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Identity Talk 4 Educators LIVE
By Kwame Sarfo-MensahEducation
Identity Talk 4 Educators LIVE episodes
- 192) "Exploring EdTech with McKenzie's Adventures" (Yaritza Villalba)
In this episode, I had the honor of welcoming Yaritza Villalba to the podcast to share about her Panamanian heritage, growing up in Brooklyn, discovering her love for teaching, the founding of McKenzie's Adventures, navigating life as a CEO and a mother, and so much more! To learn more about Yaritza's work, you can visit her website at mckenziesadventures.com or follow her on Instagram (@mckenziesadventures), Twitter/X (@McKenzies_Adv), and LinkedIn.
BIO:
Yaritza Villalba is an Education Consultant, currently leading professional learning opportunities, centered on culturally responsive sustaining education (CRSE) and project-based learning, to an international network of educators. With thirteen years of experience in urban education, Yaritza supplies many effective strategies and resources for educating and supporting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) students and families. After graduating from the State University of New York at Albany, she began her career teaching Social Studies to overaged, under credited high school students in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York.
Later, she earned her first master's degree from Long Island University, Brooklyn, where she studied Adolescent Urban Education and expounded her knowledge of inclusive pedagogical practices. Over her career, Yaritza became an Assistant Principal of an Expeditionary Learning School, CEO and Founder of McKenzie’s Adventures LLC, and an Author of culturally relevant children's books. Yaritza’s overall mission is to create opportunities and experiences for students of color to gain fair access to resources that spark critical thinking and meaningful conversations in and out of the classroom.LINKS:
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Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts54 min - 191) "A Cameroonian Teacher's Journey to Venezuela" (Ambola Colette Nchindo)
In this episode, I welcomed Ambola Colette Nchindo to the podcast to talk about her early upbringing in Cameroon, navigating the international school ecosystem as an African woman, living and working in Venezuela, and so much more! To learn more about Ambola's work, you can follow her on Instagram (@ambola1990) and LinkedIn.
BIO:Ambola Colette Nchindo is a Cameroonian educator who comes with over 10 years of international teaching experience. She is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Examiner and currently serves the IB Economics & Business Teacher at Escuela Campo Alegre in Venezuela.LINKS:
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Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts57 min - 190) "Redefining DEI Work & the Black Expat Experience" (Katrina Daniels-Samasa)
In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing Katrina Daniels-Samasa, who opened up about her early upbringing in Detroit, her life as a Black expat and international educator, her perspectives on the term "DEI", motherhood, and so much more! To learn more about Katrina's work, you can follow her on Instagram (@black_americans_living_abroad) and LinkedIn.
BIO:
Katrina Daniels-Samasa has over 25 years experience in education and leadership working in suburban and inner city schools in the United States, rural and city areas in the United Arab Emirates, and in Jeju, South Korea. Her most recent overseas stint was in the UK to conduct informal research for a book. Her studies in Education and Sociology as an undergraduate and Curriculum and Instruction as a graduate paired with her life as an expatriate educator has helped to shaped her understanding of creating inclusive environments for students in the classrooms and schools she has worked in globally. Outside of teaching, Katrina is the founder of Black Americans Living Abroad (BALA), a thriving community of more than 11k members who represent over 100 countries across the globe. BALA is the first and oldest expatriate group dedicated to being a resource and experience sharing space for current Black American expats.LINKS:
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Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts1 hr 11 min - 189) "The Black Gaze" (Dr. Kisha Porcher & Dr. Shamaine Bertrand)
In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing the dynamic duo of Dr. Kisha Porcher and Dr. Shamaine Bertrand, hosts of the award-winning Black Gaze Podcast! In our conversation, they opened up about her early childhood, the birth of the Black Gaze podcast, navigating the academic space as Black women, the importance of centering Blackness in teacher education spaces, and so much more! To learn more about their work, you can subscribe to the Black Gaze podcast on YouTube and follow them on Instagram (@blackgazepodcast).
BIO:
Dr. Kisha Porcher is an associate professor of English at the University of Delaware. She is the co-creator/co-host of the Black Gaze Podcast. Her research focuses on three interrelated topics: centering Blackness in English education; best practices for being, learning and teaching focused equity and social justice; and community-engaged teacher education.
