Ep. 43: We’re in the Fire: On Teacher Diversity & Genuine Equity

in ,

EQ: What role does teacher training play in the health of our schools and the future of the teaching profession?

Guest: Tamar Krames, 2006 MIT grad, Art/ELL teacher, OSPI, currently adjunct faculty for the Master’s in Teaching at Evergreen State College

The journey to teaching is different for everyone and our amazing guest Tamar focuses on what it means to have a transnational perspectives. We discuss the relationship between literacy and language, then transition to the problem of lack of “teacher diversity.” Tamar challenges us and our listeners to expand the way we think about this and the way that all CURRENT teachers can strive to address the issue of representation (we can add books, artwork, and broaden curriculum choice). She also reminds us that teacher diversity isn’t just race, but also about language (English) supremacy (but one way to “write and think smart”) and additional intersecting oppressions that keep amazing people out of the profession. Systemically, we need to consider who is seen as an expert and make our schools places that teachers want to stay (teacher of color retention).

We transition to the role of teacher prep programs in diversifying the field, supporting culturally responsive teaching practices, and the unspoken assumptions that being a person of color means you’d be able to work cross-culturally. There are programs intentionally working to recruit and support teachers of color. Some reading:

Guilty Favesies:

  • Annie: vegan milkshakes

  • Tamar: Star Trek

  • Hope: Hi-Chews

Do Your Fudging Homework:

Ep. 42: Equity is Not the Outcome

in ,

EQ: What does equity look like, sound like, and feel like within complex organizations?

Guest: Desiree Finch, Leadership Development, Union Organizer, and Pierce Co Manager for Fuse WA.

“As Fuse’s Pierce County Organizer, Desiree’s mission is to build leaders to resist Trump’s agenda, lead efforts to clean up our state’s upside-down tax code, and help progressives win back key local offices. Desiree will also play a leading role in implementing Fuse’s racial equity plan by enabling Fuse to become a strong ally with underrepresented communities in Pierce County."

In this episode we discuss the notion of organization and development, including industrial psychology. Desiree compares and contrasts equity work in WA state vs other states, specifically drawing on her experience in union organizing. Lastly, we chat about how to maintain hope in the Trump era.

Do Your Fudging Homework

  • Annie: This is primarily for educators, but could be really useful to anyone confronting racism in the workplace. Seattle Public Schools has a Racial Equity Analysis tool, and it serves as almost like an environmental impact statement, but for actions that may cause inequity or broaden the opportunity gap and how to avoid those outcomes. It’s not totally comprehensive, but it’s a good start.

  • Desiree: desiree@fuse.org;  go to org to do equity training---get consultancy find money and hire someone such as Archer Consulting

Ep. 38: Racial Equity in AP, IB, and Honors Courses Matters

in ,

EQ: Why is educational access and access to rigorous, transformative educational experiences important?

Guest: Kim Thomas, Partnership Director for Equal Opportunity Schools and total badass. “Kimberly is deeply committed to educational access, equity and transformation and to the challenging, but critical work of ensuring that marginalized students have access to rigorous, transformative educational experiences.”

This episode takes a deep dive into equity issues in schools with the incisive, brilliant, and hilarious Kim Thomas. Topics include:

Guilty Favesies (accidental food theme):

  • Kim: all manner of delightfully junky food

  • Annie: Giant American tortillas

  • Hope: late night Taco Bell quesadillas with green sauce

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Kim: Scene on Radio “Seeing White” series

  • Annie: for educators - examine academic gatekeeping in your building

  • Hope: look at your own workplace and practice with the goal of being more equitable

Ep. 30: Decolonize Your Bookshelf

in , , ,

EQ:  Why is important to decolonize your bookshelf and how do you do it?

Guest: Kristen Sierra, Tacoma born & raised, Lincoln teacher-librarian, TPS mom

Kristen helps us understand what it means to decolonize your bookshelf, including challenging us to read more authors from diverse backgrounds! We also learn more about Project Lit, a Nashville based program that addresses the problem of “book deserts” in urban areas. This program focuses on providing high-quality, culturally relevant books that empower students as readers and leaders.

Support her work to transform the Lincoln Library by:

Learn more information about Project Lit as a Nation wide Movement:

Other useful links:

  • Contact for Tacoma Public Schools Library Director for information on supporting our Milgard Fundraiser & support in general: Ms. Suzanna Panter: spanter@tacoma.K12.wa.us

  • Link to Tacoma Public School Library websites for supportive citizens to contact their local school librarian (scroll down and click on the name of the school) https://www.tacomaschools.org/libraries/Pages/default.aspx

  • Contact for our Superintendent & our Assistant Superintendent to voice your support of school libraries:

  • Superintendent Santorno: csantor@tacoma.K12.wa.us; Superintendent Pace: tpace@tacoma.K12.wa.us

  • Link to requesting materials and sharing suggestions with our Tacoma Public Library (must sign in first to access this feature)  

  • Attendance at events matters and created more opportunities for events! Link to event pages

Come out to Kwame Alexander Author Event on 10/15 at Urban Grace in Tacoma: tickets here

Guilty Favsies:

  • Hope: good ranch dressing (fancy spices)

  • Annie: niiiiice office supplies.

