In this episode, we talk to Ms. Jamell O'Neal, assistant principal and former 2nd grade teacher, about her purpose in education. Ms. O'Neal shares her passion for centering students in conversations about education. She discusses how she engages families, collaborates with colleagues, and seeks feedback in her growth as an educator and administrator. Ms. O'Neal tells us how much it means to hear from students who attribute success to what they learned in her second grade classroom.

In this episode, we talk to Ms. Shannon Payne about her start as a substitute teacher and how it led her to being a school counselor. Ms. Payne discusses the passion ignited by working with students and how she establishes relationships with students, families, and colleagues through trust. Her primary reason for staying in education is the service to students.

In this episode, Dr. Amy and Dr. Joi talk about teacher retention. After discussing the causes of teachers leaving the profession in Part 1 and the sense of belonging in Part 2, we explore the ideal conditions for retaining teachers. We discuss the importance of positive conflict resolution and transparent communication. We also share some strategies for creating a positive school culture through acknowledgements, rewards, recognition, and growth. This episode was originally released under Teaching and Learning: Theory vs Practice Season 2 Episode 28

In this episode, Dr. Amy and Dr. Joi talk about teacher retention. After discussing the causes of teachers leaving the profession in Part 1, we look at what we can do to keep them, especially experienced teachers. We discuss the necessary sense of belonging in a school culture and how educators need to feel they matter as part of the school and as individuals. We also share our personal experiences with being developed professionally and the importance of being empowered with leadership and voice.

In this episode, Dr. Amy and Dr. Joi have a no-holds-barred conversation about teacher retention. We discuss the increase in teachers retiring or leaving the profession altogether, further impacting the crisis levels of teacher shortages across the nation. In Part 1 of this 3-part series on teacher retention, we use the Ultimate Guide to Teacher Retention by Education Elements and a survey by the National Education Association to guide our conversation about the reasons teachers leave the classroom. This episode was originally released under Teaching and Learning: Theory vs Practice Season 2 Episode 26.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Don Parker, a principal, author, and professional development provider. Dr. Parker discusses relationships and clear expectations as the starting points for turning around a school culture. He explains the framework of his new book, Be the Driving Force: Leading Your School on the Road to Equity, a practical guidebook for education leaders. Dr. Parker closes with some clear first steps that can be immediately implemented.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Pam Fenning about persistent discipline trends in K-12 schools. Dr. Fenning shares prominent research on implicit bias, discipline policies, and discipline disparities, particularly within the intersection of race and different abilities. Dr. Fenning provides examples from her own observations as a school psychologist and her work within educator preparation. We discuss strategies for monitoring our vulnerable decision points and the need for collaboration among school professionals when addressing students’ needs and behavior. This episode was originally released under Teaching and Learning: Theory vs Practice Season 3 Episode 15.Referenced in this podcast:Illinois Legislative Black Caucus - The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, founded in 1967, stands for the progression of the African-American community by promoting education, health and welfare, minority business enterprise, job creation, consumer education and criminal justice reform.Sylvia Rosenfield | UMD College of Education - Professor Emerita, School Psychology, Ph.D., University of WisconsinNadine Burke Harris | Speaker | TED - Nadine Burke Harris’ healthcare practice focuses on a little-understood, yet very common factor in childhood that can profoundly impact adult-onset disease: trauma.Russ Skiba, Indiana University Bloomington - Russell Skiba, Ph.D. is a Professor in the School Psychology program at Indiana University and Director of the Equity Project at Indiana University, a consortium of federal, state, and foundation-funded grants providing evidence to practitioners and policymakers in the areas of school violence, zero tolerance, and equity in education. Daniel J. Losen | National Center for Youth Law - Daniel J. Losen is the Senior Director for the Education team at the National Center for Youth Law and contributes to the organization's efforts in the area of education on behalf of all students, especially children of color and others that have historically been discriminated against. Dan's work includes promoting resource equity, the Honest Education campaign, and fighting against the school-to-prison pipeline at the national state and local levels. Dan oversees staffing for the Education Civil Rights Alliance, a National Center for Youth Law initiative that conducts research relevant to civil rights concerns, and engages in direct advocacy for systemic education reforms at the national, state, and local levels.Kent McIntosh | College of Education - Kent McIntosh, PhD, teaches and conducts research in the areas of positive behavior support, equity in school discipline, and sustainability of evidence-based interventions in schools. He is Director of Educational and Community Supports, a research unit in the College of Education.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Janelle Crowley, Chief of Staff at Governors State University. Dr. Crowley shares her experiences with hearing but not accepting “no” in spite of her struggles with hearing loss. She tells about the positive encouragement she received from many teachers and professors that inspired her career trajectory, as well as the disheartening stories of barriers and discouragement from others. We talk about the awareness and intentionality in helping students with different abilities feel included and capable. Dr. Crowley discusses her role at Governors State University and the many exciting initiatives in the works for the future. This episode was originally released under Teaching and Learning: Theory vs Practice Season 3 Episode 15.

