Send us a text

In this episode, we dive deep into the complexities and challenges faced by special education within the K-12 education system, particularly in the context of the national teacher shortage crisis. This introductory discussion highlights the multifaceted issues causing a significant shortage of highly qualified special education (SPED) teachers, the bureaucratic hurdles, and the ethical dilemmas involved.

Key Points:

1. Scope of the Issue: Special education's crucial role and how its dysfunction affects everyone.
2. Factors Contributing to Shortage: Discusses low pay, credentialing requirements, and lack of teacher autonomy.
3. Perverted Terms: The misuse of key educational terms to reduce the need for special education services.
4. Civil Rights History: Acknowledging the historical civil rights challenges that led to the current laws.
5. Roles and Responsibilities: Detailed look into the overwhelming roles of SPED teachers and the extensive legal and administrative challenges they face, including IEP meetings and assessment processes.
6. Emotional and Ethical Impact: The burnout and ethical compromises faced by SPED teachers in their attempts to support students.
7. Legal and Administrative Barriers: Explanation of the convoluted process for getting a child assessed and the intentional bureaucratic delays.
8. Classifications of Disabilities: Overview of categories within special education and the corresponding services.
9. Future Discussions: Previews in-depth conversations with veteran SPED teachers for nuanced insights.

This episode sets the stage for an ongoing, honest discourse about the shortcomings in special education and the systemic changes needed to address them.

00:00 Introduction to the Special Education Crisis
00:45 Understanding the SPED Teacher Shortage
02:00 Misuse of Educational Terms
03:11 The Role and Challenges of SPED Teachers
06:54 Legal and Bureaucratic Hurdles
15:19 Historical Context of Special Education
25:30 Categories and Services in Special Education
31:04 Mainstreaming and Inclusion Controversies

www.teachershortagecrisis.com
Petition to Save K-12 Schooling and our Precious Democracy!

Send us a text

In this episode, hosts Amanda Werner and Trina English discuss the complexities of special education, exploring its oppressive nature and the civil rights journey that has shaped it. They delve into various terms and acronyms such as IEP (Individualized Education Plans), 504 Plans, and disabilities categories including Intellectual Disability, Emotional Disturbance, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Amanda shares her first-hand experience being an intervention teacher and subbing in special day classes. They underline the systemic issues like teacher shortages, the lack of nuanced care, and the correlation between special education and broader educational problems. The conversation also touches on the importance of relationship building in intervention, and the need for supporting neurodivergent students more effectively.

00:00 Introduction to Special Education
00:24 Unpacking Special Education Terms
01:27 Categories of Disabilities
02:41 Intellectual Disability Explained
05:19 Emotional Disturbance and Special Day Classes
06:02 Personal Experiences with Special Day Classes
14:31 Autism Spectrum Disorder and Misdiagnosis
18:55 Challenges in Identifying and Supporting Neurodivergent Students
20:36 Specific Learning Disabilities and Accommodations
26:58 ADHD and Overlapping Diagnoses
30:45 Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
31:40 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and RTI
32:57 Understanding Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
33:20 Introduction to RTI and Tiered Interventions
33:51 Behavioral Interventions and Tier 3 Supports
34:52 General Education and Special Education Collaboration
36:18 Implementing Tier 2 Interventions
38:30 Challenges in Special Education
42:10 The Role of Intervention Teachers
52:12 Least Restrictive Environment and Full Inclusion
01:00:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

www.teachershortagecrisis.com
Petition to Save K-12 Schooling and our Precious Democracy!

Send us a text

In this episode of the Teacher Shortage Crisis Podcast, the hosts welcome Janice Cook, a veteran teacher from New England. They delve into the critical issues surrounding teacher pay and the hardships teachers face trying to make a living in this profession. Janice shares her personal journey, discussing the difficult choices she made due to insufficient salaries, taxes, high, cost of living, and excessive bureaucratic hurdles. They explore the idea of forming a national professional teacher association with innovative teachers leading the way. Throughout, they highlight the disconnect between different stakeholders in education and the need for systemic reforms.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:30 Guest Background: Meet Janice
01:42 Teacher Pay in New England
02:36 The Reality of Teacher Salaries
04:16 Challenges and Decisions
11:26 Certification and Relocation
15:34 Navigating the Salary Schedule
23:47 Certification Hurdles
29:05 Navigating Professional Development Credits
30:07 Challenges of Staying in the Teaching Profession
31:37 Teacher Evaluation Process
32:15 Tenure and Job Security Issues
34:56 Side Hustles and Leaving Public Education
43:24 The Petition for National Teacher Pool
45:37 Systemic Issues in Education
58:25 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

www.teachershortagecrisis.com
Petition to Save K-12 Schooling and our Precious Democracy!

