Ep. 118: Combating Moral Panics At School Board Meetings

in , , ,

EQ: How can School District Leaders manage and respond to moral panics of the moment, particularly around DEI/CRT? 

Guest: Wendy Smith our guest from Episode 111: Back to School, Go to School Board Meetings! 

In this episode, we catch up with Vancouver School board chair, Wendy Smith. We discuss her recent election win and related lessons. We pickup our conversation about current issues facing school districts across the nation, particularly what it’s like serving a diverse range of community needs and constant pressures from various stakeholders. Wendy shares the process for the VPS equity audit and the implications for the district. 

Related Resources:

Do Your Fudging Homework: 

  • Hope: Reach out to an educator and offer a word of encouragement or support

  • Megan: Email an educator and let them know you see them

  • Wendy: The Daily’s series “School Board Wars”


Ep. 111: Back to School, Go To School Board Meetings!

in , ,

EQ: How can we better understand the anatomy of a school district in order to access levers of power & be more effective advocates in our local schools?

Hope and Megan and joined by 2 special guests, Bethany Rivard and Wendy Smith. Bethany is an award winning English Language Arts & Theater teacher at Fort Vancouver High School. Wendy is a classroom teacher and on the Vancouver Public Schools Board director. In this episode, they discuss the anatomy of a school district including who you should reach out to when you have concerns, the best way to connect with your school board members, and why you should attend and participate in school board meetings.

If you’re interested in running for local office reach out:

Do Your Fudging Homework: