Joanna and Hallie from “Educators Amplified” have partnered with Dr. Tim Slekar and Dr. Johnny Lupinacci from “BustED Pencils” to create an Education Media Collaboration Extravaganza! They’ve come together to offer a K-12 teacher and higher education perspective, because when we hear from each other we can work towards solutions to problems. 

The four of them talk through many layers within education. They discuss what’s not working in education: a lack of teacher autonomy, the profession being built on sacrifices, products overly purchased, the harm that occurs because of the hyper focus on academics, and how the conversations about education continue to be about high-quality material. They also talk about what could be done in schools right now: meet all of children’s needs (physical, social, emotional, intellectual), prioritize children’s rights, understand the human nervous system, and overall regulation. 

There is a lot that needs to be done, and it starts with individuals becoming humble, reflecting on what they think schools should provide in our society, and “unlearning” the biases we bring to education. Let’s transform our schools from an academic endeavor to a unifying space around justice, equity, and empowering our youth - this is the start to Tim, Johnny, Joanna, and Halie’s collaboration. Enjoy!

Give Dr. Johnny Lupinacci, Dr. Tim Slekar, and BustED Pencils some LOVE on Facebook and Instagram @EducatorsAmplified or email at [email protected]

THANK YOU to Josh at Silver City Studios, DJ Dripsweat, and WEA Academy for your original music, skills, and sponsorship!

This episode breaks it all down (not literally), Hallie and Joanna offer a different perspective on how to look at what’s going on in our school system.

To begin, they give the first update on the Educator Survey they’ve been encouraging educators to take… honestly, it looks exactly as they predicted – not so good. Hallie and Joanna discuss four main reasons people are either leaving or considering leaving the education profession. Go to: tinyurl.com/BeHeardEducators, to take the survey if you haven’t already.

Next, Hallie and Joanna discuss student behaviors - aggressive, disengaged, and passive compliance - and how all of these “behaviors” are actually student’s needs not being met. This ends up not being much of a surprise, when they break down that only 25% of needs are addressed in our school system. 

Finally, they discuss how standardization has magnified issues for everyone in schools. A way of describing education right now is: “teaching is telling and learning is the lesson” and then they share a comparison of the disconnects between students and the school system. 

And even with all of this - Hallie and Joanna can *feel* that the allies are aligning!

Amplify your voice! On Facebook and Instagram @EducatorsAmplified or Email at [email protected]

THANK YOU to Josh at Silver City Studios, DJ Dripsweat, and WEA Academy for your original music, skills, and sponsorship!

In this episode, Hallie and Joanna start out by discussing how they are doing - hey, educators, we are you - we are exhausted, too! Joanna shares how what we really need right now is stabilization in our schools: teaching about the foundation of sleep and the importance of water intake, nutrition, moving our body, and stress management. This leads them into discussing Adverse Childhood Experiences (things that prevent development and success) and Benevolent Childhood Experiences (protective factors that aid children when highly stressed). IMAGINE if the priority in education were in the benevolent childhood experience list … seriously imagine it!

Then we have Stephanie come on the podcast - eight year elementary teacher and local Union leader - to offer a calm and clear explanation of what she has experienced in the classroom and as a Union president. Her direct experience in the classroom with children has opened her eyes to how taking care of stressed children - like getting outdoors and going for a walk - are not prioritized and questioned. This mismatch of priorities led her to get involved with her local Union within a group called COME Forward (Caucus of Millenial Educators) and how the connection and work she did made her feel like she mattered. She was empowered to work towards ‘waving the flag’ to let those in charge know that something ‘needs to give’ within education. As a local Union leader, she’s been able to grow professionally and has kept her in the teaching profession this long. We are the power behind the change we need!

Be in touch! Connect with us through Facebook and Instagram @EducatorsAmplified & ANYONE can email us at [email protected]

LISTEN TO EPISODE 5: 

On our website: Educatorsamplified.podbean.com Or wherever you listen to podcasts.

THANK YOU to Josh at Silver City Studios, DJ Dripsweat, and WEA Academy for your original music, skills, and sponsorship!

In this episode, Joanna and Hallie talk about what no one else is talking about: what needs to change in our schools to make things better. So, BIG PICTURE, what needs to change? Leadership and the structure of how schools operate. There is a need to define the problems correctly, in order to come up with solutions because there is a full out effort to dismantle public education, which has caused fear and compliance within education and has led to exploitation within the profession. Hear them talk candidly about what educators are experiencing within the current school structure and how it's affecting the profession. 

Then hear their energizing thoughts about the Launch Party they hosted in November 2021 at Third Space Brewery in Milwaukee, WI. Additionally, hear the voices of educators who were at the Launch Party and what they feel needs to be amplified at this time. 

SHOUT OUT to Tim Slekar at BustEd Pencils - another great advocate for public education and he has his own podcast as well. Find his podcast, BustEd Pencils, wherever you listen to Educators Amplified or on his website: www.bustedpencils.com

Be in touch! Connect with us through Facebook and Instagram @EducatorsAmplified & ANYONE can email us at [email protected]

LISTEN TO EPISODE 4: 

On our website: Educatorsamplified.podbean.com

Or wherever you listen to podcasts.

We have our first teacher guest on the podcast - Heather! 

First we discuss Hallie’s experience of presenting at the WEAC Professional Development Institute in November 2021. She’s still thinking about it, feeling good from the connection, and overall feeling hope!

Then we get into talking with Heather, a “cowboy” of electives in education, and advocate for a just public education system. Listen to our conversation about: student/staff exhaustion, how challenging teaching is now, the increase of eating disorders of youth (especially in our “high-achievers” in school). We ponder if people are willing to work towards systemic change, what that looks like, and how schools should shift to a “power with” structure. We highlight how teachers and students are treated more similarly than we may realize within this “top-down” system. 

And amidst all of it - we still have hope for the future in education!

Additional resources about teens, mental health, and eating disorders:

Newsclip Heather references in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6sxULjDYuU

Other related articles: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/28/well/family/teens-eating-disorders.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/31/well/mind/covid-eating-disorders.html

https://milwaukeenns.org/2021/07/29/some-health-providers-see-surge-in-eating-disorders/

https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2021/11/23/holidays-plus-pandemic-could-be-a-dangerous-mix-for-eating-disorder-risk--experts-say

In this episode we discuss the foundation of everything we talk about and where we’re coming from … REGULATION!

Regulation is rooted in trauma research, connects to our human body, and helps our mind be at ease. Regulation is all about being at-ease and balanced – and who doesn’t need that these days?!?!

We go beyond just explaining what it is, and offer applicable ways to bring regulation into your life, school, and classroom.

Welcome! We start by introducing ourselves and sharing our experience within education thus far. 

Hallie has been teaching for 12 years and is considered a Millennial educator, Joanna has been teaching for 26 years and is a Latina educator; together they have taught for 10 years in an innovative, alternative education program that integrates well-being and academics within the classroom. 

Come listen, relate, and join in the conversation!

Welcome! WE SEE YOU - WE HEAR YOU - WE ARE YOU

This podcast is for educators! Educators are teachers, paraprofessionals, school secretaries, school counselors, psychologists, social workers, school nurse, school lunch staff, custodial and cleaning staff. Plus parents and supporters of education are welcome to hear what’s really going on in our public schools. We want to inspire and empower educators to harness their power within to reclaim our profession!