In this episode during Disability Awareness Month, we talk to Ms. Angela Szczepanik-Sanchez, Director of Access Services for Students with Disabilities (ASSD) in the Division of Student Affairs at Governors State University. We ask about awareness versus comfortability and the continuum of tolerance, acceptance, inclusion, and allyship. Ms. Szczepanik-Sanchez explains the legal requirements of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and section 504 compared to Accessible Design Act (ADA) as they relate to both students and employees. We also discuss what it looks like for students to transition from Pre-K to grade 8 and then high school, as well as college to workforce.

In this episode, we talk to Ms. Alexandria Pearson about the responsibilities of a special educator. Ms. Pearson explains different classroom settings, as well as her role as co-teacher, one-on-one pull-out instructor, and case manager for children with exceptionalities. We discuss individualized education programs, modifications, and transition to adulthood. This episode also provides information for pathways to becoming an educator. This episode was originally released under Teaching and Learning: Theory vs Practice Season 2 Episode 20.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Gaetane Jean-Marie about her work in elevating women’s voices in social justice. Dr. Jean-Marie shares personal experiences modeling how we can prepare our voices while in safe spaces to speak up and speak out when we are in less comfortable situations. This episode was originally released under Teaching and Learning: Theory vs Practice Season 1 Episode 20.Referenced in this podcast:How to Be an Antiracist — Ibram X. Kendi - Ibram X. Kendi's concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America--but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. Instead of working with the policies and system we have in place, Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it. Women of Color in Higher Education: Turbulent Past, Promising Future - (2011), "Advertisement", Jean-Marie, G. and Lloyd-Jones, B. (Ed.) Women of Color in Higher Education: Turbulent Past, Promising Future (Diversity in Higher Education, Vol. 9), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, p. i. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-3644(2011)0000009024So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo | Hachette Book Group - In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from police brutality and cultural appropriation to the model minority myth in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race, and about how racism infects every aspect of American life.Gaëtane Jean-Marie - Dean Jean-Marie joins Rowan from the University of Northern Iowa, where, since 2016, she served as dean of the College of Education and the Richard O. Jacobson Endowed Chair of Leadership in Education. She also previously served as interim director of UNI’s Center for Educational Transformation.What is Servant Leadership? - Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership - Servant Leadership is a non-traditional leadership philosophy, embedded in a set of behaviors and practices that place the primary emphasis on the well-being of those being served.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Candace Smith, Assistant Professor in Early Childhood and Principal Preparation at Governors State University. We discuss the high instances of hate crimes and the newly-legislated Illinois Racism-Free Act. Dr. Smith shares her path to awareness and advocacy for anti-racism work and what she is doing in educator preparation and local schools. Importantly, we talk about the conversations that need to happen at both the small and large dinner tables at home. Referenced in this podcast:Jonathan Kozol - Jonathan Kozol received the National Book Award for Death at an Early Age, the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award for Rachel and Her Children, and countless other honors for Savage Inequalities, Amazing Grace, The Shame of the Nation, and Fire in the Ashes. The final and culminating work of his career is now nearing completion.The Little Book of Racial Healing - Tom DeWolf - The Little Book of Racial Healing is available NOW from the Good Books imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, this new addition to the Little Books of Justice and Peacebuilding series presents the Coming to the Table Approach to racial healing in book form for the first time. PLEASE NOTE: 100% of author proceeds from this Little Book are donated to Coming to the Table to support the racial healing work described within its pages.Waking Up White – Debby Irving - Inspired by my own two-steps-forward, one-step-back journey away from racial ignorance, I educate other white people confused and frustrated by racism by transforming anxiety and inaction into agency and action.Racism Free Schools Act - The Racism-Free Schools Act requires every school in Illinois to adopt a specific policy on race-related acts of hate, train employees to recognize and report them, and inform student and families of their rights and reporting options. Together we can educate, repair, and prevent future harm.