I recorded this episode on March 30th 2020, about two weeks into shelter in place due to Covid-19 and nearly two months before the death of George Floyd. 

I mention the date of this recording in relation to the events to which it preceded and proceeded not to capitalize on the sensational aspects of what is happening today this June 11, 2020, as the streets flood with folks fighting for a voice, a justice, and a liberty they have long been entitled to.  

As a white woman, and one troubled as much by the manufacturing of the racial binary as I am by those who wish to ignore it, I am always uncomfortable speaking on behalf of a community and a legacy that I believe has always and will always be more than capable of speaking for itself.  So today, I offer you the voice and wisdom of Dr. Anthony Muhammad.  

Dr. Muhammad is an educational leader with over 30 years of experience.  He spent 19 of those years serving in schools in the Detroit area.  His tenure earned him a number of awards both as a teacher and a principal.  Dr. Muhammad is both a wonderful author and a highly sought after educational consultant.  He is the CEO of New Frontier 21 Consulting, a company dedicated to supporting cutting-edge professional development for teachers and leaders around the world. 

His books include: The Will to Lead and the Skill to Teach; Transforming Schools at Every Level (2011); Transforming School Culture: How to Overcome Staff Division (2009); Overcoming the Achievement Gap Trap: Liberating Mindsets to Effect Change (Reduce Inequality in Education and Examine the School’s Roles in Superiority and Victim Mindsets) (2015).

In this episode, Dr. Muhammad honored me, the educational practice, and the world with his time, voice, and wisdom in relationship to instructional leadership, school cultures, equity, transformational mindsets, and what true courageousness involves.  

So I release this conversation into the present moment, but I do so wanting to emphasize that the wisdom shared by Dr. Muhammad cannot, nor should there be an attempt for it to be contained to a matter of minutes, months, or even years.  The fight for liberation is long and to do it justice all it’s beautiful and painful clambering should continue at whatever volume it chooses until it’s will is fully heard and finally met.

Again, I have heaping gratitude for your hearing minds and open hearts.  

In justice and harmony, I bring you: Dr. Anthony Muhammad.  

Please find Dr. Muhammad via his website: http://newfrontier21.com/consulting/anthony/

*I changed all my business media images to black and white in solidarity with the black lives matter movement during the month of June and until justice has been achieved.

In this episode, I was blessed to converse with the wonderful and life-changing, Kikanza Nuri-Robins.

To read from her website:

[She makes clear that] our values declare who we want to be; Kikanza, helps people to close the gap between who they say they are and what they actually do.  Whether she is in a corporate boardroom, the fireside room of a retreat center, or a convention center auditorium, Kikanza uses her skills as a compelling speaker and compassionate listener to help people and organizations that are in transition – or ought to be.

Kikanza has been an advocate for justice, equity, and inclusion her entire career, serving mission-driven organizations across the country. She focuses on sustaining healthy organization cultures by improving communication, developing effective leaders, and nurturing corporate values for cultural proficiency. 

Kikanza is the author of many articles and six books, including: Cultural Proficiency and Fish out of Water. She lives in Los Angeles where she serves on the Bio-Ethics Committee of the UCLA Medical Center and the boards of several social-service organizations. She spends her discretionary time in her studio playing with color and textiles.

You can find Kikanza Nuri-Robins at her website: 

1. https://kikanzanurirobins.com/

In this episode, a dream came true and I was able to dialogue with another great hero: Dr. Timothy Shanahan.  To quote the biography on his website, “Shanahanoliteracy.com,” 

Timothy Shanahan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chi­cago where he was Founding Di­rector of the UIC Center for Literacy. Previously, he was director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools. He is author/editor of more than 200 publications on literacy education. His research emphasizes the connections between reading and writing, literacy in the disciplines, and improvement of reading achievement.

Tim is past president of the International Literacy Association. He served as a member of the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and he helped lead the National Reading Panel, convened at the request of Congress to evaluate research on the teaching reading. and helped write the Common Core State Standards.

He was inducted to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2007, and is a former first-grade teacher.

Years ago, Tim’s work and leadership transformed the way I taught reading, text analysis, and radically disrupted my notions about how to work with students who struggle to read, write, and engage in authentic literacies. On a personal level, it is because of his wisdom that I did far better for my students and he helped me foster vast reading and writing gains.  More importantly, I saw a drastic increase in my students’ eagerness to work hard. I watched their levels of self-efficacy shoot up. And, they reported a sense that what they did each day felt valuable and just made sense. I try to avoid gushing during these interviews, but he truly made a difference in my life and in the lives of groups of young people who will navigate this world with far greater agency.  

This episode contains all the wisdom that changed my life as a teacher and much, much more. 

It is a distinct honor to share with you a conversation I will never forget!  And with that, I bring you Dr. Tim Shanahan! 

Mentioned Resources:

1. Dr. Shananah’s Website: https://shanahanonliteracy.com/
2. Dr. Shananah’s Blog: https://shanahanonliteracy.com/blog (Please Subscribe!)
3. The “Hard Words” Article: (Click Here)