Despite a feeling of normalcy around schools this year, teachers are screaming that the crisis is not over. For many, this school year is the hardest yet in the COVID era. We revisit a conversation with teachers from April of 2020 and provide some updated perspectives.
We’re joined by educator, speaker, and professional development specialist Dr. Sarah-Soonling Blackburn to discuss the myth of the “Model Minority.” Dr. Blackburn talks about the personal and societal trauma of our racial hierarchy and what may be gained from unpacking and disassembling these old narratives in a way that gets us closer to collective solidarity.
Tomás Monarrez’s work at The Urban Institute focuses on school segregation. As an economist, he brings quantitative skills and a deep respect for data. We discuss the ways we have thought about segregation are problematic, and where the low-hanging fruit is to try to improve desegregation through the country.
Stefan Lallinger’s grandfather argued the Brown v Board case at the Supreme Court. He has stepped into that legacy in his own work as a teacher, a school leader, and now leading The Bridge Collaborative at The Century Foundation. We discuss how his family history has shaped his approach to integration, and what gives him hope for future generations.
We’re joined by two White mothers who recently moved. Anna and Sarah have been part of the Integrated Schools community for some time and had the opportunity to really think about their values as they chose new cities, new neighborhoods, new houses, and new schools.