This month, ChangeWire Fellow Omar Marquez sits down with his former 7th grade English teacher, Alexandra (Ale) Checka, winner of the 2018 Fort Worth ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year award, to reflect on how their years-long connectivity has not only guided his career, but improved outcomes for students too.

Tune in as the two educators, who became co-workers mid-pandemic at the middle school Marquez attended himself, share what has surprised them the most in their journeys as teachers and coaches. They also explore what they notice when it comes to the narratives and decisions around getting public schools and the families they serve what they need, specifically in Texas.

"It's truly shocking to me that the American public is having a debate about books," says Checka, referring to the spreading of book-banning laws that have taken effect in the past few years. "And like a big chunk of the debate is that kids just read too much."

Checka describes how she, somewhat reluctantly, got into teaching - and what happened when she was assigned to substitute a Home Economics class in the district she herself was a student in.

And through the experiences Marquez and Checka share, we are invited to answer "And How Are the Children?" - and decide how we will strengthen relationships with our peers for the success of ourselves and the children in our lives.

ON THE HORIZON: Next month Marquez will bring in the perspective of Community Change organizers as they practice interdependence for the second part of this interconnectivity exploration.