Hello everyone! Educators are some of the hardest working people on this earth. Few people outside of education understand what it truly takes to move kids, support families, and build schools to be powerful tools for all who enter them.

At times the demands of this job can take their toll, however, and when they do, consequences can be dire.

To discuss what it takes to build powerful educational environments and the cost that can be present with such work is the brilliant Dr. Nadia Lopez.

Dr. Nadia Lopez is an award-winning global educational thought leader, who became a viral sensation after the popular blog Humans of New York featured her as one of the most influential people of this life. Disrupting the school to prison pipeline, Dr. Lopez founded Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a STEAM-focused middle school in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, in 2010, and served as the principal for ten years. She was named Linkedin's 2019 Top 10 Voices in Education and received the Black Girls Rock award–alongside Michelle Obama in 2015.

In 2020, Dr. Lopez ended her tenure as Mott Hall Bridges Academy's principal as an act of self-preservation after developing a stress-related illness that threatened her life. The experience inspired her to develop a coaching program for women of color in educational leadership designed to build their capacity, with a focus on sustainability.

In part two we discuss:

• What happened to Mott Hall Bridges when Dr. Lopez came back
• The importance of supporting teachers and building trust
• Where education is headed and how we can support a better tomorrow

…and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The First Five: A Love Letter to TeachersBy Patrick Harris II.

We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.

In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.

Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here's to the next five years.