Dr. Rick Rodriguez is a first generation Mexican American who has lived through and acknowledges the challenges that individuals and communities of color face across our systems. Guided by these experiences, he co-founded the Rooted Life, a bilingual coaching and consulting business that incorporates research-based frameworks to trigger thinking, strategy, and collaboration.

Rick and I had a long conversation about his childhood and the inspiring women in his life — his mother and grandmother. We also get into the systemic barriers in education that were not designed to serve people like him and how that motivated him to work in education. Strap in — it’s a good one!

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode141.

Dana Anderson teaches digital citizenship, language arts, and literature to Middle and High School students at Bridgemont International School. She's also served as a kids' and teens' digital content expert for non-profits, tech companies, teacher training programs and schools. Dana is also a writer, a nature and animal lover, and a mom of three.

In this episode we discuss Dana's educator journey and what she feels educators need to do to find success in teaching or other fields. She also opines on AI and the possibilities it can provide for teachers.

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode140.

Kirk Spahn is a fourth generation educator with more than two decades in the field. After graduating from Dartmouth College, he worked for schoolmaster.net, an early online learning platform based in London.But it was the events of Sept. 11 that inspired him that inspired him to start the Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL), an award winning youth educational nonprofit organization..

In this episode, Kirk tells the entire story of ICL’s founding and the challenges of online learning. He also discusses the importance of mentors in a child’s education, how the COVID 19 lockdown affected online learning, and how he’s developed an academy that attracts top student athletes.

For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode139.