Dr. Shamaine Bertrand is an associate professor of elementary education at The College of New Jersey. She is the co-creator/co-host of the Black Gaze Podcast. Dr. Bertrand’s research focuses in three primary areas: Preparing preservice to effectively teach and support Black students; Building school-university partnerships that center equity and antiracism; and Centering Blackness in Elementary Education.
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Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts1 hr 5 min - 188) "Prioritizing Student Voice & Teacher Self-Advocacy" (Evalaurene Jean-Charles)
To kick off the new year and the new season of the podcast, I had the honor of bringing Evalaurene Jean-Charles back on the podcast to talk about her evolution of her educator journey, marriage life, the growth of Black on Black Education, the need to center student voices in our schools, and much more! To learn more about Eva's work, you can go to the Black on Black Education website at blackonblackeducation.com or follow her on Instagram (@blackonblacked) and LinkedIn.
BIO:
Evalaurene Jean-Charles is a passionate educator, unapologetic advocate, and CEO & Co-Founder of Black on Black Education. Through her work, she helps schools tap into the power of student voice and student-centered practices to create classrooms that feel alive, joyful, and impactful. She is also a history teacher in the Bronx, where she loves on her students daily, reminding them that they are brilliant, worthy, and capable of changing the world.
Her journey to education started at The Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services in Brooklyn, where she worked as a tutor and workshop leader for students navigating alternative sentencing programs. That experience lit a fire in her for educational equity and social justice—she realized how transformational education could be when it centers the voices of those often left out of the conversation.She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s in Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies from the CUNY Graduate Center. Then, she leveled up her teaching game with a Master of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education, earning Distinctions in 2022 (yes, she worked hard, and she's proud of it).Along the way, she has worn many hats, from facilitating public speaking workshops with Vocal Justice to rethinking what K-12 content should truly reflect as part of the reDesign K-12 Content Mapping Design Studio. She has spoken at conferences, sat on panels, and shared stages to challenge educators to center equity, empower students of color, and reimagine what’s possible in our schools. She also earned the "30 Under 30" Award from Ignite Caribbean.Through Black on Black Education, she is on a mission to help educators and schools not just survive but thrive. This work isn’t just her job—it’s her love letter to every student who deserves to walk into a classroom where they feel seen, heard, and valued.LINKS:
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Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts1 hr - 187) "Maintaining Authenticity as an Educational Leader" (Iyabo Tinubu)
In this week's episode, I had the pleasure of welcoming Iyabo Tinubu for her very first podcast interview. In our conversation, she opens up about embracing her duality as a British-Nigerian, her early years as an international educator, her work as a DEIJ leader, transitioning from the classroom to administration, and much more! To learn more about Iyabo's work, you can follow her on LinkedIn.
BIO:Iyabo Tinubu is a British Nigerian educator with extensive experience in international education. Currently at the International School of Beijing (ISB) as the Dean of Students, she has previously taught in London, Beijing, Singapore, and Berlin, where she also served as a DEIJ lead. Passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, Iyabo empowers young learners to become leaders and active contributors to global solutions. She is deeply involved in advocacy work with AIELOC. Outside of education, Iyabo enjoys yoga, music, dance, and traveling.LINKS:
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Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts51 min - 186) "Cultivating the Activist Spirit as a DEIJ Leader" (Dr. Darnell Fine)
In this week's episode, I had the chance to chat with Dr. Darnell Fine, who shared about his childhood in Atlanta, his early years as a teacher, and his growth as a DEIJ leader within the international school ecosystem. To learn more about Darnell's work, you can follow him on LinkedIn.
BIO:
Dr. Darnell Fine is the newly appointed High School Principal at Singapore American School (SAS). With academic credentials including a bachelor's degree from Brown University, a master’s from City University of London, and a doctorate from the University of Southern California, his career spans teaching, leadership, and global consultancy. Prior to joining SAS, Dr. Fine spent four years at the American School in London.His deep commitment to high-quality instruction, building strong relationships, and extensive recognition as a global thought leader in education make him a remarkable leader. He has consulted with the International Baccalaureate on curriculum review, developed advisory lessons for Emory University, and supported diverse applicants with the Council of International Schools. Additionally, he has worked with international school leadership teams to enhance systems that benefit all students.
