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KIPP On Learning Podcast

KIPP On Learning Podcast

By The KIPP Foundation

Join us on a journey of continuous learning as we share stories, insights, and inspiration from across the KIPP network.

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How The Legacy of Latinx Activism Influenced Education Today

KIPP On Learning Podcast Sep 20, 2022

00:00
18:43
A Conversation with NYT Best Selling Author Erika L. Sánchez

A Conversation with NYT Best Selling Author Erika L. Sánchez

For our series finale episode, we are excited to have New York Times best-selling author Erika L. Sánchez join us to talk about what inspires her work, what’s next for her, and how we can ignite students to become passionate readers and writers.  

Erika L. Sánchez is a Mexican American poet, novelist, and essayist. Her debut poetry collection, Lessons on Expulsion, was a finalist for the PEN Open Book Award. Her debut young adult novel, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, was a New York Times bestseller and a National Book Award finalist. It’s now being made into a film directed by America Ferrera. She is also the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Chair at DePaul University in Chicago. Her newest release and first adult book Crying in The Bathroom is a memoir that traces her life in deeply moving, wildly hilarious prose—from her misfit childhood growing up as the daughter of Mexican immigrants in ’90s Chicago, to struggles with her body and mental illness, to her rise to literary fame.

Apr 17, 202329:15
A Conversation with Farai Chideya, Journalist and Host of Our Body Politic Podcast

A Conversation with Farai Chideya, Journalist and Host of Our Body Politic Podcast

This month we are excited to be joined by journalist Farai Chideya to talk about her career in journalism and her insights on our political landscape. Farai is an award-winning journalist, speaker, author, and academic who tells stories about the human journey, government, and global society. She has covered every presidential election since 1996 and has reported for various outlets, from NPR, ABC News, CNN, the Intercept, Newsweek, and more. Since the start of her career, Farai has championed the need for equitable practices in news media. She's now the host of, Our Body Politic, a podcast unapologetically centered on how women of color experience and impact the major political events of today.

Feb 16, 202320:43
Reimagining the Use of EdTech In The Classroom w/ CEO of Khan Academy

Reimagining the Use of EdTech In The Classroom w/ CEO of Khan Academy

We are thrilled to kick off the year with special guest Sal Khan, CEO and founder of Khan Academy.

Sal Khan founded Khan Academy as a nonprofit organization in 2008 with a mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.  Khan Academy has more than 145 million registered users around the world, serves students in 51 languages, and is used in more than 190 countries. Khan Academy’s platforms include more than 70,000 interactive practice problems as well as videos and articles that cover a range of pre-K–12 subjects. Since the pandemic, the organization has grown from 9 to 280 school district partners across the country and has been used to teach in KIPP classrooms across the network.

Listen to hear Sal Khan discuss how Khan Academy evolved to meet the needs of students during the pandemic, the future of EdTech, reimagining the adoption of AI in the classroom, and more.

We hope you enjoy the episode and be sure to subscribe to get alerted first about new episodes.

Jan 18, 202338:03
Stop Shrinking and Own Your Accomplishments – 2022 KIPP Alumni Summit Session Highlights
Dec 07, 202224:13
Mobilizing Young People To Vote

Mobilizing Young People To Vote

It’s mid-term election time and although the polls have closed important civic engagement work continues across the country. This month we are excited to have Stephanie Young, Executive Director and Senior Advisor at When We All Vote join us to talk about their efforts to mobilize voter registration, especially for young people, across the country.

Over the past 12 years, Stephanie has worked in various communications roles ranging from TV newsrooms to non-profits, political campaigns, the United States Congress and President Obama’s White House.

Launched by former First Lady Michelle Obama, When We All Vote sponsors voter registration drives in our regions and shares information about registering and voting with our families, alumni and students. KIPP is a proud partner with When We All Vote as this work is directly tied to our mission, to build a more just world together with our communities.

We hope you enjoy the episode and subscribe to the KIPP On Learning Podcast to be alerted about new episodes.

Nov 09, 202232:48
How The Trevor Project Is Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth

How The Trevor Project Is Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people age 10-24 and LGBTQIA+ youth are 4x more likely to attempt suicide than their peers. This month, we are grateful to be joined by Keygan Miller, Public Training Manager at the Trevor Project - the world’s largest suicide prevention and mental health organization supporting LGBTQIA+ youth.