Send us a text

The Realities of Teaching: Reflections on SNL's 'Y'all Won'

In this episode of the The Teacher Shortage Crisis podcast, Amanda ,Trina English and Jessica Martin, react to the recent 'Saturday Night Live' sketch 'Y'all Won.' The conversation delves into the current state of K-12 public education, exploring the challenges teachers face, including behavior management, systemic issues within school districts, and the impact of COVID-19 on student behavior. They also highlight the need for structural changes, increased collaboration, and teacher leadership to address these pressing issues. The episode calls for solidarity among educators and the sharing of personal stories to push for change in the education system.

00:53 Reacting to SNL's 'Y'all Won' Sketch
03:14 Challenges in Modern Education
03:52 Behavioral Issues in Schools
06:53 Impact of COVID on Student Behavior
12:03 Administrative Responses to Behavioral Problems
14:11 Teachers as Behavior Managers
17:07 Systemic Issues in Education
21:02 Call to Action for Teachers
22:32 National Standards and Teacher Preparation
23:22 Emotional Reflections on Student Progress
24:35 Challenges and Emotional Struggles in Teaching
24:56 End of School Year Reflections
25:54 Systemic Issues in Education Leadership
28:49 The Role of Teacher Leaders
34:38 Evaluation and Complacency in Teaching
37:53 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

www.teachershortagecrisis.com
Petition to Save K-12 Schooling and our Precious Democracy!

Send us a text

In this episode, we are joined once again by Janet Nasir, who shares her insightful experiences and reactions to Kareem Weaver's impactful film, "The Right to Read." The discussion opens with a heartfelt acknowledgment of Janet’s admirable work and dedication to the field of education.

The conversation dives into the critical themes of the documentary, exploring the longstanding issue of literacy in America. Janet and the hosts discuss the inadequate preparation provided to teachers, the flaws in current curriculums, and the significant shifts occurring, particularly with the Science of Reading movement. Janet shares her district's efforts involving science of reading training and its impacts.

Particularly poignant moments from the film are analyzed, such as the transformation of students under effective literacy instruction and the challenges faced by families moving between states with varying educational standards. The inefficacy of curriculums and the evolving steps taken by districts to align with scientifically based reading instruction are discussed in depth.

The hosts and guests highlight the role of social justice in literacy, touching on the historical context and systemic issues that continue to affect educational equity. They critically analyze the influence of commercial interests in educational materials, including the controversial stance of figures like Lucy Calkins.

Finally, the episode concludes with reflections on the broader implications for the education system and the crucial need for comprehensive teacher-led reforms. The necessity of quality early reading education, the misuse of technology in reading instruction, and the pursuit of genuine educational equity through informed and courageous action are reiterated as key takeaways.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
03:14 Initial Reactions to 'The Right to Read'
04:57 Personal Reflections and Experiences
08:34 Challenges in Literacy Education
13:46 Parental Involvement and Early Literacy
23:19 Systemic Issues in Education
39:36 Reflecting on the Documentary's Relevance Today
40:20 Curriculum and Phonics Instruction'
42:28 Challenges in Implementing New Programs
44:23 The Importance of Foundational Skills
48:12 Assessment Data and Its Reliability
58:44 The Role of Teachers and Structural Issues
01:03:00 Social Justice and Literacy
01:07:10 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Topics/Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
The Right to Read Documentary (free to watch with ads)

Scarborough's Rope

Interview with Janet Nasir

www.teachershortagecrisis.com
Petition to Save K-12 Schooling and our Precious Democracy!

