Abstract is the podcast of the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium. It features roundtable discussions with MERC study team members, interviews with stakeholders from our partnering school divisions, and much more. Stay tuned as we explore issues and ideas in public PK-12 education.
Available on the following platforms
The Promise of Public Education: Teaching in a New Era
Jesse Senechal (MERC Director, VCU SOE) spoke with Deanna Fierro (Math Teacher at Tuckahoe Middle School in Henrico), Patricia Woodberry (Gifted and Talented Teacher in Richmond), Stacie Taylor (Teacher, Bell Creek Middle School in Hanover), and Terry Dozier (former Director of the Center for Teacher Leadership and Richmond Teacher Residency in the VCU SOE) about how the teaching profession has changed over the past year and a half and what it could be in the future.
Advice for Culturally Responsive Teachers: Learn, Unlearn, and Take Risks
In this episode we discuss the importance of professional reading, self-awareness, and continuous reflection for developing as a culturally responsive educator. Guests include Jesse Senechal (MERC/VCU - Host), Victoria Parent (English/Language Arts Teacher, Monacan High School - Chesterfield), Clarissa Adkins (English/Language Arts Teacher, Meadowbrook High School - Chesterfield), and Ricky Ellestad (Math Teacher, Monacan High School - Chesterfield).
Advice for Culturally Responsive Teachers: Share Ownership of the Classroom
In this episode we discuss the importance of learning from students and centering student voice in the classroom and curriculum. Guests include Fantasy Lozada (VCU/MERC - Host), Elizabeth Murray (Social Studies Teacher, Tuckahoe Middle School - Henrico), Brewster Brown (School Counselor, Tuckahoe Middle School - Henrico), Shannon Macaulay (English/Language Arts Teacher - Meadowbrook High School - Chesterfield), Vicky Brucker (English/Language Arts Teacher - Quioccasin Middle School - Henrico)
Advice for Culturally Responsive Teachers: Sustaining the Work of Culturally Responsive Education
In this episode we discuss the importance of building a community of culturally responsive teachers at your school, and taking the long view when doing this work. Guests include Hillary Parkhouse (VCU/MERC - Host), Heather Dawson (English/Language Arts Teacher, Quioccasin Middle School - Henrico), David Glass (Social Studies Teacher, Meadowbrook HIgh School - Chesterfield), Kevin Socha (Dean of Students, Meadowbrook High School - Chesterfield), and Jenny Smith (English/Language Arts Teacher, Quiocccasin Middle School - Henrico).
Advice for Culturally Responsive Teachers: What the Students Have to Say
In this episode, students share their thoughts on the importance of culturally responsive teaching and why it is important to their success. Guests include Winfred Walker (MERC/VCU - Host),Cyndi Young (MERC/VCU - Host), Abigail Tailor (Monacan High School - Chesterfield), and Matthew Cherici (Monacan High School - Chesterfield)
Who Takes AP Classes?
Jenna Lenhardt, Mitch Parry, David Naff, and Virginia Palencia from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education discuss findings from a recent MERC report titled Analyzing Advanced Placement: Making the Nation's Most Prominent College Preparatory Program More Equitable. In our conversation we discussed the history and trajectory of AP, enduring racial and socioeconomic disparities in the program, the short and long-term implications of those disparities, and what policies and practices help to address them.
Do Latinx Students Have Equal Access to AP Classes?
We spoke with Dr. Virginia Palencia from the VCU School of Education about her dissertation research focused on access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
How can we promote equitable access and support for advanced coursework across K12 education?
Tomika Ferguson (Assistant Professor, VCU School of Education, George Hewan (Assistant Principal, Fairfax), Alison Koenka(Assistant Professor, VCU School of Education), Amy Jefferson (PhD Student, VCU School of Education), John Marshall (Principal, Henrico) David Naff (MERC Assistant Director), and Morgan Saxby(Elementary School Teacher, Chesterfield)from the MERC Equitable Access and Support for Advanced Coursework study team discuss the importance of ensuring that all students have access to accelerated learning opportunities throughout K12. We provide key takeaways from the literature as well as an overview of our collaborative research design for this MERC study.
Supporting Student Mental Health During and After COVID-19
How can we support student mental health during and after COVID-19? MERC researchers conducted a rapid review of research to help answer this question as we prepare to support students when they return to school this fall in any capacity. Report authors David Naff, Shenita Williams, Jenna Furman and Melissa Lee discuss the key takeaways. You can access the full report on the MERC website at this link: scholarscompass.vcu.edu/merc_pubs/112/
(Part Two) Determined: I am the Class of 2020
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: Emma Rice (Midlothian High School in Chesterfield County Public Schools), Paige Lake (Lee Davis High School in Hanover County Public Schools), and Sofia Alcaine (Freeman High School in Henrico County Public Schools). This is part two of a two part series.