  • Kristen---People, Gossip

Do Your Fudging Homework:

Special Announcement:

We are going to read White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo! #IWLreads #readlessbasic

Ep. 29: Striking While Female

in ,

EQ: Is sexism even relevant to the teacher strikes or are women just being over-sensitive once again?

Guest: Megan Holyoke, 1st year teacher

Annie, Megan and Hope break down myths and sexism in the narrative about the Tacoma teacher strike.

Related links:

SPECIAL NOTE: We did a little fact finding and want to be clear about some numbers regarding leadership gender dynamics.

Ep. 24: Countering Slow-cooked Misogyny: A Coaching Chat w/Cat Peterson

in , ,

EQ: How can we understand the slow cooked misogyny of male-dominated professions?

Guest: Catherine Peterson, Physics Teacher & Soccer Coach, one of the hosts of Flounders B-Team Podcast and Teachers United “Cat Peterson Award for Courage”

The beloved and fabulous Cat Peterson joins us to talk about working in male-dominated spaces: science education and soccer coaching.  Cat shares her story about...

  • Growing up in a small town and the importance of female role models
  • Falling in love with soccer and science in high school, college, and beyond
  • The intense demands of coaching and teaching at the same time
  • The BS she puts up with as a female coach
  • Equity issues in soccer and other high school sports - who has access and who doesn’t?
  • The overwhelming whiteness in high school coaching

Guilty Favesies:

  • Annie: white bread - especially English muffins
  • Hope: Ketchup
  • Cat: Candy all the time!

Do Your Fudging Homework:

Ep. 21: Share the Stage, Hand over the Mic: An Interview with the National Teacher of the Year

in ,

EQ: Who is the NTOY and what’s her deal?

Guest: Mandy Manning, 2018 WA STOY and National Teacher of the Year

Mandy Manning teaches English and math to refugee and immigrant students in the Newcomer Center at Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington, where she is her students' first teacher once they arrive in the U.S. This bio is lit

Mandy answers weird questions such as “what’s your favorite degree?” to “how does being NSTOY provide you a platform for your advocacy work or to speak about social justice, equity, or more serious things?” and “how do you see yourself as a white lady doing this work with mostly black and brown students--how to keep the ‘White Savior’ complex in check?”

Mandy elaborates on why it's important to think at a systems level and why our schools need to meet the needs of the specific community they serve.

Interesting links to keep your basicness at bay:

Guilty Favsies:

  • Hope--Flair pens or fancy gel pens from Japan, Korea, or Hong Kong (Ketchup, Silver Swan Soy Sauce; mangoes)
  • Annie: Protein Powder
  • Mandy: Sneaking out for coffee during planning period

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Mandy: leave your house; go meet your neighbor--self awareness to become more culturally competent; what impacting your view; get knowledge
  • Hope: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Please consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member.
 

Ep. 19: Twice As Much To Be Considered Half As Good

in , ,

EQ: How are women’s athletics treated differently than men’s athletics and why does the difference matter?

Guest: Maya Smorodinsky, English Professor at Shoreline Community College and Ultimate Frisbee aficionado.

From basic rules to the difference between "mixed" and not-mixed leagues, Maya breaks down the mysterious world of ultimate frisbee. Most importantly, we talk about the relationship between the sport and social justice including discussing the privilege of male athletes in creating space for sports like ultimate (pro leagues), unconscious bias on the field (you can’t get better if no one passes to you), and how all-women leagues develop leadership.  Furthermore, we realize that Ultimate is a metaphor for education! 

Some things to read:

Guilty-favesies:

  • Annie: frozen packaged food! Terrible for the environment, but so convenient.
  • Hope: Vampire Diaries. Irresistible TRASH.
  • Maya: consumerism. Also, television!

Do Your Fudging Homework:

Ep. 18: Save Your Hemorrhoids Story For Facebook

in , , ,

EQ: How are disability justice and racial justice intertwined?

Guest: Carrie Basas, Director at WA Education Ombuds; Former Employment & Civil Rights Lawyer; Harvard Law School

Hope first met Carrie at the Seattle Times Ignite Event when she presented “Short Bus to Social Justice.” In this (delightfully) looooong conversation we discuss what it means to “pass,” what Crip Hop is and who Wheelchair Sports Camp is. Learn about Lawrence Carter Long and how the term “disabled” is being reclaimed.

Be less basic about the disabled community and and how disability rights intersect with racial equity issues by checking out the following:

We started a new segment “Guilty-Favesies”!

  • Hope: microwaveable popcorn. Covered in weird plastic and waste, but SO delicious and convenient!
  • Annie: my commute. It’s a contemplative, quiet time in the car.
  • Carrie: dysfunctional family shows and romantic comedies. See: “Love” and “Grace and Frankie” on Netflix.

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Hope: Go read Carrie’s article Disabilities So White and Let’s Play Ableism Bingo
  • Carrie: October Disabilities Month
  • Annie: My AP Government students just learned about the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA.  If you care about civil rights, which I know you do, go read up on the law and make sure you understand it. The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals in all areas of public life, including employment, education, transit, and anywhere else open to the public.