Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium

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. 

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."

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.  

We spoke with students and faculty at CodeRVA Regional High School, an innovative new school in Richmond, Virginia serving students from 13 school divisions across the Commonwealth. Listen and learn more about their experiences in the first year and their plans for the future of the school.  

As a part of the Professional Development for Success in Culturally Diverse Schools MERC study, we spoke with teachers engaged in action research projects in their classrooms focused on culturally responsive practices: Solitia Wilson and Cindy Sinanian from Hanover County Public Schools. Check out our conversation about the challenges and opportunities of our diversifying schools and the importance of thoughtfully-designed professional development opportunities for teachers. 

Ram Bhagat is the President of the Conciliation Project and a former public educator of over 30 years. Dr. Bhagat works to promote peace and mindfulness through drumming with students in east Richmond. We talked with him about social/emotional learning and his mission of building "massive resilience" in students.

As a junior at Monacan High School in Chesterfield County Public Schools, Trace Broyles is highly invested in promoting student empowerment. We talked with him about his service to his school, and what his expectations are as an aspiring biology teacher for how public education will look when he enters the profession.

As an associate professor of leadership studies and philosophy, economics, and law at the University of Richmond, and Senior Policy Advisor for Opportunity to Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, Thad Williamson is highly involved in local efforts to address issues related to poverty and supporting Richmond Public Schools. We talked about the intersection of poverty and education and the importance of taking a holistic approach to supporting our students.

As a senior in the Specialty Center for Education and Human Development at Glen Allen High School in Henrico County Public Schools, Lauren Grob serves students of varying levels of performance in local elementary and middle schools. We talked with her about supporting the development of students and the importance of communicating high expectations when promoting achievement in the classroom.

Alexis Goode is a freshman at Virginia State University studying pre-veterinary science and a former graduate of George Wythe High School in Richmond Public Schools. We talked with her about her experiences as a first-generation college student, her time with Partnership for the Future, and her transition into postsecondary education.