Rebel Teachers Rising

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In this episode, Trina English takes listeners on a dive deep into the complexities and challenges faced by special education within the K-12 education system, particularly in the context of the national teacher shortage crisis. This  discussion highlights the multifaceted issues causing a significant shortage of highly qualified special education (SPED) teachers, the bureaucratic hurdles, and the ethical dilemmas involved.

Key Points:

1. Scope of the Issue: Special education's crucial role and how its dysfunction affects everyone.
2. Factors Contributing to Shortage: Discusses low pay, credentialing requirements, and lack of teacher autonomy.
3. Perverted Terms: The misuse of key educational terms to reduce the need for special education services.
4. Civil Rights History: Acknowledging the historical civil rights challenges that led to the current laws.
5. Roles and Responsibilities: Detailed look into the overwhelming roles of SPED teachers and the extensive legal and administrative challenges they face, including IEP meetings and assessment processes.
6. Emotional and Ethical Impact: The burnout and ethical compromises faced by SPED teachers in their attempts to support students.
7. Legal and Administrative Barriers: Explanation of the convoluted process for getting a child assessed and the intentional bureaucratic delays.
8. Classifications of Disabilities: Overview of categories within special education and the corresponding services.
9. Future Discussions: Previews in-depth conversations with veteran SPED teachers for nuanced insights.

This episode sets the stage for an ongoing, honest discourse about the shortcomings in special education and the systemic changes needed to address them.

00:00 Introduction to the Special Education Crisis
 00:45 Understanding the SPED Teacher Shortage
 02:00 Misuse of Educational Terms
 03:11 The Role and Challenges of SPED Teachers
 06:54 Legal and Bureaucratic Hurdles
 15:19 Historical Context of Special Education
 25:30 Categories and Services in Special Education
 31:04 Mainstreaming and Inclusion Controversies

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In this episode, hosts Amanda Werner and Trina English discuss the complexities of special education, exploring its oppressive nature and the civil rights journey that has shaped it. They delve into various terms and acronyms such as IEP (Individualized Education Plans), 504 Plans, and disabilities categories including Intellectual Disability, Emotional Disturbance, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Amanda shares her first-hand experience being an intervention teacher and subbing in special day classes. They underline the systemic issues like teacher shortages, the lack of nuanced care, and the correlation between special education and broader educational problems. The conversation also touches on the importance of relationship building in intervention, and the need for supporting neurodivergent students more effectively.

00:00 Introduction to Special Education

00:24 Unpacking Special Education Terms

01:27 Categories of Disabilities

02:41 Intellectual Disability Explained

05:19 Emotional Disturbance and Special Day Classes

06:02 Personal Experiences with Special Day Classes

14:31 Autism Spectrum Disorder and Misdiagnosis

18:55 Challenges in Identifying and Supporting Neurodivergent Students

20:36 Specific Learning Disabilities and Accommodations

26:58 ADHD and Overlapping Diagnoses

30:45 Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

31:40 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and RTI

32:57 Understanding Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

33:20 Introduction to RTI and Tiered Interventions

33:51 Behavioral Interventions and Tier 3 Supports

34:52 General Education and Special Education Collaboration

36:18 Implementing Tier 2 Interventions

38:30 Challenges in Special Education

42:10 The Role of Intervention Teachers

52:12 Least Restrictive Environment and Full Inclusion

01:00:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of the Teacher Shortage Crisis Podcast, the hosts welcome Janice Cook, a veteran teacher from New England. They delve into the critical issues surrounding teacher pay and the hardships teachers face trying to make a living in this profession. Janice shares her personal journey, discussing the difficult choices she made due to insufficient salaries, taxes, high, cost of living, and excessive bureaucratic hurdles. They  explore the idea of forming a national professional teacher association with innovative teachers leading the way. Throughout, they highlight the disconnect between different stakeholders in education and the need for systemic reforms.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:30 Guest Background: Meet Janice

01:42 Teacher Pay in New England

02:36 The Reality of Teacher Salaries

04:16 Challenges and Decisions

11:26 Certification and Relocation

15:34 Navigating the Salary Schedule

23:47 Certification Hurdles

29:05 Navigating Professional Development Credits

30:07 Challenges of Staying in the Teaching Profession

31:37 Teacher Evaluation Process

32:15 Tenure and Job Security Issues

34:56 Side Hustles and Leaving Public Education

43:24 The Petition for National Teacher Pool

45:37 Systemic Issues in Education

58:25 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

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The Realities of Teaching: Reflections on SNL's 'Y'all Won'

In this episode of the The Teacher Shortage Crisis podcast, Amanda ,Trina English and Jessica Martin, react to the recent 'Saturday Night Live' sketch 'Y'all Won.' The conversation delves into the current state of K-12 public education, exploring the challenges teachers face, including behavior management, systemic issues within school districts, and the impact of COVID-19 on student behavior. They also highlight the need for structural changes, increased collaboration, and teacher leadership to address these pressing issues. The episode calls for solidarity among educators and the sharing of personal stories to push for change in the education system.

