For this episode, I welcomed my good friend Denise Manning, who is the Outreach Director for the Boston Chapter of the non-profit organization, Educators For Excellence (E4E). In our conversation, we talked about the national campaigns that E4E has recently launched around the needs of teacher diversity and creating positive school culture in our communities. To learn more about E4E and/or to donate the organization, please visit the website at www.e4e.org. BIO: Denise Manning is a Boston native and proud graduate of Boston Public Schools. Witnessing violence in her community growing up, Denise learned the importance of self-advocacy and sought enrichment opportunities. She worked with mentors from Minds Matter Boston on Saturdays to improve her writing skills and was admitted into prestigious summer programs that gave her access to greater educational opportunities. Through these programs, Denise saw the educational inequalities that exist, as well as the power of knowledge. Denise graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and returned to her community to work in Boston Public Schools as a paraprofessional. While working in BPS, Denise advocated for students and families to have access to information and opportunities to support student growth. Denise then earned her license to teach high school English and early education, as well as her master’s degree. With her hands-on experiences in teaching, she focused on the importance of authentic community and family engagement for student academic and social-emotional support.

In this episode of IDTALK4ED LIVE, it's all about STEAM and Black males! For this conversation, we welcomed Robert Hendricks III, the Founder and Executive Director of the He Is Me Institute, to share the organization's mission to create a pipeline for Black males to pursue STEAM careers. If you would like to learn more about He Is Me and donate to the organization, you can visit the website at www.heisme.org and donate by texting "GIVE" to 877-255-9471. You can also follow the organization on social media: Instagram - @heismeinstitute Twitter - @HeisMeInstitute LinkedIn - He Is Me Institute BIO: Robert Hendricks III is the Founder and Executive Director of the He Is Me Institute, a non-profit organization whose ultimate mission is to empower Black men to obtain and retain careers in STEAM education. He earned a B.S. in Middle Childhood Math and Social Studies Education and a M.Ed. in Curriculum & Teacher Leadership from Miami University (OH). Throughout his career in education, Robert has held various roles in schools including instructional leadership, school culture leadership, special education teaching, and curriculum design. His previous stops include Mind Matters Boston, Generation Teach, and the Great Miami Valley YMCA.

In this episode of IDTALK4ED LIVE, we had the honor of speaking with our good friend, Dr. Dariel "D.T." Henry, who is arguably the most dapper and hardest working brotha in higher education! In our conversation, he touched on his early upbringing in Miami, his academic life as a student athlete during his undergraduate days at Dean College, his recruiting role with the Regis Diverse Educators Program, and so much more! If you are currently a student athlete or enrolled in a doctoral program, you don't want to miss this episode! Dr. Henry blessed us with many gems through our conversation! If you want to connect with Dr. Henry, you can visit his website at darieldthenry.com. You can also follow him on social media with the following handles: FACEBOOK - D.T. Dariel Henry INSTAGRAM - @darieldthenry TWITTER - @DarielDTHenry LINKEDIN - Dariel "DT" Henry BIO: Dr. Dariel “D.T” Henry serves as the Director of TRiO Student Support Services at Bristol Community College in Fall River, MA. He also works as a recruiter for the Regis Diverse Educators Program at Regis College, a full-tuition scholarship program for high school students who wish to pursue the field of education and who are specifically interested in working with underrepresented populations. Dr. Henry has previously held leadership and academic advisory roles at Dean College and the University of Massachusetts Boston. A proud native of Miami, FL, Dr. Henry earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Central Florida, a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Bridgewater State University, and a Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education & Administration from Johnson and Wales University. As a former student-athlete, Dr. Henry also volunteers his time to offer academic coaching and consulting to current student athletes at the high school and university levels. Outside of his university work, he is the host of the “Swag Bender” podcast, where he facilitates conversations about education, culture, football, and motivation.

In this special episode of IDTALK4ED LIVE, we want to focus on the transformative power of the student voice and how it can help shape the future of public education in America and beyond. For this conversation, we invited Cecil Price III, who is currently a senior and the Student Body President at the Barack Obama Academy of International Studies in Pittsburgh, PA. He also serves at the President of the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ African American Center for Advanced Studies (AACAS) Executive Committee. During the conversation, Cecil shares about the personal impact that Barack Obama Academy has had on him academically, his perspective on the experiences of students of color in Pittsburgh Public Schools, the important of student activism, and so much more! You can connect with Cecil on the following social media platforms: Facebook - Cecil Price III Instagram - @cecilprice3rd BIO: Cecil Price, III is a senior and the Student Body President of the Barack Obama Academy of International Studies where he prides himself on being a conscientious, civically, and socially engaged student, brother, son, and friend. With his continuous involvement in the lives of students and the community at large, he has been given the title of Student Ambassador. Accompanied by this title, he has had many leadership roles to help advocate for student voice. Cecil is the President of the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ African American Centers for Advanced Studies (AACAS) Executive Committee, whose mission is to be a beacon of support, encouragement, and advocacy for the AACAS Council (African American gifted and talented high school students) in maintaining academic, social, and emotional excellence while building balanced identities of self, confidence, and competence. For his exceptional scholarship, extraordinary leadership and remarkable character, he received the Outstanding Young Citizens Award in 2019. He is also the Youth Director and Drummer of the Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, a member of the National Honor Society and Young Black Motivated Kings and Queens, Student Leader of both the Journey to Medicine and YMCA Youth and Government programs, and an Educator at the Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School. Due to his ongoing engagement with the Urban Academy’s faculty and student body, he was given the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018. Cecil’s astounding academic record includes maintaining a 4.62 GPA, the completion of International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, and receiving the Academic Excellence Award in 2018. While continuing his work in various academic and social fields, his most impactful work has been done as a guest speaker at the State of Black Learning Conference, the Summer Leadership Academy, the 6th Annual SCW Foundation Benefit Gala, Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship, the Tickets for Kids 25th Anniversary, and the 2019 CAS Expo of Excellence. By speaking at these events, Cecil has been a part of the solution, rather than a part of the problem. He has also been featured in several media platforms like the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Magazine, Trib Total Media, 90.5 WESA Radio, WPXI, and JET 24 Action News, where his own platform has made room for other students to emulate and to be encouraged that their current state is not their final fate.

