The Way Out Is Back Through

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Renowned educator Gloria Ladson Billings who mainstreamed the idea of culturally responsive pedagogy doesn’t talk about the so-called achievement gap. She talks about the education debt, and she’s right to do so. What is owed to the schools and the communities that have been historically and deliberately divested and marginalized? I don’t have an answer to that question, but I believe that’s the conversation we need to be having and the work we need to be doing. 

Almost all future episodes of this podcast are going to focus on individual schools and communities, and the unique aspects of their history, place, and context. But before we get there, it’s important we spend some time unpacking the historical foundations of our public schools in North Carolina.

Having a fuller understanding of the foundations of our schools in the past changes how we approach solutions today. It changes the conversations we have, the questions we ask, and the actions we take as a result. This week, we’re going to take a look at the intentional inequities baked into the foundations of North Carolina Public Schools. Where did they come from? How did they start? And most importantly, how do we use our unique identities right now in order to build coalitions that seek to see, understand, and interrupt business as usual.

This episode features guests David Zucchino, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the book Wilmington's Lie, Ann McColl President and co-founder of the Innovation Project of North Carolina, and Courtney Parker West, a leadership development coach, racial equity trainer, and community organizer. She’s also my wife and partner. I hope you’ll join me as we continue this journey of learning and unlearning. 

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Determining what our kids learn in schools can be a hotly contested and controversial process, and politics almost always have a way of influencing the outcome. This week, we'll dive into student perspectives on creating more relevant, socially conscious, and community-responsive curriculum in North Carolina, and what forces currently stand in the way. Middle Creek High School Students enrolled in "Hard History & Civic Engagement" pilot course join our conversation, along with their teacher Mr. Matthew Scialdone. We'll also hear from Angie Scioli of Leesville Road High School and co-founder of Red4EdNC to talk about a special report that Red4EdNC recently released on the revised Social Studies standards in NC K12 education. Join me as I learn how we can better actualize the learning and liberation that our students and families deserve. Hosted by Michael Parker West. 

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What does it mean to be community responsive and why does it matter for educators and school leaders? In this episode we'll ground this project in place and purpose. 

Join host Michael Parker West, Assistant Principal in Wake County, North Carolina on a journey of learning and unlearning what it means to be effective students of our students and their families. Special thanks to our guests on this episode: Steven Gupton of Louisburg High School (@GuptonTeaches) and John Biewen, host of the podcast series Scene on Radio (@SceneOnRadio) from the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, with contributions from Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade professor of Raza Studies at San Fransisco State University and founder of the Roses in Concrete Community School in Oakland California. 

Music by Joseph McDade and Blue Dot Sessions.

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Lessons on Place, Context, and School Leadership