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Frank Harris about affirming students’ identities and affirming their strengths. Dr. Harris shares how to disrupt the 3D effect of distrust, disdain, and disregard with trust, mutual respect, and care. We also talk about his newly developed concept of racelighting. This episode was originally released under Teaching and Learning: Theory vs Practice Season 1 Episode 38.Referenced in this podcast:Dr. Frank Harris, III - Dr. Frank Harris III is a professor of postsecondary education and co-director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab at San Diego State University (SDSU). Dr. Harris is also a senior strategist in SDSU’s Division of Campus Diversity and Student Affairs, and, in 2021–2022, the SDSU President named Harris the faculty athletics representative. In Fall 2022, Harris began his appointment as associate dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion in SDSU’s College of Education, and he received the SDSU Alumni Distinguished Faculty Award for the 2021–2022 academic year.Dr. J. Luke Wood - J. Luke Wood, Ph.D. is the Vice President for Student Affairs & Campus Diversity and Chief Diversity Officer at San Diego State University (SDSU). Wood is also the Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Education and a tenured full Professor in the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education (ARPE) at SDSU. According to the Black in the Crimson in Black, Wood is the first and only Distinguished Professor of Black/African American descent in SDSU’s history. In 2023, Wood was appointed by the state Senate to serve on the newly established California Racial Equity Commission. He joined SDSU in 2011 and is an active researcher and equity-driven leader.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Alyssa Hadley Dunn, the Director of Teacher Education and an Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Dunn describes the motivation for her book, Teaching on the Days After: Educating for Equity in the Wake of Injustice. She shares her education journey that led her to better understand racial inequities and how to confront them. We discuss how foundational the classroom community and relationships are to being prepared for any "days after" in K-12 and university teaching. Referenced in this podcast:James Baldwin - James Baldwin (born August 2, 1924, New York, New York, U.S.—died December 1, 1987, Saint-Paul de Vence, France) was an essayist, novelist, and playwright whose eloquence and passion on the subject of race in America made him one of the most important voices of the 20th century.Teaching on Days After - What should teachers do on the days after major events, tragedies, and traumas, especially when injustice is involved? This beautifully written book features teacher narratives and youth-authored student spotlights that reveal what classrooms do and can look like in the wake of these critical moments. Dunn incisively argues for the importance of equitable commitments, humanizing dialogue, sociopolitical awareness, and a rejection of so-called pedagogical neutrality across all grade levels and content areas. By highlighting the voices of teachers who are pushing beyond their concerns and fears about teaching for equity and justice, readers see how these educators address negative reactions from parents and administrators, welcome all student viewpoints, and negotiate their own feelings. These inspiring stories come from diverse areas such as urban New York, rural Georgia, and suburban Michigan, from both public and private schools, and from classrooms with both novice and veteran teachers. Teaching on Days After can be used to support current classroom teachers and to better structure teacher education to help preservice teachers think ahead to their future classrooms.Brittney Cooper, Cultural theorist - With scholarship and incisive commentary that exposes the marginalized narratives hidden within "mainstream" history, Brittney Cooper writes at the vanguard of cultural criticism.Waking Up White – Debby Irving - Waking Up White is the book I wish someone had handed me decades ago. My hope is that by sharing my sometimes cringe-worthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, I offer a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes, manners, and tolerance. As I unpack my own long-held beliefs about colorblindness, being a good person, and wanting to help people of color, I reveal how each of these well-intentioned mindsets actually perpetuated my ill-conceived ideas about race.DR. BETTINA LOVE - Bettina Love - Dr. Bettina L. Love holds the prestigious William F. Russell Professorship at Teachers College, Columbia University, and is the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller “Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal.” In 2022, the Kennedy Center recognized Dr. Love as one of the Next 50 Leaders dedicated to making the world more inspired, inclusive, and compassionate.A Comprehensive Guide to the Bronfenbrenner Ecological Model - Bronfenbrenner's ecological model is a framework that can be utilized to understand the complex systems that influence human development. In particular, this model emphasizes the importance of environmental factors and social...

