Holistic education: Joy, wellness, and rigor (Encore)

Holistic education: Joy, wellness, and rigor (Encore)

Author: Ethical Schools July 1, 2022 Duration: 50:11
We speak with Dr. Linda Nathan of the Center for Artistry and Scholarship and the Perrone-Sizer Institute for Creative Leadership about her experience in creating progressive schools. Dr. Nathan says all teachers, no matter their subject areas, should have expertise in teaching reading and students with moderate disabilities. The arts are central to her educational vision. Dr. Nathan talks about how to achieve predictable and collaborative authentic assessment of student work and how to deal with standardized test requirements when necessary. She also describes why “grit” is not enough for student success when students are caught in the insidious web of a racist system. Overview 00:00-00:37 Intros 00:37-02:35 Changes at the Center for Artistry and Scholarship and Perrone-Sizer Institute 02:35-06:54 Why the outdoors is so important in an educational vision 06:54-08:42 Joy, wellness, and rigor 08:42-13:07 Why grit is not enough  13:07-15:47 School systems pervaded by White supremacy 15:17-18:07 The Boston Arts Academy and Perrone-Sizer vision of education 18:07-21:44 Preparing teachers to work at a school like Boston Arts Academy 21:44-25:08 Measuring student success 25:08-29:12 Markers of success on graduation 29:12-31:15 How colleges need to better support students 31:15-36:39 How a principal can support and sustain faculty and the school’s vision in an unsupportive district 36:39-40:50 Dealing with high-stakes testing 40:50-44:58 Dialoguing with parents who disagree with what the school is doing

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…
Challenging censorship: Student journalists fight back [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:55
We speak with Hillary Davis, who runs the New Voices program at the Student Press Law Center, and Sara Fajardo, who experienced censorship firsthand at her high school. School administrators frequently prevent students f…
School behind bars: Meeting the needs of traumatized kids [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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.…
Students speak up: NYC Youth Agenda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:30
We speak with students Eugenia Bamfo, Alexandra Rouvinetis, and Mukilan Muthukumar, members of the NYC Youth Agenda. Using citywide student survey data, Youth Agenda teams aggregated young people’s needs to make recommen…
Abolitionist education: Creating liberatory spaces (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:14
We speak with Swarthmore’s Dr. Edwin Mayorga, who explains how abolitionist classrooms and schools create “freedom as a place” in contrast to racial capitalism. Dr. Mayorga encourages educators to center joy and healing.…