Send us a text

In this episode of the Teacher Shortage Crisis Podcast, Trina, Amanda, and Jess delve into the issues of school climate and culture. The conversation centers on how chaotic, unsafe environments contribute to the teacher shortage, particularly in urban and marginalized communities. They critique programs like PBIS and various character education curriculums, arguing that these often fail to address the root causes of behavioral issues and lack student and teacher buy-in. Jess shares her experiences from different schools, noting significant changes in student behavior post-pandemic. The episode also touches on the systemic problems in education, including inadequate responses to sexual violence and the broader implications for teacher recruitment and retention. The hosts emphasize the need to empower students and teachers to create sustainable changes in school environments.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
02:55 Defining Climate and Culture in Schools
08:43 Personal Experiences with School Climate
16:21 Character Education Programs: Leader in Me
27:09 Critique of PBIS and Behavioral Interventions
34:43 Critique of PBIS and ABA Systems
36:07 Issues with Reward Systems in Schools
37:47 Behavioral Expectations and School Policies
40:00 Impact of the Pandemic on Student Behavior
42:09 Challenges in Teaching Post-Pandemic
45:49 Sexual Harassment and Title IX in Schools
49:23 Teacher Shortages and Systemic Issues
01:01:21 Union Efforts and Teacher Contracts
01:05:43 Conclusion and Call to Action

www.teachershortagecrisis.com
Petition to Save K-12 Schooling and our Precious Democracy!

Send us a text

The episode is a candid, unscripted reaction to the 2024 election results, featuring Trina and Amanda. They strive to maintain an apolitical focus despite having strong political opinions. The podcast underscores the importance of working across political lines to address the issues in K-12 education, and the role teachers play in fostering critical thinking in students. Trina shares her belief that the failures in K-12 education are contributing to the erosion of democracy and emphasizes the need for teachers' voices in educational policy.

Amanda adds that teachers have historically managed to facilitate constructive conversations without political bias, and they discuss the broader implications of the election, including threats to the Department of Education and the impact on marginalized student populations. They argue for campaign finance reform and more civics education to combat societal issues such as illiteracy and political ignorance.

The discussion includes references to a "This American Life" episode about political and income inequality, and both hosts call for more teacher involvement in governance. They stress the importance of unity and love across political divisions and invite listeners to join and contribute to the ongoing conversation about improving K-12 education and protecting democracy.

Link to the "This American Life" episode referenced: "It's My Party and I'll Try if I Want To."

00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Episode
00:41 The Role of Politics in Education
02:14 Election Results and Teacher Reactions
06:38 The Importance of Apolitical Teaching
12:51 The Importance of Civics Education
15:51 Addressing Literacy and Income Inequality
21:53 The Need for Teacher Involvement in Policy
35:36 Conclusion and Call to Action

www.teachershortagecrisis.com
Petition to Save K-12 Schooling and our Precious Democracy!

Send us a text

In this podcast episode, the host welcomes Janet Nasir, a veteran second-grade reading teacher and instructional coach in Southern California. Jess and Trina engage in a discussion with Janet, who shares her extensive experiences and challenges with reading instruction in the U.S. Janet details her journey from teaching middle school to second grade, highlighting the systemic issues she encountered that lead to inadequate foundational reading skills instruction. They explore the broader implications of illiteracy on society and the need for comprehensive, explicit phonics instruction. Trina introduces a solution framework involving seasoned reading teachers mentoring new teachers to improve literacy rates. The episode culminates in a discussion on the importance of reading in a democratic society and the potential for systemic change.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:27 Janet's Teaching Journey
03:06 Challenges in Reading Instruction
03:47 Middle School Reading Struggles
06:31 Teacher Training Gaps
09:42 Blame and Systemic Issues
14:05 RICA and Teacher Assessments
17:47 Learning to Teach Reading
21:55 Pandemic and Self-Education
24:50 Impact of Effective Phonics Instruction
32:41 Challenging Outdated Teaching Practices
33:46 Personal Experiences with Reading Instruction
34:48 The Problem with Current Reading Programs
37:46 Introducing a New Solution
51:12 The Importance of Literacy Rates
01:02:47 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Visit teachershortagecrisis.com to join the movement of teachers speaking up about the mess in K-12 Education in the United States.

www.teachershortagecrisis.com
Petition to Save K-12 Schooling and our Precious Democracy!