Ep. 172: These Conditions Are Not Working For Us

EQ:  "In navigating the challenges posed by increasingly restrictive policies in the U.S. education system, how can educators strategically and actively build alliances to foster a more inclusive and just society?"

Guests: Candra McKenzie and Elana Eisen-Markowitz

In this episode, we discuss what it means for teachers to build alliances with peers and the community. Both Candra and EM have a wealth of knowledge as educators, activists, and organizers in their schools and respective communities. We discuss how schools have changed in the last 15 years and how the system continues to perpetuate inequalities and marginalized the traditionally marginalized. We touch on union involvement, teacher recruitment and retention, and the need to support educators of color and queer educators. 

Related Resources:

• ​Teachers Unite 

• Fulbright Distinguished Teacher Program  

• EM Fulbright Interview

• Vent Diagrams site; vent diagrams graphic org

• Teachers Unite

• Hall Pass Break

Reading Recommendations:

• Tuskegee Student Uprising by Dr. Brian Jones

• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Do Your Fudging HW:

• Hope: Black History Month–grab a book and get your read on

• Candra: find something new to do & do it!

• EM: Examine our policies for who is at the center (let’s challenge the conditions that exist that put people in these positions).

Ep. 138: If We Want Equity, We Have to Put It in Contracts

EQ: To what extent would re-writing seniority clauses in teacher union contracts promote retention of educators of color and better serve our students?

In this episode of IWL, we are joined by Chris Stewart, the Chief Executive Officer of brightbeam, to discuss the recent change in the Minneapolis Teacher Union contracts. Chris was part of the first campaign to protect Black teachers (and other teachers of color) back in the early 2000s when he was on the school board. We discuss what this current provision in the contract means, including implications for other school districts. More importantly, we learn key contextual information behind this provision and how Black educators are fighting for their right to stay and teach the diverse body of students in the Minneapolis school district. 

To learn about Chris’ work check out his website Citizen Stewart and follow him on Twitter @citizenstewart 

Related Links:

• The Black educators that charged "racial harm" on the MFT

• On the black educator who organized within the MFT

• Some of the background on Minneapolis HR issues

• More about the exemptions in the contract

• More about the teacher diversity issue in Minneapolis

• NAACP Rallies for Black Educators

• Black Teachers Call Out Racism Behind Teacher Strike

• NAACP Minneapolis

• Teacher Layoff Exemption Based on Race—But Not the Way You Think

Do Your Fudging Homework:

• Hope/Megan: Follow @citizenstewart for some thought provoking tweets

• Chris:

  • Support the local NAACP chapter fighting for Black educators

  • Write to the union president Greta Callahan and tell her you support the protection for educators of color

  • Find a group of friends to learn more about the situation facing Minneapolis educators of color. Read together, discuss and consider how it relates to your local context.