LINKS:
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Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts50 min - 185) "Cultivating Classroom Culture with Nonviolence Pedagogy" (Mike Tinoco)
In this week's episode, I welcomed Mike Tinoco to the podcast to talk about his early journey, finding his community through beatboxing, his new book "Heart at the Center", the power of nonviolence pedagogy, and much more! To learn more about Mike's work, you can visit his website at miketinoco.com or follow him on Instagram (@mikenotmister).
BIO:
Mike Tinoco (M.Ed.) is a public school teacher, nonviolence practitioner, and author whose work advocates for creating classrooms and schools that center interdependence, shared needs, and liberation from violence. He is a certified Kingian Nonviolence and Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC) trainer who has given dozens of workshops and talks in schools, universities, and educational organizations. His first book, Heart at the Center: An Educator's Guide to Sustaining Love, Hope, and Community Through Nonviolence Pedagogy, explores a holistic approach to nonviolence in the classroom.
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Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts54 min - 184) "Nurturing the Activist Spirit as an International Educator" (Yasmine Sadri)
This week's episode features Yasmine Sadri, who opens up about her early upbringing, being the daughter of Iranian immigrants in Belgium, transitioning from journalism to the education field, her evolution as an activist for refugees and young people from other marginalized communities, and much more! To learn more about Yasmine's work, you can follow her on Instagram (@yasmineandworld) and LinkedIn.
BIO:
Yasmine Sadri is a builder of bridges, using her background in media, international relations, humanitarian work, and education to promote peace and justice for children and other vulnerable groups worldwide. Currently at the International School of Geneva, Yasmine is an advisor, coach, and facilitator for several international institutions including the United Nations where she trains leadership from all over the world in transformative DEI. She is the daughter of two Iranian parents who left Iran in 1979. Since high school, Yasmine has been advocating for increased understanding of and support for Iranian youth and stories. Her thesis was on the depiction of Iran in United States media, shedding light on the different ways media are used to paint an image of countries and their people, often creating distance between citizens worldwide.
LINKS:
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Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts58 min - 183) "Incorporating a DEIJ Lens to Mental Health Advocacy" (Khamisa Haugen)
In this week's episode, I had the honor of interviewing my good friend Khamisa Haugen, who opened up about her early life as a refugee from South Sudan, adjusting to life in the United States, the ups and downs of her mental health journey, discovering her voice as an international educator, and so much more! To learn more about Khamisa's work, you can follow her on LinkedIn.
BIO:
Khamisa Haugen holds a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations and Development, with a minor in Sociology, and completed a Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counseling. She also holds a Professional Diploma in Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy, and Counseling and is pursuing DEIJ Certification through the AIELOC/SUNY program.
As a former refugee from South Sudan, her journey through displacement and resettlement has shaped her deep commitment to mental health advocacy and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ).Throughout her career, Khamisa has worked with vulnerable populations, from adults with disabilities to students in international schools. Her work, including roles at UWCSEA East, focuses on fostering resilience, inclusion, and well-being. Khamisa’s professional goal is to integrate her mental health training with DEIJ work to create environments where everyone can thrive, personally and professionally.
Khamisa provides counselling services focused on addressing thoughts and emotions, helping clients break free from unhealthy patterns, and managing moods and behaviors for both adults and adolescents. Her therapeutic approach is inclusive, structured, and flexible to meet the client's need. She believes building genuine therapeutic relationship and fostering empathy are crucial to achieving desired outcome in therapy. Khamisa is passionate about supporting clients through challenging life events, relationship issues, mental health concerns, self-esteem challenges, anxiety, life transitions, time management, and more. She skillfully integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and in-person Hypnotherapy interventions, tailoring her approach to meet each client's unique needs.
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Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts52 min
About Identity Talk 4 Educators LIVE
From the publisher's feed
The "Identity Talk 4 Educators LIVE" Podcast highlights the unspoken and unsung heroes who are changing the education game as we know it! Everyday, we come across the work of so many incredible…
educators who simply don't get the recognition they deserve! In this podcast, we will provide the viewers with an opportunity to learn the personal stories of these incredible educators and the specific elements that shape who they are as educators.