In this episode of IDTALK4ED LIVE, we brought in Ronnie Thomas, who is the founder of the Georgia Science & Robotics Academy, Inc. and Fun Weird Science, LLC. in Atlanta, GA. In our conversation, Ronnie discussed his family life, his personal journey as an educator, his perspective on the current state of STEM education for young men of color, future projects for Fun Weird Science, LLC. entering the year 2020, and so much more! If you would like to follow Fun Weird Science, LLC. and support the initiatives of the Thomas family members, check out the information below: - funweirdscience.com (@funweirdscience on all social media platforms) - 365bodylove.com (Natural Body Care Products) - Culturegreetings.com (Customized Greeting Cards) - DjKANtstop.com (DJ & Karaoke Services) - Shuaerials.com (Aerial Videography & Photography) BIO: Ronnie Thomas graduated from Alabama State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. A proud native of Birmingham, AL, he is an enthusiastic and passionate technology-driven educator with a solid commitment to the social, academic and developmental growth of students. Thomas has the ability to challenge and inspire hands-on learning experiences that capture a student’s imagination. A two-time Teacher of the Year recipient, Thomas has conducted research with NASA’s Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program. Thomas is the founder of Georgia Science & Robotics Academy, Inc. and Fun Weird Science LLC, which provides impactful K-12 STEAM enrichment for teachers and students through professional development, teacher cohort coaching, summer STEM enrichment programs for students and interactive science shows. He is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Beta Zeta Chapter. Most recently, he was selected as an honoree of the Alabama State University “50 Under 50” Class of 2019 for his outstanding professional achievements and commitment to advancing the university’s legacy of excellence.

In this special episode of IDTALK4ED LIVE, I sat down with my Temple big sister, Shauna Brown, who is the founder of the Melanin of STEM blog series and the educator lifestyle brand, Teach for the Culture, LLC. During our conversation, she discuss the importance of increasing STEM programming access to communities of color, the need for more African-Americans to travel to the African continent to connect with their diasporan brothers and sisters, and so much more! If you would like to connect with Shauna, you can find her on the following social media platforms: FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM - @teachfortheculture, @melanininstem TWITTER - @tch4theculture LINKEDIN - Shauna H.B. BIO: Shauna Brown is the Assistant Principal of the Academy of Aerospace and Engineering (formerly the Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science); a STEM-themed magnet school serving students in Grades 6-12. She is the first female to serve in this role in the school’s history. She is the founder of the Melanin in Stem blog series, a platform that highlights the stories of women and people of color in STEM, with the goal of exposing young people (and everyone else) to what is possible! Most recently, she founded Teach for the Culture, LLC., a brand dedicated to empowering and positively affirming its clientele by fostering a sense of pride in culture and self, in the field of education and beyond! Born in Hartford, CT to Jamaican parentage, Shauna earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Temple University, and her Master’s Degree in Urban Education and Policy from Columbia University in the City of New York. She also earned a post-graduate degree in Educational Leadership and has completed several certificates in advanced educational studies. She has served in the field of education for over 15 years, and has worked in schools in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Harlem, and Hartford, CT. In addition to her years of classroom teaching experience in the middle school, Shauna has served as a district-wide Instructional Coach, and as a State Education Consultant working on Federal and State-wide programs such as Title III and the Office for Civil Rights initiatives. She also had the wonderful opportunity of traveling abroad for a period of time as a Fulbright Scholar, to study the schools, culture, and educational system in Ghana, West Africa, and develop curriculum for teachers. In addition to this fellowship, she was selected as a Yale University Educational Field Study participant to participate in educational field studies in Puerto Rico.

