Episode 6

EPISODE 6 - KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS SAFE

In Episode 6 of All of the Above we take on the latest developments in American schooling, from radical changes in math curriculum to the increasing criticism of online charter schools. The episode begins with a look at recent headlines, including a new study that reveals a racial divide in the suicide rate among young children. In the Show and Tell, guest contributor Nadia Elhawary reflects on the ways in which white supremacy is quietly maintained in our schools. For the Seminar we tackle the issues of school safety, campus climate, and restorative justice after Parkland. Our guests are Mauro Bautista, an accomplished high school principal in Los Angeles, and Julija Zubac, manager of Restorative Communities at the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools. Jeffrey closes out the episode with his Assessment of the glaring inequities within the phenomenon known as summer loss.

Episode 6 Audio Podcast

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Episode 6 Highlights

SHOW AND TELL - EP. 6

We have our first guest contributor for Show and Tell! Nadia Elhawary, a dynamic educator with experience in teaching and in counseling, brings in a portfolio she created in the 3rd grade to show us how her schooling maintained a white-washed view of history that reinforces white supremacy. Nadia reflects on her need to unlearn white supremacy and actively dismantle the dominant narrative that marginalizes the histories of people of color.

SEMINAR DISCUSSION - EP. 6

This episode we’re joined by restorative practices guru Julija Zubac and accomplished high school principal Mauro Bautista for a discussion about how to ensure school safety, particularly in urban schools serving students of color. With incidents of mass violence in American schools at epidemic proportions and with no clear policy solutions on the horizon, what is the best way for us to ensure safety at our schools while simultaneously working to avoid turning our schools into prisons?

ASSESSMENT - EP. 6

Jeffrey takes a critical look at the phenomenon known as “summer loss.” While many parents and educators are familiar with the notion of students heading out for summer break and then returning in the Fall having forgotten some of what they learned the previous year, not enough discussion has been had on how this loss varies by income level. As students from higher income families participate in summer camps, internships, travel, tutoring, and more, lower-income students are often left with little in the way of summer enrichment. Jeffrey examines how this impacts educational achievement.

Episode 6 Extras

Restorative Justice with Julija Zubac: AOTA Ep. 6 Extra

Julija Zubac is the Manager of Restorative Communities at the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, where she supports teachers and school leaders in Los Angeles’ highest need communities work to improve school culture, build systems for implementing restorative practices, and create healthy, safe schools for the entire school community. Julija is a former Education Pioneers Fellow and high school social studies teacher in the San Gabriel Valley and in the Watts community in Los Angeles.

School Culture w/ Principal Mauro Bautista: AOTA Ep. 6 Extra

Mauro Bautista is principal of Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez High School in Boyle Heights. Under his tenure Mendez HS has transformed from one of the district’s lowest performing high schools, to one of its highest performing non-magnet high schools. Mendez high school has a 94% graduation rate and is known by students and staff alike as “the happiest place on earth,” with 95% of students reporting they feel safe on campus. In addition to his duties at his school site, Mr. Bautista also teaches the next generation of school leaders in the UCLA Principal Leadership Institute.