Elevating undervalued professionals: Support for substitute teachers

Elevating undervalued professionals: Support for substitute teachers

Author: Ethical Schools May 4, 2024 Duration: 35:51
We speak with Megan M. Conklin, who designs and implements professional development for substitutes in Washington state. Substitutes often don’t receive the support and compensation they deserve. Ms. Conklin’s union-backed program teaches subs classroom survival skills and advocates for equity among school staff members. Overview 00:00-00:37 Intros 00:37-04:44 Why Megan Conklin has chosen to be a substitute 04:44-07:19 Major issues subs face 07:19-11:13 Structure and culture of Megan Conklin’s program 11:13-16:59 What a sub should do if thrown into a situation without support 16:59-17:34 Keeping a light-hearted mindset 17:34-19:47 What students want in a sub 19:47-21:46 What it’s like as a long-term sub 21:46-23:10 Pay scales 23:10-24:39 Effects of using classroom teachers to cover classes 24:39-26:34 Sub support programs in other states? 28:27-30:13 Differences in support among Washington districts 30:13-31:21 Supporting paraprofessionals and other marginalized groups in education 31:21- Outro Transcript

Conversations about education often focus on test scores and curriculum, but there’s a deeper layer that truly shapes a student’s experience. Ethical Schools digs into that layer, exploring what it means to build a learning community grounded in integrity and care. Each week, hosts Amy and Jon sit down with educators and innovators who are actively reimagining schools. You’ll hear specific, grounded discussions about the practical work of creating environments where every student feels safe and respected. The dialogue frequently addresses how to support young people dealing with trauma, moving beyond theory to share actionable strategies that teachers are using right now. More than just problem-solving, this podcast highlights how to empower students themselves to become advocates and changemakers in their own communities. It’s a series that connects philosophy with daily practice, looking at the social and cultural structures within schools through a lens of ethics. For anyone invested in the future of education-whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or simply a concerned community member-this podcast offers a thoughtful and necessary perspective on the foundational values that make education meaningful.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Ethical Schools
Podcast Episodes
Evolving demographics: Rural schools in transition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:29
We speak with Dr. David Fine, school superintendent in Dover, a mostly white small town in rural Dutchess County, NY, where longtime residents have been joined by other families to create a more diverse and integrated de…
Solving chronic absence: A whole-school approach [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:00
We speak with Hedy N. Chang of Attendance Works, who describes the long-term impact on student success of chronic absence in all grades. Framing chronic absence as a truancy issue can increase alienation from school. Dis…
Translanguaging: Inviting the whole child into the classroom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:50
We speak with Dr. Cecilia Espinosa and Dr. Laura Ascenzi-Moreno, co-authors of “Rooted in Strength: Using Translanguaging to Grow Multilingual Readers and Writers.” Traditionally, teachers have brought language to studen…
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Duration: 32:55
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Duration: 28:00
We speak with Melissa Svigelj-Smith, graduate fellow at University of California at Santa Cruz, about her experience teaching high school students awaiting case outcomes at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center.…
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Duration: 34:30
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Abolitionist education: Creating liberatory spaces (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:14
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