School Me

For more than 30 years, schools, hospitals, and places of worship have been considered "sensitive locations" — spaces protected from immigration enforcement. But recently, President Trump has moved to strip away those protections, opening the door for ICE to enter campuses and target families. Now, a coalition of educator unions, community organizations, and families has come together to fight back. Our guest is Karen Tumlin, Founder and Director of the Justice Action Center, and one of the attorneys leading the PCUN v. Noem lawsuit, which seeks to restore these decades-old protections and defend every student’s right to learn without fear.

Jennifer Albert Mann joins the show to discuss her book "Shift Happens, The History of Labor in the United States," a labor history book for teens and young adults. Shift Happens was the September young adult book recommendation on NEA’s Read Across America Calendar, under the theme “invite transformation.”

Our two part series on billionaires and public education continues. Today, we’re zooming in on the rise of new, well-funded activist groups targeting school boards, banning books, and attacking everything from diversity initiatives to trans student rights. Who’s behind groups like Moms for Liberty and Parents Defending Education? What is “dark money,” and how does it quietly reshape local and national education policy? And who is Leonard Leo, and why is he so influential in this fight? Alyssa Bowen, deputy executive director of True North Research and the director of True North’s Equality Project, explains.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Lisa Graves, founder of True North Research, sheds light on the influence of wealthy donors and corporations over public education. She exposes the historical agenda to privatize schools and weaken unions, revealing their motivations and long-term impact. The conversation highlights the troubling rise of charter school fraud and the ideological push behind the school choice movement. Graves emphasizes the necessity of collective action to protect public education against billionaire-driven agendas and uphold democratic values.

Mentioned in this episode:Join the Movement for Paid Student Teaching

Mentioned in this episode:Tell Congress to protect Medicaid funding - https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/action-center/take-action/dont-slash-medicaid-and-childrens-health-careCall in and share your story - Call 866-426-2631Find out more about Medicaid’s impact in your school district, congressional district, or state.Organize locally using this toolkit: https://www.nea.org/resource-library/toolkit-ideas-organize-locally-protect-students-and-public-schools

Mentioned in this episode:Safe Zone policies - https://www.nea.org/resource-library/safe-zone-school-districtsNEA’s Immigration Resource Hub - https://www.nea.org/resource-library/guidance-immigration-issuesOpen letter to Higher Ed admin - https://www.nea.org/open-letter-protect-speech-college-and-university-campusesLegal resources for immigrant educatorshttps://iamerica.org/legal-help/https://ailalawyer.com/

The Trump administration is waging war against diversity, equity, and inclusion. But what does that mean for educators when it comes to discussing race, equity, and history in the classroom? How can schools continue to foster inclusive learning environments despite these restrictions? Alice O’Brien, general counsel for the National Education Association, walks through your rights, risks, and opportunities to push back against anti-equality policies and fear tactics.

With the rise of social media and constant online communication, bullying is affecting students in new, pervasive ways, and schools are often on the front lines of addressing it. Madeline Micou, a middle school counselor with over two decades of experience in education, shares her insights on the realities of cyberbullying, how it differs from traditional bullying, and what educators and families can do to combat it effectively.