Keygan oversees design and facilitation of public trainings to advance Trevor’s suicide prevention work and teaches audiences to be strong allies for LGBTQIA+ youth. Prior to this work, Keygan was an Advocacy Manager at The Trevor Project where they were responsible for researching and strategizing on policy initiatives impacting LGBTQ youth at local, state, and federal levels.

For some, this topic may be deeply personal or triggering. If you or a young person you know are contemplating suicide, immediate support is available. Text START to 678-678 to be connected to a Trevor Project Counselor or dial 988 to be connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for free and confidential support.

Oct 11, 202225:43
How The Legacy of Latinx Activism Influenced Education Today

How The Legacy of Latinx Activism Influenced Education Today

How many of you have heard of the following court cases: Mendez v WestminsterPlyler v. Doe? Most of us know about the historic case Brown v Board of Education that ruled racial segregation in schools unconstitutional.

In 1946, before the Brown decision, eight-year-old Sylvia Mendez was one of the children represented in the case Mendez v. Westminster when a group of Mexican American families in California won the very first federal court case ruling that the segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. A decision that paved the way for the Brown decision.

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Plyler v. Doe, when a group of undocumented Mexican families from Texas in 1982  argued and won their case in the Supreme Court, ensuring that children living in the U.S. without legal immigration documentation could access a public education. This case laid the groundwork for the DREAM Act and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program also known as DACA – both of which are essential today to thousands of children and young adults across the United States.

This month we are delighted to welcome attorney, journalist, and television commentator Raul Reyes to talk more about the legacy of these historic cases, their impact, and the future of DACA.

Sep 20, 202218:43
Demystifying Tech: A Roadmap for a Successful Tech Career – 2022 KIPP Alumni Summit Session Highlights
Aug 22, 202243:02
A Conversation with Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director of GLSEN
Jun 21, 202227:01
Goldberg Scholar and Activist, Andrea Tecpoyotl
Apr 22, 202223:55
Digging Deep into What Makes Students Thrive with Angela Duckworth
Mar 14, 202231:36
A Conversation With Dr. Walter Kimbrough, President of Dillard University

A Conversation With Dr. Walter Kimbrough, President of Dillard University

When KIPPsters started returning to college campuses this semester, more than 1,700 of them did so at a Historically Black College and University. As of this fall, KIPP has a formal partnership with 9 HBCUs, including Dillard University which has been a KIPP college partner since 2013.

This month, KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin, had the honor of talking with Dr. Walter Kimbrough, President of Dillard University about the unique challenges of running an institution of higher education today, how he fought to stay open through most of the pandemic, and how the role and recognition of HBCUs in this country has changed during his 10-year tenure.

Feb 08, 202229:02
Preventing Teacher Burnout with Danna Thomas, Founder of Happy Teacher Revolution

Preventing Teacher Burnout with Danna Thomas, Founder of Happy Teacher Revolution

In this episode of the KIPP on Learning Podcast, KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin is joined by Danna Thomas, founder of Happy Teacher Revolution. In 2014, Danna started her organization to empower educators to advocate for their mental health. Danna’s organization started as a support group for teachers in her school in Baltimore and has grown to support teachers in more than 300 schools across the United States and internationally.  Listen to hear about the work her organization is doing to increase teacher happiness and professional sustainability.

Jan 24, 202225:01
Going To School During a Pandemic: A KIPP Student Perspective

Going To School During a Pandemic: A KIPP Student Perspective

In this episode, host and KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin is joined by 8th-grade student Sanaa Pledger from KIPP Metro Atlanta Public Schools to talk about her experience so far back in the classroom, learning through the pandemic, her passion for writing, and more.

Dec 15, 202114:39
Breaking Down Barriers - Alumni Diversifying Congress and Creating Change
Nov 19, 202119:46
How Braven Is Helping Close the Underemployment Gap

How Braven Is Helping Close the Underemployment Gap

In this episode, KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin is joined by Aimée Eubanks Davis, CEO of Braven to discuss the work her organization is doing to help first generation college graduates land strong first jobs.

Oct 29, 202130:28
Back To School With KIPP’s New President Kinnari Patel-Smyth
Sep 22, 202120:43
Moving Forward – Alumni Pursuing Their Highest Aspirations
Aug 23, 202121:37
Creating Brave and Inclusive Spaces In Schools

Creating Brave and Inclusive Spaces In Schools

In this episode, KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin is joined by KIPP Texas Austin College Prep Principal, Juan Juarez to discuss the work he's doing to fulfill KIPP Texas public schools’ commitment to creating brave and inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ students and staff.

