Welcome to The Liberation Lab©️ Podcast, insights and interviews for the disruptive educator. I’m your host, Bobby Morgan - speaker, principal, consultant, and lifelong disruptor committed to building schools that center justice, genius, and belonging.
🔗Connect with Bobby: https://hopp.bio/liberationlab🌐Learn More: Visit www.myliberationlab.com for more resources, tools, and insights.
About This Episode:
In this episode of the Liberation Lab podcast, Joyce Abbott, a retired educator and combat veteran, shares her insights on the importance of authenticity, high expectations, and the impact of military discipline on her teaching career. She emphasizes the need for educators to focus on student success, address barriers to learning, and maintain a commitment to their profession without seeking constant validation. Abbott's experiences highlight the challenges and rewards of teaching in Title I schools, advocating for a supportive and high-expectation environment for all students. In this conversation, Ms. Abbott shares her journey as an educator, emphasizing the importance of resilience, connection with students, and the impact of a supportive learning environment. She reflects on her challenging first year of teaching, the lessons learned from her experiences, and the significance of maintaining passion and self-care in the teaching profession. Ms. Abbott also discusses her book, 'Teaching the Abbott Way,' highlighting key lessons on leadership and student engagement.
About My Guest: Joyce Abbott
JOYCE M. ABBOTT was born and raised in Philadelphia, and is a dynamic educator who has enthusiastically served the district since 1996. Ms. Abbott enjoys being part of positive and productive change, particularly as it relates to the students she serves. She has been nominated for several teaching awards due to her exemplary instructional practices and classroom management, recognized three times as a “Who’s Who Among America’s Finest Teachers”, and named an “Everyday Hero” by the Philadelphia Daily News. Ms. Abbott has served in many leadership capacities, including as a mentor for other teachers, and she retired as the Climate Manager at Andrew Hamilton School. In 2022, Joyce learned that she was the inspiration behind the name for the hit TV show Abbott Elementary, which was created by her former student, Quinta Brunson. A major street, 59th at Lancaster Avenue, where her alma mater – Overbrook High School – is located, was renamed “Joyce Abbott Way” in her honor, and she was recently inducted into the Overbrook High School Hall of Fame. Ms. Abbott came to teaching via the United States Army’s Troops to Teachers program, where she served as a soldier for ten years and earned the rank of Staff Sergeant. Joyce attributes her effective disciplinary practices to her military experience.
Connect with Ms. Abbott:
Website: Click here
Instagram: @therealmsabbott
