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. Let’s get started. -- 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. -- We are embarking on the 244th anniversary of America's independence. While this is a time of celebration for many across the country, it is also a time of difficulty for many others. This celebration of freedom is a reminder that not all were granted freedom and that we are still struggling with the reality that freedoms often evade a great portion of the population today. In this episode, I reflect on my own struggles and coming to terms with this holiday. I also share an abridged version of Douglass' speech "What to a Slave is the 4th of July?"  -- 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. -- In this episode, I chat with Melinda Arnost, a witty K-12 Intervention Specialist that is always thinking outside of the box. This curly-haired educator loves everything about teaching minus the paperwork and standardized tests. Melinda has her master’s degree in education, is a personal trainer for students with unique abilities, and is an autism guru. She has a passion for building relationships with her students and colleagues and can embrace inclusion in any type of setting. Melinda started an adaptive nonprofit ice skating program for individuals with unique abilities and runs marathons while pushing her pal, Annie, in a HOYT running chair. She believes people, regardless of their lack of ability, should feel included, supported and loved. Melinda lives in the woods with her husband who is an automotive enthusiast in Ohio. When she is not writing or teaching, she is busy running extreme distances, painting murals or trying to build her own secret garden During our conversation we talked about relationships. Yes, relationships. But not just between students and teachers but between teachers and interventionists. Melinda shared how many of the disconnects that we see with our diverse learners are due to the lack of communication and being on the same page. We also talked about the power of inclusion and what happens when ALL students are able to receive the tools needed to learn in the same spaces. Melinda talked about how educators fear the labels that students carry and judge them before they even enter the class and how connecting with other staff and students can help to dispel those misconceptions. And maybe … just maybe … we redefined what PD should look like. -- 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. -- Connect with Melinda Instagram: Empoweringinclusiontoolbox Facebook: Empowering inclusion Check out her book here

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. -- Before we jump into today’s episode I wanted to tell you about a super exciting event that I have coming up and I would love for you to be in attendance. As I mentioned in the intro to the show, I am the co-host of Inside the Principal’s Office, a web series that runs live on the first and third Saturday of each month. During the show my co-host, Michael McWilliams, and I bring on other educational leaders and discuss the most pressing issues and topics facing us today. We also have a facebook group where educators can connect and learn from each other. Well this summer, we are planning to host an event where we can get together in person. That’s right. Not another zoom. Not another google meet. But live. Even better? Its only $35! So join us in Dallas for a networking reception on Friday, July 30th followed by a day of activities on Saturday, July 31st. Stop by our twitter page, join us on facebook, or check out an upcoming episode for more information. I look forward to finally meeting you. -- In this episode, I chat with Matthew Joseph, who currently serves as the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in Leicester Public Schools. He has been a school and district leader in many capacities in public education over his 27 years in the field such as the Director of Digital Learning and Innovation, elementary school principal, classroom teacher, and district professional development specialist. During our conversation, we talked about conflicting parallels that exist with educational leadership. We, as administrators, encourage teachers to adopt a growth mindset and to take risks in their classrooms and yet we utilize punitive evaluation systems that often discourage the very behavior we would like to see. Matthew insisted that we need to develop a system that balances both accountability and innovation so that teachers can move from lessons to experiences and would be more willing to celebrate the attempts of their students as opposed to being focused solely on results. We also discussed the power of reflection … to know oneself so that we can walk in our purpose. -- 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. -- 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. -- Before we jump into today’s episode I wanted to tell you about a super exciting event that I have coming up and I would love for you to be in attendance. As I mentioned in the intro to the show, I am the co-host of Inside the Principal’s Office, a web series that runs live on the first and third Saturday of each month. During the show my co-host, Michael McWilliams, and I bring on other educational leaders and discuss the most pressing issues and topics facing us today. We also have a facebook group where educators can connect and learn from each other. Well this summer, we are planning to host an event where we can get together in person. That’s right. Not another zoom. Not another google meet. But live. Even better? Its only $35! So join us in Dallas for a networking reception on Friday, July 30th followed by a day of activities on Saturday, July 31st. Click here to register -- I am a true believer in constructing our own curriculums. I do not believe that we should be tied to a textbook published by a company backed by lobbyists pushing their own agenda. These biased approaches limit the amount of information that our students can access and produce skewed perceptions and understanding of the world around them. I spent years designing and building my own curricular materials so that it not only addressed the standards students were expected to master but also connected with my students' interests and experiences. Although it was a challenge, it was well worth seeing them excel in school. What would happen if we deconstructed our current curriculums and built something new? Join me as I explore this very concept. -- 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. -- Before we jump into today’s episode I wanted to tell you about a super exciting event that I have coming up and I would love for you to be in attendance. As I mentioned in the intro to the show, I am the co-host of Inside the Principal’s Office, a web series that runs live on the first and third Saturday of each month. During the show my co-host, Michael McWilliams, and I bring on other educational leaders and discuss the most pressing issues and topics facing us today. We also have a facebook group where educators can connect and learn from each other. Well this summer, we are planning to host an event where we can get together in person. That’s right. Not another zoom. Not another google meet. But live. Even better? Its only $35! So join us in Dallas for a networking reception on Friday, July 30th followed by a day of activities on Saturday, July 31st. Stop by our twitter page, join us on facebook, or check out an upcoming episode for more information. -- In this episode, I chat with fellow Code Breaker, Christine Ravesi-Weinstein who currently serves as a high school Assistant Principal in Massachusetts and previously worked as a high school science department chair for four years and classroom teacher for 15. Diagnosed with anxiety and depression at 23, Christine began her journey towards mental wellness. She began a non-profit organization in June of 2017 aimed at removing the stigma of mental illness and promoting physical activity as a means to cope with anxiety. During our conversation, we took a deep dive into anxiety and explored ways in which educators can both support students experiencing an anxiety attack as well as proactive measures to reduce the possibility of triggering them. Christine took the time to explain the difference between being diagnosed with anxiety and being anxious, a common misunderstanding that leads to misinformation. We also spent some time exploring how social media not only impacts our students but can, and has, impacted us as educators as we strive to emulate that which we see in our virtual spaces. -- 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. -- Connect with Christine Twitter YouTube Website

