Our world has been turned upside down or at least it feels like it and yet we remained focused. Our eyes are still on the prize. We are going to beat meanness with kindness. We continue our celebration of CLR educators in special education. We go back to Ithaca, one of our CLR superstar districts, where we meet Christine Barley, a self-professed white anti-racist educator. Here this outstanding educator's fascinating journey to responsiveness. Born and raised in the Central New York, Chris provides a unique perspective and one that we wish were far more common. Dr. Hollie's "two cents" is a finger wag about one of his key teachings - we don't fix one generalization with the solution of another generalization. 

Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Happy 2025! With our thoughts and prayers on the devasting wildfires in Southern California and the pending historic Presidential Inauguration (not to mention the birthday of Martin Luther King), we begin a celebration of CLR Special Education Educators. I have been inspired so many times by the dedication, commitment, and compassion that these educators demonstrate everyday. I have personally witnessed the moving validation and affirmation of students with various challenges. In so many ways, special education teachers are culturally and linguistically responsive inherently. We start the 3 part series with an educator from Southern California who is new to special education but not new to teaching. And as a bonus, Shawnee Muhammad shares her journey to responsiveness that started with Dr. Hollie 35 years ago, when they taught at the same school. A true full circle moment. 

Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

The last episode of 2024. End the year with outrageous love and listen two the journey of Quincy Davis, independent school educator. Traditionally in December, OTLP goes traditional public school adjacent with the guest. Mr. Quincy, as the students call him, fits the bill. He goes back over 15 years in the work of CLR and is a friend, colleague, and mentee of Dr. Hollie's. For the past 10 years or so, Quincy has been directly engaged with private/independent schools so he brings knowledge and experience for what validation and affirmation means in that context. You will be surprised and not so surprised by what he has learned. Les we forget Dr. Hollie's two cents, which is a summation of the latest series focusing on Directors of Equity and a celebration of OTLP making the top 25% of all podcasts in 2024.

Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

The final episode in the 3 part series culminates with a double episode. We have two dynamite educators who currently serve as directors of equity and inclusion. Both are from California, one in the Bay area and the other in Southern California. Shamar Edwards is in the Alameda Schools (Oakland) and Dr. Ayanna Balogun works in the Rialto Schools (San Bernardino). Check out their similarities and differences in their journeys as CLR educators and also as African American women in high pressure positions. Decide for yourself. Have they been able to lead equity in their respective districts or are they managing inequity? Don't forget Dr. Hollie's two cents where he gives some post election commentary. We shall overcome.

Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

We continue our focus on the ups and downs of being a coordinator or director of equity in the past 4 years. This episode we got to upstate New York to experience the journey of Alyssa Haymore. Alyssa brings it on so many levels - personally and professionally. With keen insight, wisdom, and life experience, she captures the essentials of the rise and fall of the administration or managing of diversity, equity, or inclusion. Whatever you want to call it. You will learn something from this episode. Dr. Hollie's two cents acknowledges the historical importance of the upcoming presidential election regardless of the outcome. 

Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Do you have a Director of Equity or a DEI Coordinator or an Inclusion Ambassador? Or should we ask did you previously have one? This 3-part series will focus on the successes and struggles of Equity Directors from the across the country. The main question is what have the past 3-4 years been like for them? What is the difference between 2020 when DEI was the hottest ticket in town and now when DEI is on the back burner (again) or put out the house period. Our first director is Marisa Tersy from Washington DC. Here Marisa's experience in DEI as a director and her unique journey to responsiveness. Dr. Hollie's two cents will provide the context for why we are doing this series. 

Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Teaching Physical Education inherently lends itself to the validation and affirmation of cultural and linguistic behaviors. Why don't we, then, see more students validated and affirmed in PE? Let's find out through the lens of 5th grade PE teacher Sabrina Krasinski in the Maywood-Melrose Park schools in Chicago. Sabrina brings a unique perspective to the topic, not only because she is a VABBulous PE teacher, but because she also leads the CLR work at her school as a facilitator and as a model teacher. In addition to all of that, we are intrigued with her journey to responsiveness and her love for PE. Dr. Hollie wraps up the series and the summer season with his two cents. Although you may not be a PE teacher, still listen in and/or pass it along to a colleague who is.

Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

It's July and that means it's time for the annual summer fun episode. This year, we take CLR to "dese streets." Well...almost.  At the CLR Deep Dive Institute in St. Louis, we interviewed participants about their perspectives on CLR.  We asked four questions: most impactful CLR moment, biggest CLR struggle, first impression of Dr. Hollie, and the plan to sustain CLR at your locale? Want their answers! Check out this episode and hear Dr. Hollie's two cents as usual. Share your responses to the same questions via social media (#CLRinthestreets) @validateaffirm.

Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

In this episode, we keep the conversation around different content areas and CLR going. We return to our beloved St. Louis and gain insight from the sage, Kristi Ponder, a high school art teacher in the Parkway Schools. Listen in as Kristi tells not only her journey to responsiveness, which is VABBulous, but also her journey to becoming an art teacher, which is fascinating. What is notable as well is Kristi's particular focus on relating to her students, finding connections with them, and unraveling their creativity in art and beyond. Lastly, Kristi and Dr. Hollie go way back. Find out how. Dr. Hollie riffs on the restoring of confederate names and statues around the country, which he predicted. Now what?

Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Welcome to season 5, episode 2 and the start of a new series, I Teach X Content Area AND I am CLR. There are far too many instances of teachers saying,  "I teach science or math or art or robotics or physical education, so I cannot do cultural and linguistic responsiveness (CLR)." This 3-part series will feature educators who debunk that thought. Each of them has made CLR a part of their daily instruction in their respective content areas. We start the series CLR math educator Vada Gray, a long time CLR educator going back over 20 years with Dr. Hollie. Listen in to learn how Vada's journey has always been about math and cultural and linguistic responsiveness from Oakland to Los Angeles and now in Chicago. Check out Dr. Hollie's two cents on why he thinks some educators use their content area as an excuse not to do or be CLR and how that excuse is super annoying.

Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm