In this episode, I had the honor of welcoming back Dr. Tyra Good, the executive director of Elms College Center for Equity in Urban Education (CEUE), as well as Dominique McDonald, academic coordinator for CEUE, and 2025 graduate Bianca Bonsu. In our conversation, the CEUE team talked about the origin and evolution of the program, reflect on their 5-month partnership with Identity Talk Consulting, share personal reflections about their reading of "Learning to Relearn", and much more! To learn more about Elms College CEUE, you can visit their main website at https://www.elms.edu/ceue/. To learn more about Identity Talk Consulting and the professional development services that we offer, visit our website at https://identitytalk4educators.com. STAY CONNECTED WITH KWAME: 👉🏾 Instagram: / https://instagram.com/kwamtheidentityshaper 👉🏾 YouTube: / @kwamesarfo-mensah5785 👉🏾 LinkedIn: / https://linkedin.com/in/kwamesarfomensah LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: 👉🏾 Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/identity-talk-4-educators-live/id1509599570 👉🏾 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/23k0HRkXxi1OJSahtqS7xO SIGN UP FOR AN E-COURSE WITH KWAME! 👉🏾 https://eduspark.world/profile/9312b128-7573-440d-8d78-fb24cc4fa066/creator SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDENTITY TALK NEWSLETTER! 👉🏾 https://identitytalk.kit.com/9e744003e9 READ MY BOOKS! 👉🏾 “Learning to Relearn” - https://www.routledge.com/Learning-to-Relearn-Supporting-Identity-in-a-Culturally-Affirming-Classroom/Sarfo-Mensah/p/book/9781625316226 👉🏾 “Shaping the Teacher Identity” - https://www.amazon.com/Shaping-Teacher-Identity-Lessons-Define/dp/1723480835 VISIT THE IDENTITY TALK APPAREL SHOP! 👉🏾 https://the-identity-talk-apparel-shop.creator-spring.com/ TO SEND A DONATION: 👉🏾 CashApp - https://cash.app/$idtalk4ed 👉🏾 Venmo - https://venmo.com/u/kwamesm 👉🏾 PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/kwamesm _________________________________________________________________________________________ Timestamps: 0:00-1:04 - Welcome to IDTALK4ED LIVE 1:05-4:02 - Podcast Subscription Reminders & Learning to Relearn Promo 4:03-8:40 - Introducing Dr. Tyra Good & Dominique McDonald 8:41-9:46 - Introducing Bianca Bonsu 9:47-18:05 - Origin & Evolution of Elms College CEUE 18:06-25:44 - Elms College CEUE's Impact on Bianca 25:45-26:23 - Thaddeus' Nature Notebook Promo 26:24-41:21 - Identity Talk x Elms College CEUE Partnership 41:22-51:02 - Elms College CEUE Reflections on "Learning to Relearn" (Pt. 1) 51:03-52:01 - Identity Talk Consulting Promo 52:02-1:06:24 - Elms College CEUE Reflections on "Learning to Relearn" (Pt. 2) 1:06:25-1:11:29 - How do you stay true to the teacher in you? 1:11:30-1:16:41 - How to connect with Elms College CEUE 1:16:42-1:18:03 - Thank Yous & Goodbyes BIO: Dr. Tyra Good is the founding faculty director, Center for Equity in Urban Education (CEUE) at Elms College. Good has more than 10 years of experience teaching education, and, most recently, she was assistant professor of practice in education at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. Good is the founder and chief academic consultant for GOOD Knowledge Connections and the founder of the Black Educators Network (BEN) of Greater Pittsburgh. The BEN is a strategic team of K-12, Higher Education, and community educators working across school district and community lines to help ensure the academic and personal success of African-American youth from underserved communities. Most recently, Dr. Good was awarded a 2019 National Deeper Learning Equity Fellowship through Big Picture Learning and Internationals Network for Public Schools. Deeper Learning Equity Fellows are exceptional leaders, education practitioners, policy advocates, and researchers who are committed to expanding Deeper Learning educational practices aimed at improving public education opportunities for underserved communities. Good received her bachelor’s in business management from Howard University, a master of arts in teaching from Chatham University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and evaluation from Duquesne University. Dominique McDonald, Academic Coordinator for CEUE, is an alum of Western New England University with a B.A. in English and is currently working towards an M.Ed at Elms College. He recruits for the Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master in Education, Master in Biomedical Sciences, Master of Biotechnology, Master of Bioethics, and Postbaccalaureate Premedical Studies Certificate programs. He is a lover of animals and the outdoors but also a big fan of reading fiction, playing video games and singing karaoke. Bianca Bonsu has worked as a paraprofessional for the Springfield Public Schools for 10 years. She will be graduating from Elms College this year with a B.A. in Education and her Massachusetts teaching credential.

In this week's episode, I had the honor of interviewing Tekia Timmons in her first ever podcast guest appearance. In our conversation, Tekia opens up about her early upbringing in Flint, Michigan and Atlanta, Georgia, the ups and downs of her international teaching journey, diving into edupreneurship, motherhood, and so much more! To learn more about Tekia's work, you can visit the Exceptional Math Coaching & Consulting website at https://sites.google.com/view/exceptional-math-coaching/home or follow her on LinkedIn. To learn more about Identity Talk Consulting and the professional development services that we offer, visit our website at https://identitytalk4educators.com. STAY CONNECTED WITH KWAME: 👉🏾 Instagram: / https://instagram.com/kwamtheidentityshaper 👉🏾 YouTube: / @kwamesarfo-mensah5785 👉🏾 LinkedIn: / https://linkedin.com/in/kwamesarfomensah LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: 👉🏾 Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/identity-talk-4-educators-live/id1509599570 👉🏾 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/23k0HRkXxi1OJSahtqS7xO SIGN UP FOR AN E-COURSE WITH KWAME! 👉🏾 https://eduspark.world/profile/9312b128-7573-440d-8d78-fb24cc4fa066/creator SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDENTITY TALK NEWSLETTER! 👉🏾 https://identitytalk.kit.com/9e744003e9 READ MY BOOKS! 👉🏾 “Learning to Relearn” - https://www.routledge.com/Learning-to-Relearn-Supporting-Identity-in-a-Culturally-Affirming-Classroom/Sarfo-Mensah/p/book/9781625316226 👉🏾 “Shaping the Teacher Identity” - https://www.amazon.com/Shaping-Teacher-Identity-Lessons-Define/dp/1723480835 VISIT THE IDENTITY TALK APPAREL SHOP! 👉🏾 https://the-identity-talk-apparel-shop.creator-spring.com/ TO SEND A DONATION: 👉🏾 CashApp - https://cash.app/$idtalk4ed 👉🏾 Venmo - https://venmo.com/u/kwamesm 👉🏾 PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/kwamesm _________________________________________________________________________________________ Timestamps: 0:00-1:01 - Welcome to IDTALK4ED LIVE 1:02-3:31 - Podcast Subscription Reminders & Learning to Relearn Promo 3:32-7:00 - Introducing Tekia Timmons 7:01-9:11- Tekia's Early Upbringing & Start in Education 9:12-11:45 - Tekia's K-12 Schooling Journey 11:46-23:28 - Tekia's International Teaching Journey (Vietnam Chapter) 23:29-24:07 - Thaddeus' Nature Notebook Promo 24-08-36:01 - Tekia's International Teaching Journey (Ethiopia Chapter) 36:02-40:20 - Transitioning back into the U.S. K-12 System 40:21-41:19 - Identity Talk Consulting Promo 41:20-48:17 - Sabbatical from teaching; the founding of Exceptional Math Coaching & Consulting 48:18-52:20 - Returning to international teaching 52:21-56:05 - How do you stay true to the teacher in you? 56:06-57:29 - How to connect with Tekia 57:30-58:04 - Thank Yous & Goodbyes BIO: Ms. Kia, also known as Tekia Timmons, has always had a passion for mathematics since her childhood. Her love for this subject led her to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Georgia State University and a Master of Science in Applied Statistics from Kennesaw State University. For over 14 years, Ms. Kia has taught high school math in public and private schools in various parts of the world such as the United States, Vietnam, and Ethiopia. She strongly believes that math is a language that everyone can learn to speak with the right level of challenge and support. Ms. Kia enhances her lessons with technology, making them engaging and interactive for her students. She is thrilled to share her enthusiasm for math with her students and help them develop a strong foundation in the subject. In her free time, Ms. Kia enjoys creating beautiful jewelry, traveling, and discovering new cuisines with her family, which includes her wonderful partner, two teenage daughters, and a baby boy who keeps life exciting and full of joy.

