How do identity, representation, and belonging shape a student’s ability to learn and thrive?

In this episode of Project: School Dad Podcast, host Eric Gardner is joined by acclaimed journalist, author, and educator Ernest Owens for a thought-provoking conversation on Strength & Identity. Together, they examine why affirming students’ identities is not optional—it is foundational to creating classrooms where every child can succeed.

The discussion explores the impact of representation on school culture, the importance of giving students the freedom to show up authentically, and how identity-safe learning environments cultivate confidence, resilience, and academic engagement. Ernest and Eric also reflect on the role educators play in challenging stereotypes, fostering agency, and ensuring that students feel both seen and held to high expectations.

As schools across the country navigate conversations around inclusion, belonging, and student voice, this episode offers timely insights into what it means to educate the whole child and build communities where young people are empowered—not diminished—by who they are.

• Why identity affirmation matters for student success
• The relationship between representation, belonging, and achievement
• Creating classrooms where students feel safe to be authentic
• How educators can balance high expectations with culturally responsive care
• The role of agency in helping students develop confidence and purpose
• Why inclusive learning environments benefit all students—not just those from marginalized communities

Project: School Dad is a movement exploring education, representation, mentorship, and community through honest conversations with educators, parents, scholars, advocates, and cultural leaders. Our mission is to amplify voices and ideas that help all students—and especially Black children—feel seen, supported, and inspired to thrive.

If this conversation resonates with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with an educator, parent, or mentor who believes in the transformative power of belonging.

What does it truly mean to do what works for children?

In Episode 3 of Project: School Dad, Eric Gardner is joined by The Intellectuals—a collective of educators, advocates, and community leaders committed to learning, reflection, and transformative change in urban education. Together, Tivona Baht-Yisrael, Eric Gardner, Zea Wallace, and Horace Ryans III engage in an honest conversation about culturally responsive pedagogy, effective teaching practices, and educators' responsibility to create learning environments where students feel seen, valued, and challenged.

The conversation begins with a reflection on identity, community, and what "what works" truly means in today's classrooms. The panel explores how student engagement, behavior, and achievement shift when instruction honors culture, identity, and lived experiences while maintaining high expectations for all learners.

Listeners will hear practical examples of culturally responsive teaching in action, including classroom routines, curriculum decisions, and relationship-building strategies that move beyond theory and create meaningful experiences for students. The Intellectuals discuss the non-negotiables that make culturally responsive pedagogy real and sustainable in schools.

The discussion then turns to current events and the proposed School District of Philadelphia Facilities Master Plan, a 10-year, $2.8 billion initiative that includes school modernizations, consolidations, and potential closures beginning in 2027–28. The panel examines the historical impact of school closures on underserved communities and reflects on what is often lost when schools disappear—including trust, stability, identity, safety, relationships, and community memory.

The Intellectuals also explore critical questions surrounding educational policy and shared decision-making:

• How can schools protect a sense of belonging and academic growth during periods of transition and uncertainty?
• What culturally responsive practices must remain consistent regardless of policy changes?
• Who is often excluded from closure conversations?
• What does authentic community voice and shared power look like in practice?

The episode concludes with a powerful "Student Letters" segment, where each participant writes a letter to their younger self, sharing lessons learned, wisdom gained, and reflections on purpose, perseverance, and hope.

What gives us hope in Philadelphia?

That question anchors the final moments of a conversation rooted in truth, reflection, and a shared commitment to building schools and communities where every child can thrive.

Listen now and join the conversation.

Project: School Dad Podcast explores the stories, experiences, and ideas shaping education, community, and the future of Black and Brown children through the voices of educators, parents, advocates, and leaders committed to creating meaningful change.

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What does it take to create a school where Black and Brown students feel truly seen, supported, and challenged to reach their full potential?

In this episode of Project: School Dad Podcast, host Eric Vaughn Gardner sits down with Dr. Khary Moody for a timely conversation about mentorship, belonging, and the transformative power of Radical Advising in urban schools.

Together, they explore how culturally grounded mentorship can serve as a response to the historical harms many students continue to face—from exclusion and mislabeling to disconnection from school communities. Dr. Moody shares what it means to move beyond traditional notions of mentorship and build systems that affirm identity, strengthen relationships, and create pathways for student success.

• Why mentorship matters now more than ever
• The connection between school climate, belonging, and academic achievement
• How Radical Advising helps reduce the misreading of Black and Brown students
• Identity-affirming practices that build confidence, accountability, and trust
• The role families play as partners in student success
• Creating sustainable mentorship systems that extend beyond one person or program
• Protecting student belonging during school closures and transitions

The conversation also examines the broader educational landscape in Philadelphia and reflects on how schools can remain anchors of support during times of uncertainty and change.

"Mentorship isn't a program. It's a commitment to ensuring every child has someone in their corner who sees their potential before they see it themselves."

Project: School Dad is a movement dedicated to exploring the intersection of education, representation, community, and belonging. Through conversations with educators, parents, scholars, and community leaders, the podcast seeks to amplify voices and ideas that help Black children thrive in schools and beyond.

YouTube: Project: School Dad Podcast

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If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone committed to building stronger schools and communities.

In this episode of Project: School Dad, Eric Gardner sits down with educator and professor Darren Rainey for a powerful conversation about the historical displacement of Black educators and the lasting impact of their absence on Black students and school culture today. Grounded in the works of Leslie T. Fenwick, Adam Fairclough, and April L. Peters, this episode explores what truly happened after Brown v. Board of Education and how desegregation led to the systematic removal of thousands of Black teachers and principals from American schools.

Together, they unpack:

• The cultural and relational loss caused by the displacement of Black educators
• Why Black male educators now represent only about 1.3% of the teaching workforce
• The role of representation, belonging, and mentorship in the lives of Black boys
• How schools often mistake discipline for connection
• What it means for students to experience radical advising, affirmation, and culturally responsive care

This episode is not simply about education policy — it is about memory, identity, and the urgent need to rebuild the Black male educator pipeline.

• Leslie T. Fenwick — Jim Crow’s Pink Slip
• Adam Fairclough — Black Teachers in the Jim Crow South
• April L. Peters — Desegregation and the Disintegration of Black School Leaders