Leading Equity

About Liza Talusan, Ph.D.

Liza has over 22 years of experience in K-20 education. She has served as a classroom teacher and senior administrator in preK-12 as well as in higher education, and is currently an associate instructor in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her work on anti-racism, centering people of color, and dismantling systems of oppression have been read across the country and used in trainings and workshops throughout education, the non-profit, and for-profit sectors. Liza has served as a strategic partner to schools, organizations, and corporations across the country around issues of culturally relevant recruitment, retention and onboarding; training of senior leadership and cabinet level leaders; curriculum development related to equity and inclusion; and training-the-trainer programs. She is a highly sought after speaker because of her approach to experiential learning and action-based approaches to addressing racism.

As an Asian American, Pilipinx leader, Liza has worked closely within the Asian American community to address issues of race, whiteness, and proximity to whiteness. Her work as a vocal leader in a racialized space focuses on pushing past myths about Asian Americans as well as disrupting problematic assumptions about Asian identity. Her research and scholarship on socialization and development serve as the foundation for conversations about race, learned biases, and ways to move forward in solidarity with other marginalized communities.

Liza earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Child Development from Connecticut College; her Master of Arts in Higher Education from New York University; a Human Resources Certificate from Stonehill College; her PhD in Higher Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston; is a Certified Professional Coach through the Institute for Professional Coaching; and an Associate Coach through the International Coaching Federation. Liza is a master practitioner in the Energy Leadership Index and has facilitated multiple workshops on how to engage in authentic and challenge-focused leadership.

Show Highlights

• Bystander intervention
• Understanding how and when to intervene
• Teaching students strategies on how to intervene
• De-escalating situations
• Implicit Bias
• Intervening with colleagues

Connect with Liza

Website: www.lizatalusan.com

Twitter: @ltalusan

Connect with me on Twitter @sheldoneakins

FREE Resource: 10 Steps to Get You on the Right Path Towards Leading Equity

About Nathalie Means Henderson, Ph.D.

Dr. Nathalie Means Henderson has served as an area superintendent in Fulton County Schools since July 2016. In this role, she supervises 18 schools in the cities of Sandy Springs, East Point, College Park, and Hapeville.  Prior to joining Fulton County, Dr. Henderson served as an instructional leadership director for the Oklahoma City Public Schools where she supervised 11 elementary schools, and in the St. Louis Public Schools, where she served as a principal, assistant principal, and special education teacher.

Dr. Henderson has leveraged her 15 years of experience in developing leaders and transforming schools to support other educators across the country. She has been a presenter at national conferences, coaches new and emerging leaders, and most recently served as a keynote speaker at Our Voices Academy.

During her tenure as principal, Dr. Henderson was awarded the 2012 St. Louis Metropolitan Urban League Young Professional of the Year, the 2013 St. Louis Public Schools Principal Pettus Award of Excellence, and the 2013 St. Louis American Salute to Excellence in Education Award.

Dr. Henderson earned a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, an Ed.S. from the University of Missouri- Columbia, an M.Ed  from the University of Missouri- St. Louis and a B.A. from Spelman College.

Show Highlights

• Who is Dr. Henderson?
• Why recruiting more leaders of color is important?
• Finding the right candidate for leadership
• Tips for aspiring leaders
• A successful case study

Connect with Nathalie

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @DrNHenderson

Connect with me on Twitter @sheldoneakins

FREE Resource: 10 Steps to Get You on the Right Path Towards Leading Equity

About Lara Schwartz, JD.

Lara Schwartz specializes in civil discourse and campus speech, constitutional law, civil rights, politics, communications, and policy. Drawing on her experience as a legislative lawyer, lobbyist, and communications strategist in leading civil rights organizations, Lara brings an advocate’s-eye view to her teaching. Prior to joining the SPA faculty, Lara served as Director of Strategic Engagement at the American Constitution Society for Law & Policy. Previously she served as Courts Matter director at Media Matters, Legal Director at the Human Rights Campaign, and Vice President of External Affairs at the American Association of People with Disabilities. Lara worked in litigation at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom and Gilbert, Heintz, and Randolph. She also served as a law clerk to Judge Ronald Lee Gilman on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Lara has appeared on national and local radio and television programs and written op-eds published in national papers and local papers of record. She is the co-author of "How to College: What to Know Before You Go (And When You're There)," a practical guide for students.

Show Highlights

• Defining Civil Discourse
• What educators should know when engaging in Civil Discourse
• The three-part framework to Civil Discourse
• The teacher’s role in facilitating class discussions
• Tips for educators
• Limitations in what we should discuss in the classroom
• Dealing with parents after a difficult conversation in class

Connect with Lara

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Lara_Schwartz

Additional Resources

How to College: What to Know Before You Go (and When You’re There)

The Law Professor Who Answered Back

Connect with me on Twitter @sheldoneakins

For more episodes and professional development visit: www.leadingequitycenter.com

FREE Resource: 10 Steps to Get You on the Right Path Towards Leading Equity

About Tasha Seneca Keyes, Ph.D.

Tasha Seneca Keyes is an Assistant Professor at the College of Social Work at the University of Utah.  She grew up in Northern Virginia and is a Seneca Indian from the Seneca Nation of Indians of the Cattaraugus Reservation in Western New York.  She received her MSW from the University of Utah.  From 1994-2010 she practiced medical and school social work. In 2017 she received her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago- School of Social Service Administration.  Her practice experience informs her research to include school social work, constructing classroom and school environments to promote a sense of belonging and engagement, and culturally relevant restorative justice and trauma-informed practices for underrepresented students, with a particular interest in Native American students.

