What was it like to graduate from high school during COVID-19? We spoke with three members of the class of 2020 to find out: Diamon Patterson (Petersburg High School in Petersburg City Public Schools), Ray Pleasants (Powhatan High School in Powhatan County Public Schools), and Glenic Sandiford (Huguenot High School in Richmond Public Schools). This is part one of a two part series.
Jun 26, 2020•35 min
What does college access look like during COVID-19? We spoke with Tomika Ferguson (VCU Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership), Tomika Brown (Director of the College Place, Virginia-Alexandria), Amy Jefferson (VCU PhD Student in Curriculum, Culture, and Change and parent of a rising high school senior), Charleita Richardson (President and CEO of Partnership for the Future), Diamond Scott (Class of 2020 graduate from Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond Public Schools), and Jontae Burt...
Jun 19, 2020•48 min
We spoke with Carmen Ward (Counseling Director at Armstrong High School in Richmond Public Schools), Ashton Guza (Counselor at Goochland High School in Goochland County Public Schools), Tammy Mizelle (Counseling Director at Quioccasin Middle School in Henrico County Public Schools), and Matt Shenker (Elmont Elementary School Counselor in Hanover County Public Schools) about remotely meeting the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students across K12 during COVID-19.
Jun 12, 2020•51 min
We spoke with Steve Castle (Hanover County Public Schools), Grady Hart (Richmond Public Schools), Christina Aquilina (Henrico County Public Schools), Nadia Hassan (Powhatan County Public Schools), Oscar Keyes (Virginia Commonwealth University), and Demond Morris (Goochland County Public Schools) about how they navigated the rapid transition to online learning during COVID-19, including the challenges they encountered and strategies they found helpful.
Jun 05, 2020•1 hr 2 min
We spoke with Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin (Superintendent of Petersburg City Public Schools) and Dr. Avril Smart-Goggins (Research and Engagement Manager for Future Ready Schools at the Alliance for Excellent Education) about the digital divide in urban school systems, including innovative strategies for providing reliable access to internet and learning devices for students.
May 26, 2020•38 min
Jon Becker (VCU School of Education), John Hendron (Goochland), Alma Kenup (Quioccasin Middle School, Henrico), Peter Martin (Goochland), David Naff (MERC/VCU School of Education), Jesse Senechal(MERC/VCU School of Education), and Alissa Yazinski ( Monacan High School, Chesterfield)discuss the topic of digital equity in the time of COVID, including challenges with technology access and use and the importance of staying connected with students.
May 11, 2020•51 min
This episode features Cara Jean O'Neal (Henrico), Laura Faulcon (Chesterfield), Krystal Thomas (UVA), and Jesse Senechal (VCU/MERC) from the study team for the MERC Professional Development for Success in Culturally Diverse Schools Survey. We discussed the findings of our region wide Cultural Diversity in Schools Survey, as well as what we learned along the way as a study team and how we hope this report will help inform research, policy, and professional development related to cultural diversit...
Feb 07, 2020•40 min
We spoke with (left to right) Raye Rector (Director of Gifted and Federal Programs), Courtney Grady (Freshman at Longwood University and Class of 2019 Graduate from GHS), Bruce Watson (Director of Career and Technical Education), Brandon Avram (Junior at GHS), Demond Morris (Senior at GHS), and Beth Fowler (Director of School Counseling at GHS) from Goochland County Public Schools about experiential learning in their division. GCPS offers a variety of educational opportunities designed to make s...
Oct 11, 2019•56 min
We spoke with (left to right) Merv Daugherty (Superintendent), Isabelle Battle (Class of 2019 Graduate of Academy 360), Michelle Wilder (Assistant Principal at Carver College and Career Academy), Laura Faulcon (Assistant Principal of Alternative Programs), and Sharonda Smith (English Teacher at Academy 360) about alternative education in Chesterfield County Public Schools. CCPS offers a variety of alternative education programs to meet the needs of their large and diverse student body. Listen to...