If you like what you hear, subscribe to get alerted about new episodes and visit https://www.kipp.org for job opportunities and information about our schools.



Jun 23, 202116:15
Centering Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health In The Classroom
May 24, 202120:44
Dominique Mejia, The First KIPP Alum School Founder Shares Vision for KIPP Affirm

Dominique Mejia, The First KIPP Alum School Founder Shares Vision for KIPP Affirm

In this episode KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin is joined by Dominque Mejia founding principal of KIPP Affirm, a new KIPP middle school opening this summer in the Bronx, New York. Dominique is also making KIPP history as one of the first alumna to open a KIPP school. During the episode, she talks about her path from a music artist to an educator and her community focused vision for KIPP Affirm.

If you like what you hear, subscribe to get alerted about new episodes and visit www.kipp.org for job opportunities and information about our schools.

Apr 19, 202123:39
Teaching Financial Literacy and Building Wealth in Underserved Communities with Ashley Copeland CEO of Stacks and the City

Teaching Financial Literacy and Building Wealth in Underserved Communities with Ashley Copeland CEO of Stacks and the City

In this episode, KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin is joined by Ashley Copeland, founder and CEO of Stacks and the City. Ashley is a KIPP North Carolina alum and her company is committed to bringing financial education to underserved communities. During the episode, Ashley talks about tangible ways to build wealth and how she’s empowering people to have financial freedom through her work. She also shares her own personal glow and grow moments as a woman entrepreneur. Later, you’ll hear from KIPP Metro Atlanta Alum Nzali Scales, CEO of Zaza’s Kitchen and KIPP SoCal Alum Daisy Hernandez, Owner of Sol y Flor Shop in a special bonus segment you don't want to miss [25:17].

If you like what you hear, subscribe to get alerted about new episodes and visit www.kipp.org for job opportunities and information about our schools.

Mar 23, 202129:22
Teaching Culturally Relevant Black History and Civic Engagement
Feb 17, 202122:45
Bringing The Collective Voice Back To Family Engagement Featuring Shani Dowell CEO of Possip

Bringing The Collective Voice Back To Family Engagement Featuring Shani Dowell CEO of Possip

This episode, we’ll discuss how schools can become more equitable in the ways they engage with families. Joining host and KIPP Co-founder Dave Levin to share their expertise on the topic is Shani Dowell, CEO and Founder of Possip. Possip, short for "positive gossip," partners with schools and uses text messages to get quick surveys and reactions from parents ranging from praise for teachers to feedback on bullying and school culture. Today, Possip has a presence in 700 schools across 24 states and is currently being used in nine KIPP regions. Shani is not only an entrepreneur and leader in student and family recruitment, she was a public school math teacher in Houston and helped KIPP open schools in three cities. During the episode, she talks about the importance of communicating in a way that allows families to feel seen and the power of a collective voice in strengthening family engagement.

If you like what you hear, subscribe to get alerted about new episodes and visit www.kipp.org for job opportunities and information about our schools.

Jan 25, 202113:53
Why Supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities Is Crucial in The Fight For Equity and Justice

Why Supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities Is Crucial in The Fight For Equity and Justice

For our last episode of the year, KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin welcomes two KIPP Foundation Board of Director members, Dr. Michael L. Lomax, United Negro College Fund’s (UNCF) President and CEO for more than 16 years and Reed Hastings, founder and CEO of Netflix who in June donated $120 million to UNCF, Spelman and Morehouse College, the largest-ever gift to support scholarships at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Dave leads a discussion with Lomax and Hastings about the importance HBCUs have in the college persistence rates of more than 1,700 KIPP alumni currently enrolled there, and why supporting these institutions is crucial in the path to achieving racial equity in our country. On this episode, Reed Hastings calls for a doubling down on funding for education and housing and Dr. Lomax, shines a light on how increased funding for HBCUs is a catalyst for change in educational outcomes of Black/African American students and society as a whole.

If you like what you hear, subscribe to get alerted about new episodes and visit www.kipp.org for job opportunities and information about our schools.

