S3E5: Jaz Ampaw-Farr on the power of 'withness'

Jan 14, 2023

In a captivating discussion, Jaz Ampaw-Farr, an award-winning educator and soon-to-be author, shares her inspiring journey from teaching to winning the Speaker of the Year award. She explores the transformative power of empathy and connection in education, advocating for a more compassionate approach to behavior management. Jaz emphasizes the importance of authenticity in leadership and how small, positive actions from everyday heroes can create significant changes in communities. Her insights on resilience highlight the need for understanding and support for marginalized students.

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INSIGHT

Literacy As A Path Out Of Mindset Poverty

Jaz Ampaw-Farr argues literacy is a ticket out of mindset poverty because reading gives knowledge, choice and agency.
She links oracy and literacy to long-term life outcomes beyond test scores and immediate grading.

ADVICE

Swap Rules For Relationship Policies

Replace punitive behaviour policies with relationship policies that promise belief and consistent support for students.
Let students co-create the rules so they feel seen and committed rather than punished and excluded.

INSIGHT

Order Versus Chaos Navigators

Jaz defines two learner types: 'order navigators' who fit school systems and 'chaos navigators' who do not.
She warns school design advantages the central 'circle' while leaving corner students under-served.

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If you've come across Jaz Ampaw-Farr before, you'll know that you are in for an absolute treat. If you haven't ever heard Jaz speak before - well, what can I say? I could tell you that Jaz is an award-winning educator, teacher trainer, coach and speaker, and soon to be author of her first book. But that doesn't really scratch the surface. Listening back to this episode in the edit, it was noticeable that Jaz made me laugh way more than any previous podcast guest had ever done. She also brought me to the edge of tears on at least five occasions throughout this incredible conversation. But really I think it's her burning sense of moral purpose, combined with an uncanny way with words and crystal clarity of her thought, that makes Jaz such a formidable human being. So whatever you're doing as you listen to this podcast, I'd like to invite you to mentally and emotionally strap yourself in. This is quite the roller-coaster. I hope you enjoy this fascinating conversation with fearless chaos navigator, full-fat resilience ninja and previously underestimated everyday hero, Jaz Ampaw Farr. SUPPORT THE RETHINKING ED PODCAST: Become a patron: www.patreon.com/repod Buy me a coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/repod LINKS: Jaz’s website: https://jazampawfarr.com Jaz’s TEDx talk ‘The power of everyday heroes’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3xoZXSW5yc James’s TEDs talk ‘How to change the world’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvm9TYosmXo Making Change Stick: https://www.makingchangestick.co/ James’s interview on the ‘Reasons to be Cheerful’ podcast with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd - How to fix our education system: https://www.cheerfulpodcast.com/rtbc-episodes/fixingeducation The Rethinking Ed online conference (88 amazing talks): https://www.rethinking-ed.org/reconf22 James on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RethinkingJames Rethinking Ed Insta: https://www.instagram.com/rethinking.education/ James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mannion/ Rethinking Education Mighty Network: https://rethinking-education.mn.co The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted and produced by Dr James Mannion. You can contact him at www.rethinking-ed.org/contact, or via @RethinkingJames on Twitter.