00:53 Reacting to SNL's 'Y'all Won' Sketch

03:14 Challenges in Modern Education

03:52 Behavioral Issues in Schools

06:53 Impact of COVID on Student Behavior

12:03 Administrative Responses to Behavioral Problems

14:11 Teachers as Behavior Managers

17:07 Systemic Issues in Education

21:02 Call to Action for Teachers

22:32 National Standards and Teacher Preparation

23:22 Emotional Reflections on Student Progress

24:35 Challenges and Emotional Struggles in Teaching

24:56 End of School Year Reflections

25:54 Systemic Issues in Education Leadership

28:49 The Role of Teacher Leaders

34:38 Evaluation and Complacency in Teaching

37:53 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

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In this episode, we are joined once again by Janet Nasir, who shares her insightful experiences and reactions to Kareem Weaver's impactful film, "The Right to Read." The discussion opens with a heartfelt acknowledgment of Janet’s admirable work and dedication to the field of education.

The conversation dives into the critical themes of the documentary, exploring the longstanding issue of literacy in America. Janet and the hosts discuss the inadequate preparation provided to teachers, the flaws in current curriculums, and the significant shifts occurring, particularly with the Science of Reading movement. Janet shares her district's efforts involving science of reading training and its impacts.

Particularly poignant moments from the film are analyzed, such as the transformation of students under effective literacy instruction and the challenges faced by families moving between states with varying educational standards. The inefficacy of curriculums and the evolving steps taken by districts to align with scientifically based reading instruction are discussed in depth.

The hosts and guests highlight the role of social justice in literacy, touching on the historical context and systemic issues that continue to affect educational equity. They critically analyze the influence of commercial interests in educational materials, including the controversial stance of figures like Lucy Calkins.

Finally, the episode concludes with reflections on the broader implications for the education system and the crucial need for comprehensive teacher-led reforms. The necessity of quality early reading education, the misuse of technology in reading instruction, and the pursuit of genuine educational equity through informed and courageous action are reiterated as key takeaways.
 
 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
 03:14 Initial Reactions to 'The Right to Read'
 04:57 Personal Reflections and Experiences
 08:34 Challenges in Literacy Education
 13:46 Parental Involvement and Early Literacy
 23:19 Systemic Issues in Education
 39:36 Reflecting on the Documentary's Relevance Today
 40:20 Curriculum and Phonics Instruction'
 42:28 Challenges in Implementing New Programs
 44:23 The Importance of Foundational Skills
 48:12 Assessment Data and Its Reliability
 58:44 The Role of Teachers and Structural Issues
 01:03:00 Social Justice and Literacy
 01:07:10 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
 
 Topics/Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
The Right to Read Documentary (free to watch with ads)

Scarborough's Rope

Interview with Janet Nasir

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In this episode of the Teacher Shortage Crisis Podcast, Trina, Amanda, and Jess  delve into the issues of school climate and culture. The conversation centers on how chaotic, unsafe environments contribute to the teacher shortage, particularly in urban and marginalized communities. They critique programs like PBIS and various character education curriculums, arguing that these often fail to address the root causes of behavioral issues and lack student and teacher buy-in. Jess shares her experiences from different schools, noting significant changes in student behavior post-pandemic. The episode also touches on the systemic problems in education, including inadequate responses to sexual violence and the broader implications for teacher recruitment and retention. The hosts emphasize the need to empower students and teachers to create sustainable changes in school environments.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
02:55 Defining Climate and Culture in Schools
08:43 Personal Experiences with School Climate
16:21 Character Education Programs: Leader in Me
27:09 Critique of PBIS and Behavioral Interventions
34:43 Critique of PBIS and ABA Systems
36:07 Issues with Reward Systems in Schools
37:47 Behavioral Expectations and School Policies
40:00 Impact of the Pandemic on Student Behavior
42:09 Challenges in Teaching Post-Pandemic
45:49 Sexual Harassment and Title IX in Schools
49:23 Teacher Shortages and Systemic Issues
01:01:21 Union Efforts and Teacher Contracts
01:05:43 Conclusion and Call to Action

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The episode is a candid, unscripted reaction to the 2024 election results, featuring Trina and Amanda. They strive to maintain an apolitical focus despite having strong political opinions. The podcast underscores the importance of working across political lines to address the issues in K-12 education, and the role teachers play in fostering critical thinking in students. Trina shares her belief that the failures in K-12 education are contributing to the erosion of democracy and emphasizes the need for teachers' voices in educational policy.

Amanda adds that teachers have historically managed to facilitate constructive conversations without political bias, and they discuss the broader implications of the election, including threats to the Department of Education and the impact on marginalized student populations. They argue for campaign finance reform and more civics education to combat societal issues such as illiteracy and political ignorance.

The discussion includes references to a "This American Life" episode about political and income inequality, and both hosts call for more teacher involvement in governance. They stress the importance of unity and love across political divisions and invite listeners to join and contribute to the ongoing conversation about improving K-12 education and protecting democracy.

Link to the "This American Life" episode referenced: "It's My Party and I'll Try if I Want To."

