Empower Students Now

Check out the episode show notes and Vanessa's book here: https://amandawritenow.com/navigating-adult-adhd-a-personal-and-professional-journey/In this episode, host Amanda interviews Vanessa Jones, an English teacher, writer, and voice actor who has recently authored a guidebook on adult ADHD. Vanessa discusses her personal experience with an adult ADHD diagnosis, the unnoticed symptoms in women, and the impact on her life and career. She shares insights on teaching with ADHD, the benefits of structured environments, and the accommodations that helped her succeed. The conversation also touches on Vanessa's transition to voice acting and entrepreneurship, and the importance of recognizing neurodiversity in education. Both Amanda and Vanessa reflect on the strengths that individuals with ADHD bring to teaching.

Check out the show notes, transcript, and more here: https://amandawritenow.com/the-revealing-reality-struggling-readers-face-within-the-u-s-education-system/In this episode of Empower Students Now, host Amanda interviews her sister Shelly Gonsalves, who opens up about her lifelong struggle with reading and learning difficulties. Shelly recounts her early educational challenges, the lack of support she faced, and the emotional toll it took on her self-esteem. Despite these obstacles, she persevered, exploring various career paths from graphic design to welding, and ultimately finding her place in law enforcement. Shelly's story is one of resilience and determination, as she now uses her experiences to advocate for children with similar struggles and to inspire others through her volunteer work and creative pursuits. The episode is a touching testament to overcoming adversity. But, it is also reveals the heart breaking reality of what happens to struggling readers in a system not built to support them, or their teachers.

Check out the episode show notes and more here:

https://amandawritenow.com/forgotten-narratives-from-frontline-of-the-reading-wars/

In this episode, hosts, Amanda and Trina, discuss the significant challenges of reading instruction in education. They delve into their personal experiences as teachers and parents, grappling with the complexities of teaching reading effectively and the impact on students. The conversation covers the history of reading, the disparities in instruction across socioeconomic lines, and the struggles faced by students with learning disabilities. The speakers call for systemic changes, emphasizing the need for high-quality curriculum, experienced teachers, and comprehensive support for struggling readers. They express frustration with the lack of resources and advocate for recognition of teachers' expertise in advancing students' reading skills.

Check out the episode show notes and more here: https://amandawritenow.com/courageous-teachers-speak-out-against-a-serious-problem-being-overlooked-in-k-12-schools/

In this episode, hosts Amanda and Trina, along with guest Manuwella Allen (Mani), discuss gender equity in education, with a focus on the intersection of race and gender. They address issues of sexual harassment and abuse in schools, highlighting several disturbing cases. The conversation covers the lack of attention given to gender equity in education, the need for a more intersectional approach, and the importance of implementing Title IX. They also discuss the adultification of black girls' bodies, the problematic nature of dress codes, and the structural sexism in the teaching profession. The episode emphasizes the urgent need for change in the American public education system.

Check out the episode show notes and more here: https://amandawritenow.com/gender-equity-issues-in-k-12-schools-are-undervalued-and-neglected/

In this podcast episode, Trina shares her expertise around gender equity in K-12 schools. She discusses the lack of support and unjust treatment of female students in schools, emphasizing the need for comprehensive discussions on gender equity. Amanda and Trina discuss topics such as period equity, the inclusion of girls in STEM programs, biases in the education system, anti sexist dress codes, and the lack of  implementation of Title IX in our public education system. Trina shares her frustration with the lack of support for girls who experience sexual harassment and violence in schools. The episode ends with a teaser for the next episode, which will focus on the intersectionality of race and gender in educational equity.

Check out the episode show notes and more here:

https://amandawritenow.com/true-educational-equity-reforms-are-not-happening-in-schools-and-repercussions-are-severe/

In this episode of the podcast series "Teacher Shortage Crisis Exposed," hosts Trina and Amanda discuss the topic of educational equity and the confusion surrounding its definition. They criticize the narrowing down of the term equity to only focus on racial equity, excluding other marginalized groups. They also discuss the culture wars happening in schools and the lack of teacher representation in these conversations. They also touch on the polarized state of the country and its impact on schools, as well as the need for teachers to be respected and supported.

Check out the episode show notes and more here: https://amandawritenow.com/the-teacher-shortage-crisis-lessons-from-an-esl-teachers-stand-against-canned-curriculum/

In this episode, Amanda and Trina interview two teachers who pushed back against using canned curriculum and discuss the sensitive nature of the stories shared by teachers and the importance of protecting their identities.  They share stories from Teacher A, a veteran ELD (English Language Development) teacher, and Teacher B, a new teacher, who both experienced the limitations and ineffectiveness of canned ELD curriculum. The hosts emphasize the vital importance of valuing teachers' expertise when developing curricula, especially for marginalized students.

Check out the episode show notes and more here: https://amandawritenow.com/the-teacher-shortage-crisis-exposed-outsourcing-teacher-expertise-to-canned-curriculum-part-5/

In this podcast episode, Amanda and Trina discuss the use of canned curriculum in schools and its impact on teachers and the education system. They recognize canned curriculum is useful in certain contexts and subjects, such as for long term substitutes, new teachers, or Math and Science teachers. However, in this episode they highlight the drawbacks of canned curriculum, such as job dissatisfaction because of the lack of autonomy for educators. Canned curriculum also increases disengagement among students. They discuss the influence of school boards and politics in education decision-making. Amanda and Trina emphasize the need for change and the importance of teachers' voices and expertise in shaping our American education system. Overall, they advocate for a more personalized and relevant approach to teaching.

Check out the show notes here: https://amandawritenow.com/the-teacher-shortage-crisis-exposed-how-red-tape-is-exacerbating-the-problems-part-4/

This episode is a discussion about the insane amount of time, money, and work it takes to becoming a teacher only to face even more red tape, expectations, costs, and time sucks from the teacher induction process.

This podcast series is from real teachers' perspectives. Too much information is being spread about the teacher shortage from people who are not even teachers. It's time to hear our side of the story. It's time to hear from real teachers about why this teacher shortage crisis is happening and how to fix the problems.

Kelvin was a brand new teacher who decided to leave the profession, only two years after starting his teaching career. Trina is a teacher who has been in the profession for a decade now in a wide range of school settings. Amanda has taught many grade levels, both elementary and secondary, and has moved to three different states throughout her career as a teacher. They all discuss the personal challenges and sacrifices they had to make to becoming a teacher. They talk about the induction process and the exorbitant expectations placed on new teachers. Student loans, night classes, costly exams, paperwork, and formal observations are all the norm. Navigating a new career and all the challenges that come with being brand new teacher is already challenging. This episode exposes how completely inequitable, unrealistic, and onerous the process to becoming a teacher is and the toll it is taking on our education system.

Check out the show notes here: https://amandawritenow.com/the-teacher-shortage-exposed-the-high-cost-of-becoming-a-teacher/

Amanda and co-host Trina discuss the challenges and expenses involved in becoming a teacher. Trina highlights the financial, time, and emotional investment required to become a teacher in the United States, particularly in California. They discuss the high cost of teacher preparation programs, the unpaid nature of student teaching, and the bureaucratic red tape that discourages new teachers. Both Amanda and Trina share their personal experiences with the financial burden of becoming a teacher and express frustration with the misconceptions about teaching and the heavy workload teachers face. Trina suggests that teacher preparatory programs should be free and streamlined to address income inequality and privilege in the profession.