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Marlon Cummings about meeting students’ individual needs by recognizing their cultural spaces. Dr. Cummings discusses ownership of our strengths and recognition of our weaknesses as we develop into culturally-responsive leaders. This episode was originally released under Teaching and Learning: Theory vs Practice Season 1 Episode 25.Referenced in this podcast:StrengthsFinder 2.0 - To help people uncover their talents, Gallup introduced the first version of its online assessment, StrengthsFinder, in 2001 which ignited a global conversation and helped millions to discover their top five talents. In its latest national bestseller, StrengthsFinder 2.0, Gallup unveils the new and improved version of its popular assessment, language of 34 themes, and much more. While you can read this book in one sitting, you'll use it as a reference for decades.The White Architects of Black Education: Ideology and Power in America, 1865–1954 - A historical investigation into the political and ideological foundations of the "miseducation of the Negro" in America, this timely and provocative volume explores the men and ideas that helped shape educational and societal apartheid from the Civil War to the new millennium. It is a study of how big corporate power uses private wealth to legislate, shape unequal race relations, broker ideas, and define "acceptable" social change. Drawing on little-known biographies of White power brokers who shaped Black education, William Watkins explains the structuring of segregated education that has plagued the United States for much of the 20th century. With broad and interdisciplinary appeal, this book is written in a language accessible to lay people and scholars alike.Mike Schmoker - School and District Improvement, Assessment, Curriculum and Staff Development - Dr. Mike Schmoker is a former administrator, English teacher and football coach. He has written several bestselling books and dozens of articles for educational journals, newspapers and for TIME magazine. His most recent ASCD bestsellers are the expanded second edition of FOCUS and Results NOW, 2.0. which was a "#1 New Release" on Amazon. The first edition was a finalist for "book of the year" by the Association of Educational Publishers.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Drew Hines about STEM education and the mission of Greencorps Chicago. Dr. Hines discusses Greencorps’ project-based model to provide job training, support regional sustainability, and build partnerships with higher education. We also talk about theory versus practice in the practical application setting.Note: As of this rebooted release in February 2024, Dr. Drew Hines is now the Community and Private Land Conservation Field Chief for the Missouri Department of Conservation.Referenced in this podcast:City of Chicago :: Greencorps Chicago - Greencorps Chicago is the City of Chicago’s green industry job training program for individuals with barriers to employment. Greencorps Chicago - Greencorps Chicago’s mission is to empower residents from Chicagoland’s underserved neighborhoods to create change in their lives and communities through training, service, and career opportunities in environmental fields.