00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Episode
00:41 The Role of Politics in Education
02:14 Election Results and Teacher Reactions
06:38 The Importance of Apolitical Teaching
12:51 The Importance of Civics Education
15:51 Addressing Literacy and Income Inequality
21:53 The Need for Teacher Involvement in Policy
35:36 Conclusion and Call to Action

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In this podcast episode, the host welcomes Janet Nasir, a veteran second-grade reading teacher and instructional coach in Southern California. Jess and Trina engage in a discussion with Janet, who shares her extensive experiences and challenges with reading instruction in the U.S. Janet details her journey from teaching middle school to second grade, highlighting the systemic issues she encountered that lead to inadequate foundational reading skills instruction. They explore the broader implications of illiteracy on society and the need for comprehensive, explicit phonics instruction. Trina introduces a solution framework involving seasoned reading teachers mentoring new teachers to improve literacy rates. The episode culminates in a discussion on the importance of reading in a democratic society and the potential for systemic change.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:27 Janet's Teaching Journey
03:06 Challenges in Reading Instruction
03:47 Middle School Reading Struggles
06:31 Teacher Training Gaps
09:42 Blame and Systemic Issues
14:05 RICA and Teacher Assessments
17:47 Learning to Teach Reading
21:55 Pandemic and Self-Education
24:50 Impact of Effective Phonics Instruction
32:41 Challenging Outdated Teaching Practices
33:46 Personal Experiences with Reading Instruction
34:48 The Problem with Current Reading Programs
37:46 Introducing a New Solution
51:12 The Importance of Literacy Rates
01:02:47 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Visit teachershortagecrisis.com to join the movement of teachers speaking up about the mess in K-12 Education in the United States. 

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In this episode of the Teacher Shortage Crisis Podcast, hosts Amanda Werner, Jessica Martin, and Trina English introduce their new comedic segment, 'Bizarro Scenarios,' to share funny, weird, and sometimes tragic stories from K-12 education. WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE!

They share humorous anecdotes about misunderstandings with students and the challenges of using humor in the classroom. The episode also delves into more serious topics, like the misappropriation of funds by school superintendents and its impact on teachers and students. The hosts invite listeners to submit their own bizarre stories and join them in their mission to save public education.

00:00 Introduction to the Teacher Shortage Crisis Podcast
01:10 Introducing Bizarro Scenarios
04:29 First Bizarro Scenario: The Punny Misunderstanding
07:35 Teacher Humor Gone Wrong
11:35 Amanda's Awkward Classroom Moment
16:12 Weird Stuff Kids Say
19:56 Awkward Icebreakers and Funny Classroom Moments
21:38 A Tragic Story: School District Mismanagement
22:38 The Fallout: Teacher Cuts and Budget Issues
26:03 Corruption in K-12 Leadership
28:39 Misappropriation of Funds and Its Impact
31:57 The Chromebook Conundrum
36:15 Wrapping Up: Call to Action


Visit teachershortagecrisis.com to join the movement of teachers speaking up about the mess in K-12 Education in the United States. 

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In this episode, Trina introduces the theme of the Reading Mess, with stark warnings about the severity of the issue in the United states. She outlines the episodes that will be on the theme, why it is so important to discuss, and makes the case that the illiteracy problem in the United States is eroding our ability to effectively self-govern, and is the biggest civil rights issue facing our nation today.

Episode one includes a candid conversation, Trina and Jess discuss the significant challenges facing reading instruction in the United States. The discussion touches upon the struggles both have encountered in teaching reading, the flawed methodologies like the queuing method and whole language approach, and systemic issues in the educational framework. Jess shares her frustrations with a strict, ineffective curriculum that has led her to leave a previous school. They both emphasize the importance of phonics while acknowledging that a balanced approach is crucial for effective reading instruction.

Trina highlights the poor literacy rates in the U.S., referencing her own struggles in getting data and the alarming findings from sources like the CIA World Factbook and the U.S. Department of Education, which suggests that the country may have a literacy rate as low as 64%. They discuss the impact of socioeconomic factors, the importance of veteran teacher knowledge, and the need for meaningful investments in teacher support rather than over-reliance on pre-packaged curriculums.

Throughout the discussion, they advocate for the creation of highly paid veteran reading teachers who can support new teachers, emphasizing the need for a professional designation recognizing teacher leaders. They conclude with a call to action, inviting listeners to sign a petition advocating for these necessary changes in the education system.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Setup
02:53 Teaching Experiences in Oakland
04:15 Understanding Reading and Language Acquisition
05:17 The History of Written Language
06:44 Challenges of Teaching Reading
24:29 Comparing Literacy Across Cultures
29:29 Addressing Literacy Issues in the U.S.
38:08 The Challenges of Teaching Reading
38:39 The Impact of Hiring New Teachers
40:42 Economic Factors Affecting Education
42:12 The Decline in Literacy Rates
47:39 The Debate Over Reading Instruction Methods
56:11 Proposed Solutions for Improving Reading Education
56:59 The Importance of Veteran Teachers
01:09:45 Conclusion and Call to Action

Visit teachershortagecrisis.com to join the movement of teachers speaking up about the mess in K-12 Education in the United States. 

www.rebelteachersrising.com
Petition to Save K-12 Schooling and our Precious Democracy!