In this episode of IDTALK4ED LIVE, I spent some time chatting with my dear friend, Dr. Shaun Woodly, founder of "Teach, Hustle, Inspire". In our conversation, Dr. Woodly shares about his humble beginnings as an educator, his thoughts on the hip-hop education movement, the creative process for his book, "MC Means Move the Class", and everything hip-hop! To learn more about Dr. Woodly and the "Teach, Hustle, Inspire" movement, you can visit the website at www.teachhustleinspire.com or connect with him on the following social media platforms: FACEBOOK - "Teach, Hustle, Inspire" with Dr. Shaun Woodly INSTAGRAM - @teachhustleinspire TWITTER - @shaunwoodly BIO: Dr. Shaun Woodly is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and staff development expert who specializes in classroom management and student engagement in urban and culturally diverse schools. He is the founder of “Teach, Hustle, Inspire”, an educator movement focused on helping driven and passionate educators transform their classrooms into high-achieving, high-performing learning environments. An unapologetic New Yorker, Dr. Woodly earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Teaching degrees from Hampton University, as well his Ph.D. in Education from Capella University. In his fourteen-year career in education, he has taught in the Norfolk Public Schools in Virginia and Atlanta Public Schools in Georgia. He is the best-selling author of, “MC Means Move the Class: How to Spark Engagement and Motivation in Urban and Culturally Diverse Classrooms”, a book that draws on research-based pedagogy and culturally responsive instructional methods to provide educators with the best teaching strategies and methods that will help them be great in the classroom.

If you are a parent of a child with special needs, this is a very important episode for YOU to watch! We brought our good friend, Yahaira Lopez, on the show to share her personal journey as the single mother of twin sons, both of whom are on the Autism spectrum, and how that experience propelled her into a career of special education advocacy for students and parents of color. To learn more about Yahaira's work, her organization, Autism Sprinter (www.autismsprinter.org), and her new podcast, "Momvocate Mob", you can connect with her on the following social media platforms: FACEBOOK - Autism Sprinter, Momvocate Mob INSTAGRAM - @autismsprinter, @iamamomvocate TWITTER - @AutismSprinter BIO: Yahaira Lopez is the founder of Autism Sprinter, Inc: a parent led grassroots organization building parents as experts in special education. Yahaira knows the struggles of Autism firsthand—she has twin boys on the Autism Spectrum as well as ADHD. As any parent knows, young boys can be a handful. Young premature twins added even more complications. And having twin boys with different levels of unique challenges adds even more difficulties. As a parent, Yahaira put her career on hold where she turned one of her bedrooms into a home classroom. She began to watch YouTube videos of autism therapies to self-learn different form therapies to support her children needs to develop her own parent expertise. Yahaira has a Master's degree in Human Service Organizational Management from Springfield College. She also has a Bachelor's in Social Work from Salem State University. Yahaira has over 15 years of experience working with children, youth and families in many different capacities. She has worked at Boston Public Schools, DCF, and Boston Center for Youth and Families. Yahaira is currently working for Riverside Community Care Mobile Crisis Unit as a Crisis Specialist. She is also a Boston Public School alumni who immigrated from Puerto Rico at the age of 4. Yahaira's work is dedicated to improving the lives of families and their loved ones presented with unique abilities navigating systems that seems impossible to understand. She believes parents are more than just caretakers. Yahaira says "Parent are experts too".

In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing my good friend and brother-in-education, Larue Fitch! During our conversation, he opens up about his personal journey from being a teenage father to a national educational leader. He also gives us some insight about his upcoming book, "Breaking the Education Code", sheds some light on the state of Chicago Public Schools, and much more! BIO: Larue Fitch is an educational consultant, school administrator, and author from Chicago, IL. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Saint Xavier University, and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Chicago State University, where is currently working towards his Doctorate degree. He is the author of the new book, “Breaking the Education Code: Instructional Guide for Enhancing Teacher Capacity While Increasing Scholar Achievement”, which will be released in early 2020. Larue’s educational journey began as an elementary school teacher. For seven years, he worked with scholars in grades 4 through 8, teaching Science, Literacy and Math. During his time in the classroom, he was fortunate to develop relationships with scholars which provided a safe environment for them to grow and develop academically. As a teacher, Larue always looked forward to communicating openly with parents. It was always the highlight of his experience to share with the parents the academic and social growth their child made throughout the school year. Leadership opportunities began to open within his school and he became the Science Lead Teacher. One of the most rewarding aspects of this role was the ability to work with his peers. Productive teamwork is critical to a thriving school culture. This collaboration led to some positive changes in our school’s teaching practices along with an established alliance between teachers and administration. Seven years later, he entered the role of Assistant Principal and Resident Principal in Chicago Public Schools. As Resident Principal in a CPS elementary school, he was the administrator in charge of Restorative Justice and the Data-Driven Instructional Cycle. Through the implementation of Restorative Justice practices, the percentage of out-of-school suspensions decreased by 31 percent for African-American children. He worked closely with our teachers and families to build a culture where scholars are taking ownership of their academic and social performances. Through meaningful collaborations, parents participated in workshops and school-level activities; developing an open line of communication between the teachers, administration and their scholars. Finally, Larue is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. To learn more about Larue’s work, you can visit his website at www.laruemfitch.com or connect with him on the following social media platforms: FACEBOOK - @laruefitch INSTAGRAM - @ed.consultant