The Counter Narrative: Changing the Way We Talk (and think) About Education

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office. -- This episode is a pause to ponder segment. These biweekly sessions will allow me to share with you my personal thoughts and reflections on a wide spectrum of topics as they relate to education. It is my hope that you will be able to take something from these segments and apply it in a meaningful way as you continue to do amazing work. Remember, while we all have different roles, we all have a single job, educating our students. -- Have you ever heard of Drunk Shakespeare? It's a hilarious show in which a group of trained actors attempt to recreate a classic Shakespearean play while attempting to keep up with one actor who is intentionally drunk. The spontaneous shifts in direction, altered by inebriated decision-making, forces the actors to not only alter their approach but to cleverly come up with ways of getting the story back on track so that it can progress as intended. My wife treated me to a show a few weeks ago for my birthday and, as a huge fan of the theater, I was delighted, amused, and inspired by what I was witnessing. Making such shifts mid scene is no easy feat and yet these actors were traversing an ever changing landscape with relative ease (or maybe it just appeared that way to the possibly drunken audience).  As an educator, I of course reflected on the experience and thought about any potential lessons that could be used within my own school. While I momentarily considered the possibility of somehow incorporating alcohol into lesson (for the teachers obviously), the reality of such a scandal quickly sobered me back up. Another thought, however, remained. What if we challenged our students to interact with material that they have mastered in new and meaningful ways? The only way these actors were able to shift so easily was because they had perfected the basic skills and thus could challenge themselves by intentionally creating obstacles for which they must adjust. Imagine the possibility if students had to rewrite a scene (or entire story) from the perspective of someone else. What would happen if there was an element missing from a story problem and students had to develop a way to figure that out before moving forward? How might students respond if they were asked to re-imagine a world in which a world power no longer existed? -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like, subscribe, and of course share it with friends and family. I’d also love to hear your thoughts about the show so please leave a comment or two as well. I’m not sure what platform you’re using but the show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and plenty of other platforms. If the show isn’t on your preferred site, let me know and I’ll be sure to get it up and running. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with me and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group. Take care.

.Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office. -- Have you heard the news? Inside the Principal’s Office has released a book! A best selling new release on Amazon! This book is perfect for any current or aspiring educational leader. Broken down into 40 weeks, this book is filled with reflections and practical advice from three educational administrators and provides space for reflection to facilitate growth. Join other leaders from around the world who have already ordered theirs to join in on upcoming book studies and workshops. Order your copy on Amazon today! -- In this episode, I chat with Katie Kinder who has been an educator since 2006. She believes that life is fun, and learning should most definitely be fun. As a teacher of the year, top five district finalist, OKC Rotary Teacher of the Month, a guest on the Oklahoma State Department's EdTalk series, and a top 100 educator in Oklahoma on Twitter, Katie has learned a trick or two in the classroom. In fact, she has curated her experience into developing a brand new version of her role as a professional development specialist and has recently released her first book, “Untold Teaching Truths” now available on Amazon. During our conversation, Katie and I took the time to reconnect since our last conversation back in February. In that discussion, she mentioned how she would like to transform her role as a PD specialist into something different as she wanted teachers to see strategies in action. She realized that things aren’t always pretty and that educators should see the process and not just the product. Well, someone must have been listening because that is exactly what she is now doing. Extending on this idea, Katie also released her first book that she hopes will help teachers navigate the struggles that we all face. In fact, she talks about avoiding burnout by steering clear of all the small battles but really honing in on three key areas - engagement, safety, and kindness. We even threw some other ideas out into the ether to see if those too would come true. Want to hear more? Let’s go. Connect with Katie Twitter - @KatieKinder1 -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like, subscribe, and of course share it with friends and family. I’d also love to hear your thoughts about the show so please leave a comment or two as well. I’m not sure what platform you’re using but the show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and plenty of other platforms. If the show isn’t on your preferred site, let me know and I’ll be sure to get it up and running. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with me and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group.

.Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office. -- Typically, these Pause to Ponder segments feature my own thoughts and reflections regarding all things education. This time, however, I thought I would do something different. During the final week of October, I was fortunate enough to spend time with fellow leaders at the Illinois Principal Association (IPA) Conference. It was there that I collected responses around a simple question. What did you learn during the pandemic and how have you used this to become a better leader? What follows is part 2 of a two-part series featuring the voices of educators from around the state of Illinois. Enjoy. -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like, subscribe, and of course share it with friends and family. I’d also love to hear your thoughts about the show so please leave a comment or two as well. I’m not sure what platform you’re using but the show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and plenty of other platforms. If the show isn’t on your preferred site, let me know and I’ll be sure to get it up and running. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with me and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office. -- In this episode, I chat with Sandra Donaghue, who has served in education for over 30 years. She has been a teacher for 16 years, a principal for 15 years, and has served as an Instructor for the Principal Qualifications Course for 10 years. In addition to education, Sandra loves music and musical theatre. She has taught dance for years and even performed in musicals while in high school. Sandra is a Code Breaker Ambassador and works closely with Matthew Joseph on a number of projects and is currently co-authoring a book on leadership. During our conversation Sandra brought up a powerful sentiment - everyone with whom we interact should walk away better because of the experience. While this may sound a bit conceited, the truth is that we should strive to improve those around us at every opportunity. We discussed how this could look with the students in our building by adopting a lens of possibility and allowing them the opportunities to become empowered participants within their schools. Sandra encourages educators to step out of their comfort zones, the real reason why we continue to practice antiquated approaches, and to engage in some reflection activities to identify areas of improvement. Yes, it requires relationships. Yes, it requires vulnerability. Yes, it may be challenging. But it is so well worth it. -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like, subscribe, and of course share it with friends and family. I’d also love to hear your thoughts about the show so please leave a comment or two as well. I’m not sure what platform you’re using but the show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and plenty of other platforms. If the show isn’t on your preferred site, let me know and I’ll be sure to get it up and running. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with me and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office. -- Typically, these Pause to Ponder segments feature my own thoughts and reflections regarding all things education. This time, however, I thought I would do something different. During the final week of October, I was fortunate enough to spend time with fellow leaders at the Illinois Principal Association (IPA) Conference. It was there that I collected responses around a simple question. What did you learn during the pandemic and how have you used this to become a better leader? What follows is part 1 of a two-part series featuring the voices of educators from around the state of Illinois.  Enjoy. -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like, subscribe, and of course share it with friends and family. I’d also love to hear your thoughts about the show so please leave a comment or two as well. I’m not sure what platform you’re using but the show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and plenty of other platforms. If the show isn’t on your preferred site, let me know and I’ll be sure to get it up and running. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with me and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office. -- Have you heard the news? Inside the Principal’s Office has released a book! A best selling new release on Amazon! This book is perfect for any current or aspiring educational leader. Broken down into 40 weeks, this book is filled with reflections and practical advice from three educational administrators and provides space for reflection to facilitate growth. Join other leaders from around the world who have already ordered theirs to join in on upcoming book studies and workshops. Order your copy on Amazon today! -- In this episode, I chat with Trelane Clark, the principal at Hooks Elementary School in Chelsea, Massachusetts, a city adjacent to Boston. She has been serving in education for 25 years in public, private, urban, and suburban schools. She believes that building relationships is central to the work that educators must do. Her personal mission is to stay grounded in faith while learning through life's experiences that empower her to empower others. Trelane’s professional mission is to inspire educators to Teach from the Heart, model Resiliency, lead with Integrity, Value relationships, and ensure Equity for all. She serves as the Vice President of Black Women Education Leaders, Inc. and was a contributing author to Women Who Lead Featuring School Principals Vol. 2. During our conversation we discussed the importance of shifting away from deficit thinking not only for our students but for ourselves as well. When we begin to focus on our abilities and begin operating within our purpose, anything is possible. The same is true for our students. While we can focus on their gaps in learning, we can also identify the strengths that they are bringing into our classrooms. If self-doubt prevents success, then we not only need to shift our thinking but that of our students. Trelane also talks about the need to look for the silver linings and to have joy in the work that we are doing. Yes there is much that is wrong but there is also plenty that is right. We close out the conversation by discussing the need to know students’ names, strengths, and stories. Do you know all of your students? Can you identify them by name? Can you identify something about each one? Let’s jump in to hear more about this challenge and how Trelane is countering the narrative. Connect with Trelane Twitter: @treclarkleads Website: www.treclarkleads.com -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like, subscribe, and of course share it with friends and family. I’d also love to hear your thoughts about the show so please leave a comment or two as well. I’m not sure what platform you’re using but the show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and plenty of other platforms. If the show isn’t on your preferred site, let me know and I’ll be sure to get it up and running. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with me and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office. -- This episode is a pause to ponder segment. These biweekly sessions will allow me to share with you my personal thoughts and reflections on a wide spectrum of topics as they relate to education. It is my hope that you will be able to take something from these segments and apply it in a meaningful way as you continue to do amazing work. Remember, while we all have different roles, we all have a single job, educating our students. -- I decided to go in a different direction this week and record a pure episode meaning no script ... no planning ... no ... well ... anything. I sat down and recorded this episode the night before it was due to air. And to be honest, as uncomfortable as the experience was, I feel that my thoughts were not filtered through my writing voice but instead reflected my speaking voice. But I guess you will be the judge of that. This episode focused on a concept that I recently heard while listening to John C. Maxwell about engaging in challenging conversations. He talked about the need to have both care and candor and that the absence of either will not lead to positive outcomes. This hit home as I have found myself questioning why those within my organization are seemingly avoiding difficult conversations and what we can do to shift those practices.  -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like, subscribe, and of course share it with friends and family. I’d also love to hear your thoughts about the show so please leave a comment or two as well. I’m not sure what platform you’re using but the show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and plenty of other platforms. If the show isn’t on your preferred site, let me know and I’ll be sure to get it up and running. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with me and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office. -- Have you heard the news? Inside the Principal’s Office has released a book! A best selling new release on Amazon! This book is perfect for any current or aspiring educational leader. Broken down into 40 weeks, this book is filled with reflections and practical advice from three educational administrators and provides space for reflection to facilitate growth. Join other leaders from around the world who have already ordered theirs to join in on upcoming book studies and workshops. Order your copy on Amazon today! -- In this episode, I chat with Jillian DuBois, a 2nd-grade elementary educator in Clearwater, FL who has been in the field of education for over two decades. She is the published author and illustrator of Liv’s Seashells, Road to Awesome:A Journey for Kids, and Look at YOU, Piper Lou!, and is the Optimistic Originator of Imparted Joy, LLC. Jill’s passion is to initiate and infuse joy to those in education by focusing efforts on listening, serving, and growing alongside colleagues and friends. She uses her voice to foster hope for student equity and empathy. Jillian believes each day is a FRESH opportunity to listen, be slow to criticize, and be quick to empathize. Keep dancing and dreaming with JOY. During our conversation, she shares that she is just an ordinary teacher who gets to do extraordinary things with extraordinary people. She began the conversation by sharing a personal story of educating her own child at home when his school was not providing him with the approach he needed to be successful. The experiential learning opportunities she curated for him fostered a different approach to teaching that she has fully embraced and implements within her own classroom. Jill talked about letting go of our own fears when it comes to student autonomy and shares her solution for eliminating boredom from classrooms. Ready to hear an extraordinary conversation between two ordinary educators? Let’s go. Connect with Jillian Twitter: @JillDuBois22 Insta: jilliande FB: jilliandee www.linkedin.com/in/jill-dubois Web: www.impartedjoy.com -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like, subscribe, and of course share it with friends and family. I’d also love to hear your thoughts about the show so please leave a comment or two as well. I’m not sure what platform you’re using but the show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and plenty of other platforms. If the show isn’t on your preferred site, let me know and I’ll be sure to get it up and running. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with me and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office. -- Have you heard the news? Inside the Principal’s Office has released a book! A best selling new release on Amazon! This book is perfect for any current or aspiring educational leader. Broken down into 40 weeks, this book is filled with reflections and practical advice from three educational administrators and provides space for reflection to facilitate growth. Join other leaders from around the world who have already ordered theirs to join in on upcoming book studies and workshops. Order your copy on Amazon today! -- This episode is a pause to ponder segment. These biweekly sessions will allow me to share with you my personal thoughts and reflections on a wide spectrum of topics as they relate to education. It is my hope that you will be able to take something from these segments and apply it in a meaningful way as you continue to do amazing work. Remember, while we all have different roles, we all have a single job, educating our students. -- During this reflection, I share my recent experience of truly connecting with my staff during a moment of absolute transparency and vulnerability. Through this, I realized that we all, even educational leaders, need to be able to communicate what need from others and how they can support us when we are struggling. We are so accustomed being the supporter, that we often forget how to be supported. So while you are out there looking for the best way to show your appreciation for your principal, consider asking what they need and honoring that request. I guarantee you that it be much more appreciated than another mug.  -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like, subscribe, and of course share it with friends and family. I’d also love to hear your thoughts about the show so please leave a comment or two as well. I’m not sure what platform you’re using but the show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and plenty of other platforms. If the show isn’t on your preferred site, let me know and I’ll be sure to get it up and running. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with me and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office. -- Have you heard the news? Inside the Principal’s Office has released a book! A best selling new release on Amazon! This book is perfect for any current or aspiring educational leader. Broken down into 40 weeks, this book is filled with reflections and practical advice from three educational administrators and provides space for reflection to facilitate growth. Join other leaders from around the world who have already ordered theirs to join in on upcoming book studies and workshops. Order your copy here today! -- In this episode, I chat with Chuck Moss. He has over 25 years in education having served as a teacher and administrator at the elementary middle, and high school levels. Chuck currently serves as the Director of innovation and development for Dinwiddie County Schools where he works with staff to bring new ideas to the classroom and create meaningful learning experiences for students of all ages. His why is simple: “Bring out the best in people so they can bring out the best in others.” During our conversation, Chuck talks about leading from a place of experience. In fact, he returned to the classroom so that he could learn about the technology that he now directs in his district. We also dive into a pivotal question for educators, am I creating learning. Are we developing the systems, processes, and approaches, regardless of the environment (meaning remote or in-person), that fosters learning? Or are we making excuses for operating in uncomfortable situations? Challenging questions for challenging times. Connect with Chuck: Twitter - @dcpsmoss -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like, subscribe, and of course share it with friends and family. I’d also love to hear your thoughts about the show so please leave a comment or two as well. I’m not sure what platform you’re using but the show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and plenty of other platforms. If the show isn’t on your preferred site, let me know and I’ll be sure to get it up and running. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with me and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group.