on the journey towards anti-racism and make impactful changes to the harmful school practices currently in place is the one and only Dr. Lori Patton Davis. Dr. Lori Patton Davis is a highly respected, nationally recognized, and accomplished scholar in the field of higher education. She is a tenured full professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs at The Ohio State University and Chair of the Department of Educational Studies. Enjoy!

In today's episode, I am joined by early childhood educator and equity advocate Ijumaa Jordan! We tackle the topic of the school-to-prison pipeline and discuss how it often begins with examining the connections between policing, race, and early childhood environments. We'll breakdown the negative effects of school discipline policies, the current state of discipline in early childhood, race and its role in how different children are disciplined, what practitioners can do to interrupt the harm of policing in early childhood, and much more!

Contact Ijumaa Jordan:

https://twitter.com/Ijumaaj

https://www.instagram.com/ijumaaj/

https://www.facebook.com/ijordanececonsulting

In today's show, I am joined by Dr. Ana Christina da Silva Iddings, a Professor of the Practice of Education in Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. We discuss important issues that will help us become better prepared to support and work with our immigrant students, families, and communities. Highlights include common needs of immigrant students and families; how educators can create more positive lines of communication between themselves and the immigrant families they serve; how teachers can support immigrant students and families during the current anti-immigrant political climate; and much more!

Contact Dr. da Silva Iddings:

Twitter: @ana_c_dasilva

In this episode I talk with author Tonya Ellis! We discuss the current state of diversity in children's books and the importance of educators including more authentic voices and experiences for all students to see themselves in the books we share with them. Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the best-selling, award winning, Sophie Washington illustrated chapter book series for kids ages 8-12. The 11-book series stars an African American tween from the Houston area and her diverse group of friends. Sophie and friends stand up to bullies, make friends, squabble with siblings, set limits with social media and video games, and learn other lessons in the fun, heartwarming books. A former journalist and freelance magazine writer, Tonya is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Authors Guild. She lives in Houston with her husband and three children. Enjoy!

Get in touch with Tonya Ellis:

tonyaellis@live.com

Facebook and Instagram - @tonyaellisbooks

Twitter - @TonyaDEllis

On today's episode we tackle the complications of COVID-19 and continuing racial and socioeconomic inequities in schools. As racial and socioeconomic disparities in achievement, discipline, and special education referrals remain steady, we have to continue to ask for whom does our educational system actually work for, and how in the face of growing disparities, due to the ravaging of COVID-19, are we ever going to get to place where our educational institutions actually support the success of ALL students? Joining us today to discuss this topic and more is Dr. Teresa Dunleavy. Dr. Dunleavy is an Assistant Professor of Math Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning in Peabody College at Vanderbilt. Across the last 20 years, she has taught, researched, and partnered in high school and university mathematics, education, and math education spaces. In her role as an assistant professor at Peabody, a lot of her time is focused in working across the mathematics education spectrum—with mathematics teacher candidates in Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, with Noyce scholars, and with current teachers.

Contact Dr. Dunleavy:

Email: teresa.dunleavy@vanderbilt.edu

Twitter: @teresakd

It's the first episode of season two! Today, we are kicking off this new season with an episode dedicated to Black History Month! As many schools prepare celebrations and special programs around this month's heritage theme, I challenge listeners to ask themselves: Is this enough? To help us answer this question and more, I have a special guest Dr. LaGarrett J. King who is the Founding Director of the CARTER Center for K-12 Black history education at the University of Missouri. We discuss the importance of Black history in schools, his framework for Black historical consciousness, and the six principles every educator should embrace when creating more authentic representation of Black historical knowledge in their classrooms and schools. Happy listening!

Contact Dr. King:

Email: kinglj@missouri.edu

Twitter: @DrLaGarrettKing

In this season's final episode, you all are in for a treat! I am joined by the fabulous Beatrice Moore! She is a veteran math educator, with forty years in the classroom, leadership, and consulting arenas! She has published numerous books and articles and is dedicated to helping educators raise their expectations for all students for greater achievement outcomes! You don't want to miss this special extended episode! We are dropping some knowledge gems today and discussing the power of a believing teacher! Happy listening!

On today's show we are discussing the effects of teacher turnover rates on schools and framing solutions to help more teachers stay in the classroom. Today's guest is Andrea Atkinson! Andrea has 21 years of teaching experience at elementary and middle school levels. She has worked in the public, private, and charter school sectors in a variety of socioeconomic, demographic, and academic environments. In 2016, she founded Cain School Consulting to transform schools. She helps aspiring teachers to pass Texas certification exams, she coaches teachers through challenging scenarios in the classroom, and works side-by-side with parents to equip them with resources to help their children to gain academic success. In her spare time, Andrea loves to spend time with her family, play volleyball, read, and travel the country.