In this week's episode, I welcomed back Crystal M. Watson to the podcast for a conversation about her early upbringing in Cincinnati, her transition from the classroom to educational leadership, co-authoring the upcoming book "Pedagogy of Voice: Street Data and the Path to Student Agency", motherhood, and so much more! To learn more about Crystal's work, you can visit her website at https://crystalmwatson.com or follow her on Instagram (@crystalmwatson), or LinkedIn. To learn more about Identity Talk Consulting and the professional development services that we offer, visit our website at https://identitytalk4educators.com. STAY CONNECTED WITH KWAME: 👉🏾 Instagram: / https://instagram.com/kwamtheidentityshaper 👉🏾 YouTube: / @kwamesarfo-mensah5785 👉🏾 LinkedIn: / https://linkedin.com/in/kwamesarfomensah LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: 👉🏾 Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/identity-talk-4-educators-live/id1509599570 👉🏾 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/23k0HRkXxi1OJSahtqS7xO SIGN UP FOR AN E-COURSE WITH KWAME! 👉🏾 https://eduspark.world/profile/9312b128-7573-440d-8d78-fb24cc4fa066/creator SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDENTITY TALK NEWSLETTER! 👉🏾 https://identitytalk.kit.com/9e744003e9 READ MY BOOKS! 👉🏾 “Learning to Relearn” - https://www.routledge.com/Learning-to-Relearn-Supporting-Identity-in-a-Culturally-Affirming-Classroom/Sarfo-Mensah/p/book/9781625316226 👉🏾 “Shaping the Teacher Identity” - https://www.amazon.com/Shaping-Teacher-Identity-Lessons-Define/dp/1723480835 VISIT THE IDENTITY TALK APPAREL SHOP! 👉🏾 https://the-identity-talk-apparel-shop.creator-spring.com/ TO SEND A DONATION: 👉🏾 CashApp - https://cash.app/$idtalk4ed 👉🏾 Venmo - https://venmo.com/u/kwamesm 👉🏾 PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/kwamesm _________________________________________________________________________________________ Timestamps: 0:00-1:02 - Welcome to IDTALK4ED LIVE 1:03-3:49 - Podcast Subscription Reminders & Learning to Relearn Promo 3:50-6:39 - Introducing Crystal M. Watson 6:40-9:30 - Crystal's Early Upbringing & Start in Education 9:31-14:28 - Crystal's K-12 Schooling Journey 14:29-19:20 - Recognizing Student Voice 19:21-19:59 - Thaddeus' Nature Notebook Promo 20:00-32:11 - Transitioning into Educational Leadership 32:12-40:43 - Trump Administration's Impact on K-12 Education System 40:44-41:43 - Identity Talk Consulting Promo 41:44-53:11 - Unpacking "Pedagogy of Voice" 53:12-59:46 - Motherhood 59:47-1:02:15 - How do you stay true to the teacher in you? 1:02:16-1:04:48 - How to connect with Crystal 1:04:49-1:05:16- Thank Yous & Goodbyes BIO: Crystal Watson is an innovative, passionate mathematics educator, leader, and life long learner who you can count on to always ask “What do the students think?” Crystal obtained a Masters in Educational Leadership and Administration at Teachers College at Columbia University where she further developed her understanding for school and district leadership. Her work is centered around providing space for student voice and identity development in order for all to experience high quality, deep, and personal mathematics. In her district, Crystal serves as a prominent voice on equity and anti-racism teams. She prides herself on her willingness to pass knowledge forward and support colleagues in the work. As Crystal continues to expand her reach, she has shared and continues to lend her experience and knowledge across multiple platforms including local and national conferences, podcasts, and professional development sessions. Venturing outside of her district, Crystal has worked on multiple teams outside of her geographical location to ensure students see themselves in mathematics. Additionally, Crystal has worked alongside other scholars to develop a culturally responsive curriculum that centers students in every lesson. Crystal has also worked on developing more culturally relevant and responsive math tasks to be used by mathematics educators everywhere. Crystal is dedicated to continuing her own development, continuing to center her work with student experience in mind. She is most excited about the connections and relationships she builds while engaging in transformational work!