Oct 04, 2019•39 min
We spoke with Diane Lewis (Elementary Curriculum and Instruction Program Specialist with VDOE Training and Technical Assistance Center at VCU), Torrey Manson (PCPS Director of Special Education), Phyllis Haynes (Co-Director VDOE Training and Technical Assistance Center at VCU), and Kelly Tobe (PCPS Director of Teaching and Learning) about the LETRS initiative in Petersburg City Public Schools. LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) is a flexible literacy professional de...
Sep 27, 2019•50 min
We spoke with (left to right) Darryl Williams (Engagement Coordinator), Derrick Bates (Teacher at George Mason Elementary), Joel Grimaldo (3rd Grade Student at George mason Elementary), and Tamika Massie (Engagement Specialist) from Richmond Public Schools about their Brother's United Mentoring Program. This program pairs mentors with young men of color in RPS, with a current focus on elementary school students. There are plans to expand the program to other schools in the division in the coming...
Sep 20, 2019•53 min
We spoke with (left to right) Candice Burrell (Special Education Teacher at Atlee High), Brian Maltby (Discipline Hearing Review Officer), and Dana Gresham (Director of Professional Development, Leadership, and Federal Programs) from Hanover County Public Schools about their Equity Day initiative. This one day professional development provides training and support for teachers, administrators, and student support personnel across the division, bringing in community engaged research and guest spe...
Sep 13, 2019•34 min
We spoke with (left to right) Ethan Kramer (High School Senior), Amber Foos (Physical Education Teacher), Eli Tiller (Class of 2018 Graduate), Sara Meade (Special Education Teacher), Seth Rogers (Class of 2019 Graduate), and Lauren Llewellyn (University of Florida Freshman and Class of 2019 Graduate) from Powhatan High School about their adapted physical education program. This program helps provide access to physical education for students with physical and intellectual disabilities by pairing ...
Sep 06, 2019•47 min
We spoke to (left to right) Robyn Clark (Business Teacher at Highland Springs High), Monica Manns (Director of Equity and Diversity), Sofia Simmons (Freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University and Class of 2019 Graduate from Henrico High), and Veja Murray (Senior at Highland Springs High) about the Equity Ambassadors program in Henrico County Public Schools. This program brings together student representatives from each of the high schools in Henrico County who are charged with launching initia...
Aug 30, 2019•46 min
In this episode of Abstract we discussed the final report from our Achieving Racial Equity in School Disciplinary Policies and Practices MERC study, titled "Understanding Racial Inequity in School Discipline Across the Richmond Region." The episode featured (left to right) Brian Maltby (Disciplinary Hearing Review Officer for Hanover County Public Schools), David Naff (Assistant Director of Research and Evaluation for MERC), Marcie Terry (Principal from Chesterfield County Public Schools), and A...
Jul 15, 2019•1 hr 8 min
This panel discussion at the Philosophy of Education Society Conference in March 2019 featured Doris Santoro from Bowdoin College (author of Demoralized: Why Teachers Leave the Profession They Love and How They Can Stay), Winston Thompson from Ohio State University (host of the podcast PIPEline: http://www.pipeline.fm/), Allison Fleming (teacher from Hanover County Public Schools), Jesse Senechal (Director of MERC and author of Understanding Teacher Morale), and David Naff (Assistant Director of...
Apr 03, 2019•1 hr 7 min
Jonathan Walker (Richmond), LaRon Scott (VCU), Bruce Fillman (Chesterfield), Meredith Parker (Powhatan), and Allison Fleming (Hanover) discuss teacher retention, the topic of MERC's newest study.
Jan 04, 2019•52 min
When Will McClain transitioned into a new role as assistant principal at Petersburg High School in the 2016-2017 school year, Sha-Lah wasted no time in introducing himself and making sure he felt welcome. As the senior class vice president and a leader on the varsity football team, Sha-Lah has already impacted many people through his instincts for building connections. As someone who knows this first-hand, Dr. McClain is grateful to have met this student who has “leadership in his blood.”