Listeners can connect with Andrea by:

Ph: 832-207-5216

FB: Cain School Consulting

IG: Cain School Consulting

Replacing punitive and exclusionary discipline practices with ones rooted in fostering engagement, belonging, and meaningful accountability is necessary to reduce the harm that traditional school discipline practices creates. On today's show,  we are discussing how restorative practices will not only help us restore the humanity in our students, it will also help us restore the humanity in ourselves.

Joining me today is the wonderful Whitney Hawkins, M.Ed. She is a native of Dallas, TX. She received her bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies from Prairie View A&M University in 2009 and she received her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction in Urban Education from Texas A&M in 2019. She has been teaching for 11 years in Richardson ISD. And for the past five years has served as a campus reading specialist at a Title 1 school and she is an advocate for restorative practices in place of zero tolerance policies in the classroom. 

Today we are discussing the importance of schools facilitating strong partnerships with families and communities. Today's guest is Jamie Mayes. She is a native of DeRidder, Louisiana and a citizen of Monroe, Louisiana. For the past 22 years, Jamie has followed her passion as a writer and speaker. She says God blessed her to understand her gift at a young age and it became a lifesaver, favorite past time and calling for her. For 12 years, Jamie has worked as an English, Speech and Creative Writing teacher. In addition to teaching, Jamie is a motivational speaker, blogger, philanthropist, and author of 6 books- 3 collections of poetry, a collection of short stories, and a novel. When she is not challenging young minds in the classroom, she travels about the country facilitating workshops, sharing lectures and empowering audiences through her company Jamie Mayes Educational Consulting & Literacy Services, LLC. Her goal is to leave an educational, literary and personal mark in society that will positively impact the world. She believes the key to success is remaining humble and serving God through all our works to mankind.

Listeners can connect with Jamie through:

Facebook: Jamie Mayes

LinkedIN: Jamie Mayes

IG: jamiemayesaoe

Twitter: jamiemayesaoe

Developing teachers’ sociopolitical awareness is yet another foundational tool to becoming a conscious educator. Having classrooms with teachers who have a depth in understanding of the systems and institutions in which they teach and the effects of the policies they put in place have on students and families is essential to teachers being able to use education as tool for empowerment not oppression. Joining me today is Mr. Mitchell Fontenot, educator, Teacher of the Year, and community leader dedicated to creating equity in schools for underserved students. 

In today's episode we are tackling the presence of whiteness and colorblindness in our schools. As contested as this topic is, it is essential that conscious educators are at the forefront of knowledge in how these two dynamics create inequitable and negative school experiences for many students and what we can do to lessen its effects. My guest for today is Taylor Gilley, she is a Lead Development Specialist for an urban school district in Houston, TX. Her team helps coach first year educators acclimating to teaching in an urban school system. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in Urban Education at Texas A&M University. Taylor’s “life work” is to help guide White pre-service teachers in navigating urban schools, establishing habits of self-reflection, building relationships across diverse teams, and cultivating culturally responsive classrooms.

Integrating culturally relevant curriculum into our regular teaching practices is essential for higher levels of achievement for all students. Students who see their culture accurately represented in their learning not only feel good about themselves but are more open to learning what we have to teach them. On today's show I talk with phenomenal scholar and educator Dr. Lakia Scott on the importance of culturally relevant pedagogy and curriculum. 

Today we are tackling part two of the discussion about the power of culturally responsive teaching even further with Ms. Affton Coleman! In this episode, she highlights the importance of teachers building relationships with students and parents and even offers a few must-have strategies for implementing culturally responsive practices in the classroom! Happy listening!

Today, we will begin a two-part episode about the power of culturally responsive teaching and how it can help educators overturn the negative statistics facing our students and help give teachers a better understanding of the needs of their diverse learners. As trailblazer in the field of CRT Dr. Geneva Gay put it, we are going to discuss how “using the cultural knowledge, prior experiences, frames of reference, and performance styles of ethnically diverse students makes learning encounters more relevant and effective for them.” 

On today's show I am joined by the wonderful Dr. Sarah Johnson. She is Course Instructor of Mathematics at Western Governors University in the General Education Department. Dr. Johnson received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction: Urban Math Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in August 2014. She received the Masters of Science Degree in Mathematics from Fayetteville State University in 2008 and Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Bethune-Cookman University in 2005.

Happy listening!

Welcome to the introductory episode of The Conscious Educator podcast! This is just a little segment to introduce myself and get listeners better acquainted with the purpose of this show! I hope you stay tuned in! It's going to be a great season!