In this episode, we go live on Radio Jaguar with Mr. Jahmal Cole, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of My Block My Hood My City. Mr. Cole shares the history of his inspiration for community organizing and for raising youth's awareness of the world and opportunities beyond their neighborhood. Mr. Cole talks about the impact he wants his organization to have on youth in Chicago and what success looks like to him. He provides ways to get involved with and support My Block My Hood My City.Referenced in this podcast:MY BLOCK MY HOOD MY CITY - MISSION STATEMENT: To inspire youth, empower communities, and build a better world one block at a time. We believe in providing opportunities for others to step outside their comfort zone and explore new communities, cultures, and cuisines in an effort to gain a greater understanding of the world.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Phyllis West, Director of the Social Justice Initiative at Governors State University. Dr. West discusses the importance of listening for opportunities, being curious, and doing what may seem most challenging. She talks about staying connected with friends, family, and teachers from her youth and shares the lasting power of words, particularly from her 3rd and 4th grade teachers, that shaped who she would become. We also discuss the mission and vision for the Social Justice Initiative with its first tremendous step to coordinate a legal clinic.Referenced in this podcast:Social Justice Initiative | Governors State University - The SJI’s mission is to transform vulnerable populations, racial and economic injustice, and structural and social barriers of underrepresented individuals, families, and communities in the Southland and in the State of Illinois. SJI’s goal is to address these social conditions through the utilization of research, policy, advocacy, restorative justice, and experiential learning.Legal Clinic | Governors State University - The GSU Self-Help Legal Assistance Clinic (GSU-LC) provides free self-help legal assistance and non-legal resources to low-income Illinois residents using the court system without legal representation, understand and navigate the legal system. At the clinic, a team of attorneys, social workers, and volunteers work together under the supervision of a licensed attorney and social worker to increase access to legal services in underrepresented communities.

In this episode, we talk to Mr. Nicholas Neal about bridging the gaps for young adults leaving the foster care system and becoming independent. Mr. Neal discusses the services his organization provides and the needs for mentoring older youth. He also shares ways the community can support these efforts. This episode was originally released under Teaching and Learning: Theory vs Practice Season 1 Episode 28. Referenced in this podcast:National Youth Advocate Program - We are National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP). We have a non-negotiable commitment to do what is best for children, youth and their families and have an abiding faith that every person has an innate ability to learn, grow and develop. We provide opportunities and resources to youth and families through our innovative programs and services, and we strongly support and offer guidance to our dedicated foster parents. We work hard to build community support and advocate with public agencies and officials on behalf of youth and families. We are united by our humanity and enriched by our diversity and are committed to supporting and protecting youth and families and to strengthening the communities we are proud to serve. We are NYAP.Benchmark Family Services Therapeutic Foster Care - Benchmark Family Services is a network of professional, therapeutic foster homes and committed staff across two states with the goal of providing stable out-of-home placements for children in need. We work alongside child welfare agencies to provide stable care to youth in the least restrictive setting possible as they work toward their goals. The results we see in the youth that pass through our care encourage us to carry on in our mission to give even the most traumatized and troubled children a safe and stable home.Indiana DCS: Foster Care - Indiana Department of Child Services resources on foster care.

In this episode, we honor International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a special guest presentation from Ms. Judith Altmann, a Holocaust Survivor. At 99-years old, Ms. Altmann continues to make it her life's work to share what hate and discrimination can do. She shares her story of survival and resilience with the strong message to love and show kindness .Referenced in this podcast:Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center - Judith Altmann was born in Jasina Czechoslovakia, which was invaded by the Nazis in 1939. In 1944 she was arrested and transported to Auschwitz concentration camp with her niece where they were selected for work. From there she was sent to Essen and Gelsenkirchen Labour camps where she remained until March 1945. She survived the "death march" that ended in the Bergen Belsen concentration camp. Sick with typhus, Judy was barely alive when she was liberated by the British Army in 1945.