I swear I was about to lose my job, but then a student helped me not lose my purpose. Plus, I talk to my ETHS colleague Steven Speight, a chemistry teacher who talks about an essential element to good science: community.

Dr. Sunni Ali discusses how he was influenced by the Black scholar teachers at Howard University. From episode 10 https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/WAcrvpGOuBb

Ross Gay grew up in a family of teachers, some in the classroom, some outside. He shares the lessons he learned in visits to his father's family in Youngstown, OH.

From Episode 5 https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/29Tbi60HaBb

A poem about what it means to mind your business in the hallway. From episode 11. https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/bg57EwF9TAb

My dad, Gilgamesh, taught me how to love chess, but even more importantly how to love possibility.

It's the end of the year and I talk about the most important job a Black teacher has around this time: landing the daggone plane. Plus, I talk to Carlos Thomas, a fellow English teacher and phenomenal basketball coach, about the importance of standing on your square and helping students find their own.

Crystal Wilkinson talks about using Toni Morrison's Beloved to help a White student in Kentucky shift his view on race.

How do you use your authority to share power with your students so they can grow their own authority? Ganae talks about the Democratic Classroom Leadership philosophy. Find out more here: https://fullcircleleadership.org/democratic-classroom-leadership/

Why Black children are our business. In the classroom or in the hallway. And I talk to my colleague Tamie Holmes about creating organic communities of care in her classroom.

Exiled from Ms. Agawa's class, I visit on-campus suspension. And get punched by a teacher.