Author: homeroom the podcast
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Introspection, charisma, and the psychological safety to take up space
In this episode, I speak with Milena—an educator and mom—about her earliest memories of being told by her teachers to take up more space. We talk about the internal journey that this message incited, and the personal exploration that led her to teaching communications and interpersonal relationship building to military professionals. We discuss how this…
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Dedication, self-exploration, and the resources to graduate debt-free
In this episode, I speak with Stella—a singer-songwriter, artist, and teacher—about her earliest memories of being told by her teachers that she was special, and how that catalyzed her parents to investing heavily into her education. We talk about her journey across multiple countries to pursue only the finest, and what she wishes she could…
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Advocacy, leadership, and an ability to find the strengths of every student and their families
In this episode, I speak with Antoinette—the current principal of the elementary school I attended in the late 80s and early 90s. We talk a little about how her early memories of standing up for other people and correcting injustices in school and society might have led her to a career in education, in both…
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Communication, opportunities, and the freedom to connect with like-minded peers
In this episode, I speak with Yonny—a paralegal and immigration justice advocate—about his earliest memories of growing up in Mexico, and being raised by his grandparents for most of his childhood. He compares the education systems between Mexico and the United States, and how the differences informed the types of activities he chose to pursue.…
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Connection, project based learning, and an understanding of how our brains work
In this episode, I speak with Megan—a special education teacher and advocate for the disability community—about her memories of testing gifted at an early age, and her discovery of what giftedness means when she went through her special education credentialing program, over a decade later. We talk about the structural issues with our heavily standardized…
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Inclusion, differentiated support, and a plan for leading with our strengths
In this episode, I speak with Tim—an educator, podcaster, and the Director of Communications for the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education. We talk about his journey from considering a career in family counseling to becoming a special education teacher working with families and then schools for 16 years. We also discuss the shift in his…
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Community, love, and time to prioritize rest
In this episode, I speak with Nikiea—a filmmaker, graphic designer, and motivational coach to authors—about her earliest memories of growing up in a home led by strong women who served their community. We talked about her being the oldest child, and the weight of responsibility that came with assuming those roles, and how the things…
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Intercultural awareness, belonging, and the safety to express our identities
In this episode, I chat with SJ—a former classroom teacher, LGBTQ+ Inclusion Expert, and DEIB trainer—about their experience being “the new kid.” We talk about how their experience of moving across states every few years impacted their social relationships, and how their biracial and transgender identities didn’t make it easier. We discuss what led them…
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Positive reinforcement, creativity, and the audacity to question authority
In this episode, I interview Lauren—a poet, musician, voice coach, and mom—about her earliest memories of being creative. She talks about the influence her family and societal messaging had on the development of her voice, how schools limited her freedom, and what it took to recover her creative confidence. My first question to her was…
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Introspection, social connection, and the freedom to be authentic
In this episode, I speak with Paula—a writer, reader, and polyglot—about her memories of being stubborn and opinionated growing up, and how her introspective abilities fueled her curiosity and drive to pursue self-improvement as an adult. We talk about the obstacles that get in the way of showing up authentically as ourselves, the charm of…