Show Highlights

• Increasing classroom belongingness and student engagement
• What students need to feel as if they belong
• Sense of belonging school vs. classroom
• What decreases a student’s sense of belonging
• Tips for educators

Connect with Tasha

Email: [email protected]

Additional Resources

A Qualitative Inquiry: Factors That Promote Classroom Belonging and Engagement Among High School Students

Connect with me on Twitter @sheldoneakins

For more episodes visit: www.sheldoneakins.com

For professional development visit: www.leadingequitycenter.com

FREE Resource: 10 Steps to Get You on the Right Path Towards Leading Equity

About Daniella Ann Cook, Ph.D.

Daniella Ann Cook is an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina. Drawing on her experiences as a high school social studies teacher and community organizer, her research and scholarship address three intersecting themes: (1) Historical and contemporary narratives of black educators,(2) public policy with a focus on community engagement and (3) identifying factors that support student access to rigorous curricula across diverse schooling contexts. These three areas reflect her commitment to the democratic project of sustaining racially just and equitable schooling for communities traditionally underserved by public education. Most notably, she conducted an ethnographic study of black educators in New Orleans post-Katrina during the single largest displacement of African American educators since desegregation.  She has shared her scholarship broadly and currently serves as an Associate Editor for The Urban Review.

Show Highlights

• A Southern connection
• Organizing in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina
• The community’s concerns for rebuilding the schools in New Orleans
• Bringing together community voices
• Education in New Orleans today

Connect with Daniella

Email: [email protected]

Additional Resources

In the Spirit of Ella: Race, Community & Education Reform in New Orleans Post Katrina

Connect with me on Twitter @sheldoneakins

For more episodes visit: www.sheldoneakins.com

For professional development visit: www.leadingequitycenter.com

FREE Resource: 10 Steps to Get You on the Right Path Towards Leading Equity

About Stephanie Gates

Stephanie Gates is an educator, writer, and advocate for social justice and equity. She is especially compassionate about eradicating colorism. A native Chicagoan, she is the youngest of seven siblings. Stephanie loves get-togethers with family and friends. Though she has no children of her own, Stephanie has been a surrogate mother to many. She enjoys dance, theater, concerts, movies, cultural outings, and trotting around the globe. She also likes to try new things. Stephanie is determined not to let any grass grow under her feet.

Show Highlights

• Who is Stephanie Gates
• Stephanie’s passion for learning more about how to connect with her students
• Personalized Learning
• Colorism
• Colorism is more than just skin tone
• “Pretty is me, handsome I am”

Connect with Stephanie

Email: [email protected]

Additional Resources

This site has a ton of resources for colorism

A story of a woman who comes face-to-face with colorism in her family.

Hair discrimination law in California

Controversial swim meet ruling based on a girl’s body type

Decoded Episodes that deal with colorism:

Light-skinned privilege

Colorism in the Latino community

Myths about Black hair

What Dark-Skinned People Will Never Tell You

For more episodes visit: www.sheldoneakins.com

For professional development visit: www.leadingequitycenter.com

FREE Resource: 10 Steps to Get You on the Right Path Towards Leading Equity

About Melody Zoch, Ph.D.

Melody Zoch is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) in the Teacher Education and Higher Education Department in the School of Education. She earned her Ph.D. at The University of Texas at Austin in Language and Literacy Studies. She is a former bilingual Spanish-English elementary school teacher and has worked with bilingual teachers as a literacy coach in Texas. She has served as lead-PI or co-PI on projects involving working with emergent bilinguals and their families funded by the Department of Education, the Junior League of Greensboro, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, and the UNCG Office of Research and Engagement. Her research focuses on how teachers respond to their educational contexts in their literacy teaching, including teachers’ responsiveness to culturally and linguistically diverse students and communities. Her work has been published in journals such as Journal of Literacy Research, Anthropology and Education Quarterly, Urban Education, Teaching and Teacher Education, and Language Arts.

Show Highlights

• Being culturally responsive while preparing for high-stakes testing
• The importance of students knowing who they are and where they come from
• Culturally sustaining practices
• Practice 1: Social Justice Lens
• Practice 2: Incorporating text in the classroom that is relevant to students
• Practice 3: Facilitating pure and authentic dialog
• Tips for preparing students for high-stakes testing

Connect with Melody

Email: [email protected]

Additional Resources

It’s Important for Them to Know Who They Are: Teachers’ Efforts to Sustain Students’ Cultural Competence in an Age of High-States Testing

Connect with me on Twitter @sheldoneakins

For more episodes visit: www.sheldoneakins.com

For professional development visit: www.leadingequitycenter.com

Enroll Now for the Teaching Through a Culturally Diverse Lens Program

About Martín Casas, Ed.D.

Equity driven Principal with a demonstrated history of working in a secondary setting. Skilled in Instructional leadership, Design Thinking, Deeper Learning, Assessment, Master Scheduling, Data Analysis, and Public Policy.  Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) focused on Educational Leadership, from the University of California, San Diego.  Dr. Casas is also a School Retool Fellow, part of Our Voice Academy cohort 3, and North County Conference Principals’ Vice - President. 

Show Highlights

• Casas’ call to education
• Moving into leadership
• A crisis at the school
• Taking ownership when mistakes are made
• The power of allies and mentorship during a crisis
• Helping students deal with a crisis
• Final tips on how to address a crisis

Connect with Martín

Twitter: @MartinCasas_

Connect with me on Twitter @sheldoneakins

For more episodes visit: www.sheldoneakins.com

For professional development visit: www.leadingequitycenter.com