Dec 02, 202028:55
The Power of the Latinx Vote In the 2020 Election

The Power of the Latinx Vote In the 2020 Election

Thirty two million people who identify as Latinx will be eligible to vote in the 2020 election, a record number making Latinos the largest minority voter group for the first time in history according to the Pew Research Center. For our October episode, KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin is joined by Clarissa Martínez-de-Castro, Deputy Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at UnidosUS and Dr. Stephen Nuño-Perez, the Director of Communications and Senior Analyst at Latino Decisions to discuss the influence Latinx voters have to shape one of the most important elections in American history and the work being done to mobilize Latinx voices across the nation. If you still haven’t registered to vote, or don’t know how and where to vote in your state, it’s not too late! Go to WhenWeAllVote.org/KIPP/ to get started.

Oct 07, 202027:39
Labor Day Episode: The Lingering Economic and Emotional Effects of COVID-19 on KIPP Families

Labor Day Episode: The Lingering Economic and Emotional Effects of COVID-19 on KIPP Families

For our September episode, KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin chats with Seth Harris, former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor under the Obama Administration, for a conversation about the lingering economic impact of COVID-19 on the workforce in America. Later in the episode, Dave is joined by KIPP NYC parent Wanda Neal to talk about her experience working as an essential worker in an emergency room department.

Sep 02, 202029:09
Reopening Schools: Caring for our Students, Teachers and Staff

Reopening Schools: Caring for our Students, Teachers and Staff

In this episode, KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin is joined by Erin Slezak, Deputy Chief of Strategy at KIPP Texas and Joey LaRoche, Chief Strategy Officer at KIPP New Orleans for a conversation about their regional reopening plans and how they are keeping students, families and staff motivated for the school year ahead.

Note: Since the taping of this episode, Texas is allowing KIPP schools in the region to now open virtually for the first four weeks and has an extended transition into physical school for an additional four weeks.

Aug 21, 202032:27
Moving Beyond Control in the Fight for Racial Justice

Moving Beyond Control in the Fight for Racial Justice

In this episode, KIPP Co-Founder and host Dave Levin is joined by Erin Trent Johnson, CEO, Coach, and founder of Community Equity Partners, and the Senior Advisor for The Equity Lab, and Kyra Mitchell, Chair of the NAACP National Youth Work Committee for a conversation on the ways in which systemic racism and anti-blackness manifest and intersect inside and outside of the classroom. Kyra also shares her advice for Gen Z interested in organizing and want to lend their voice in this historic movement for racial justice.

Jul 20, 202026:37
The Impact of the Pandemic on 2020 Graduates and The Persistence Work That Lies Ahead

The Impact of the Pandemic on 2020 Graduates and The Persistence Work That Lies Ahead

In this episode, KIPP Co-Founder and host Dave Levin is joined by David Page, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Dillard University and Ajuah Helton, National Director of the KIPP through College Program for a talk about the impact of the pandemic on first generation college students. They’ll also discuss the persistence work that lies ahead for college counselors across the country and why bridging the gap between college and career should be at the center of the work.

Jun 25, 202033:23
Turning Hope into Action: Why The COVID-19 Crisis Is an Opportunity To Reshape the Way We View Schooling

Turning Hope into Action: Why The COVID-19 Crisis Is an Opportunity To Reshape the Way We View Schooling

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the racial disparities and inequities black and brown families have been experiencing in the United States for decades. In this episode, KIPP Co-Founder and host Dave Levin is joined by Jessica Cunningham Akoto, Executive Director of KIPP Philadelphia and Benny Vásquez, Chief Equity Officer at the KIPP Foundation to discuss how educators, leaders, and advocates can use this unprecedented time as an opportunity to transform the way we think about schooling to better support the needs of students and the communities they live in.

We created an open-source repository of resources, templates, guidelines shared by KIPP regions and other education leaders to help support staff, students and families in response to COVID19. Explore the Resource Bank here: http://bit.ly/covidresources #togetherwearestronger

May 13, 202028:02
Insights, Inspiration, and Challenges from the KIPP Network In Wake Of COVID-19

Insights, Inspiration, and Challenges from the KIPP Network In Wake Of COVID-19

KIPP co-founder and host Dave Levin is joined by Chinedu Udeh, principal of KIPP Empower Academy in South Los Angeles and Carlos 'Cap' Capellan, principal of KIPP NYC College Prep for a candid conversation about their experiences as school leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Apr 16, 202027:46