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. Let’s get started. -- 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. -- The school-to-prison pipeline has been a conversation that has reverberated through our educational system for some time. This episode captures some of my thoughts and reflections about this shameful reality and how I played an active role in perpetuating the very systems of intolerance and injustice that I have dedicated myself to dismantling. Join me as I share some of the practices that existed in my schools, some of which may exist in yours, that ultimately contributed to some of my students finding themselves involved in the judicial system.  -- 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. Let’s get started. -- In this episode, I welcome back Cait O’Connor, a 9th & 12th grade English teacher in upstate New York. Cait is a mental health peer and fierce advocate who is heavily passionate about social justice, antiracism, and anti-ableism. She also believes in combating weight bias and promoting size diversity and representation in the classroom and beyond. We wanted to honor National Mental Health Awareness Month by diving a little deeper into some of the concepts that we discussed previously while also examining some new perspectives around mental health. We begin by discussing the concepts of experts and comparing lived experiences with earned certifications. Cait also points out that, despite the old adage that sticks and stones may break my bones … you know the one … that words actually do carry plenty of power and thus we need to be cognizant of how we utilize terms. The casual misuse of medical diagnoses to commodify everyday behavior contributes to the misinterpretation and misunderstanding of real problems facing many people. This conversation touches on a lot of topics but, as always, ends with some ideas and suggestions for moving forward and doing the work. I hope that you enjoy this episode and remember that its okay not to be okay. And if you’re struggling, find someone to talk to. There are a few resources in the show notes if you need them. 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. 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. -- 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. -- Before we jump into today’s episode I wanted to tell you about a super exciting event that I have coming up and I would love for you to be in attendance. As I mentioned in the intro to the show, I am the co-host of Inside the Principal’s Office, a web series that runs live on the first and third Saturday of each month. During the show my co-host, Michael McWilliams, and I bring on other educational leaders and discuss the most pressing issues and topics facing us today. We also have a facebook group where educators can connect and learn from each other. Well this summer, we are planning to host an event where we can get together in person. That’s right. Not another zoom. Not another google meet. But live. Even better? Its only $35! So join us in Dallas for a networking reception on Friday, July 30th followed by a day of activities on Saturday, July 31st. Stop by our twitter page, join us on facebook, or check out an upcoming episode for more information. I look forward to finally meeting you. -- Celebrating the one year anniversary of the show, this episode reflects on three positives that have resulted from the creation of the podcast - the documentation of my evolution as an educator, the finding of my true voice, and the desire to expand my understanding of others. I spend some time thanking those that have helped to me to launch this journey including Mike and Josh from the Punk Rock Classroom Podcast as well as Chey and Pav from the Staffroom Podcast.  -- 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 educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant. -- Before we jump into today’s episode I wanted to tell you about a super exciting event that I have coming up and I would love for you to be in attendance. In addition to this show, I am the co-host of Inside the Principal’s Office, a web series that runs live on the first and third Saturday of each month. During the show my co-host, Michael McWilliams, and I bring on other educational leaders and discuss the most pressing issues and topics facing us today. We also have a facebook group where educators can connect and learn from each other. Well this summer, we are planning to host an event where we can get together in person. That’s right. Not another zoom. Not another google meet. But live. Even better? Its free! So join us in Dallas for a networking reception on Friday, July 30th followed by a day of activities on Saturday, July 31st. Stop by our twitter page, join us on facebook, or check out an upcoming episode for more information. -- In this episode, I chat with Hedreich Nichols, an author, educator and consultant helping educators and districts amplify the voices of all students. Hedreich’s YouTube series and podcast, SmallBites, further helps campuses amplify student voices by focusing on equity in education. Between SmallBites and her work as a writer, Hedreich works to help educators create more culturally responsive classrooms and campuses. Her Cherry Lake trade titles "What is Antiracism?" and "What is the Black Lives Matter Movement?" provide teachers with materials to help students understand systemic inequities; and her upcoming Solution Tree Title provides educators with guiding principles to help them become more culturally responsible. As a speaker at conferences like VASCD, MASCD, CUE, ISTE, etc. Hedreich provides educators with inspiration to move beyond conversations around race; giving them hands-on, research-based strategies that can be immediately implemented. Hedreich received her Master of Education in educational technology at Texas A&M University. During our chat, we discuss “The Work” … you know … ensuring equitable spaces, disrupting systems, countering the narrative … that work. We took a hard look at some of the painful and uncomfortable truths about the role of systemic racism in education and discussed meaningful and practical approaches to begin unraveling engrained practices and developing long-term solutions. Hedreich’s use of a football analogy helps to clarify why these conversations are so hard for so many and her tips and strategies may cause us to reflect on long-held approached to doing this work. So, if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get some work done, this is the episode for you. -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like and subscribe. The show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and several of your other favorite platforms. 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 the host and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group. Take care. -- Connect with Hedreich Twitter

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