Oct 18, 2018•26 min
Angel never had Mr. Miller as a teacher, but that did not matter. Their mutual passion for diversity and social justice brought them together to help form the Diverse Hands at Work Club at Powhatan High School. In their first year of work together, they helped grow the club to over 25 members while promoting inclusiveness at their school. As the president of the club, Angel attributes much of its success to Mr. Miller, who she describes as “really really dope."
Oct 12, 2018•31 min
Emily was one of only a few racial minority students in Ms. Sinanian’s 6th grade class at Chickahominy Middle School. Ms. Sinanian believed it was important to talk about issues related to race and culture with her students, and in doing so she helped Emily feel like she belonged. Emily also began to see her own potential for advocacy work, and attributes this to Ms. Sinanian for providing the space for her to learn and grow in unanticipated ways.
Sep 28, 2018•35 min
On the day that she was supposed to graduate from Goochland High School in 2017, Samantha Martin texted her alternative education teacher Elizabeth Kuhns with a simple but urgent question, "Can I come back?" Now a proud member of the class of 2018, Sam is the only student in Ms. Kuhns' 28 year career who dropped out of high school and returned.
Sep 14, 2018•33 min
Kamryn Smith met her assistant principal Queen Bailey in her freshman year at Douglas Freeman High School. Now a junior, she believes she can go to Ms. Bailey for anything because she knows that she respects her and will always be ready to listen. Their story shows the kind of impact an administrator can make on a student's life, and how strong relationships begin with trust.
Aug 31, 2018•22 min
Denay Haist, a teacher at Beulah Elementary School, taught Paola Henriquez when she was in the fifth grade. Paola is now a senior at L.C. Bird High School, and she attributes much of her success today to Ms. Haist, who advocated for her admission to a middle school honors program years ago. Their story captures the long lasting impact of high expectations in public education, and how some teachers just stick with you.
Aug 20, 2018•37 min
Gregory McCallum has been an educator for close to three decades. When he met Tykeria (TK) Johnson in her 8th grade year, he quickly recognized her musical talent and worked with her for the next four years as her band director at Community High School. Now a recent graduate, TK is on her way to the Berklee College of Music in Boston as a percussionist. She credits this huge accomplishment to Mr. McCallum, her “father in music."
Jul 27, 2018•23 min
Brian Condit (RPS), David Naff (MERC), and Brionna Nomi (VCU) introduce the Connections Across Education series from Abstract, featuring stories about the importance of relationships in public education from each of our MERC school divisions. Stay tuned throughout the summer and fall of 2018 for good news about students and educators in metropolitan Richmond.
Jul 12, 2018•56 min
Listen to Adrian Martin from Chesterfield County Public Schools discuss her action research project: The Effects of Specific Vocabulary Instruction in the Mathematics Classroom.
Jul 09, 2018•16 min
We spoke with Michael Bolling, Joy Beatty, Rebecca Hall, and Gwen Ashworth (pictured left to right) from CodeRVA Regional High School in Richmond, VA. They discussed the mission of the school and reflected on their first year leading this innovative new approach to education in the Commonwealth. Learn more about their work at www.coderva.org.
Jun 29, 2018•34 min
We spoke with Juan Bonilla-Olmos, Kayla Brown, Hannah Jones, Grady Anderson, and Shamadre Chambliss (pictured left to right) from CodeRVA Regional High School. CodeRVA is an innovative new school in Richmond, VA that focuses on online learning, technology, computer science, and coding. We talked about what led them to enroll in CodeRVA and what they thought about this new approach to public education. You can learn more at www.coderva.org.
Jun 29, 2018•31 min
Listen to Solitia Wilson discussing her action research project: Teachers Working Together for Early Childhood Transition into Special Education Self Contained Classes
Jun 27, 2018•28 min
Listen to Patricia Woodberry (Richmond Public Schools) discussing her action research project: Talent Development in Gifted Education: The Road to Equity
Jun 26, 2018•22 min