The Integrated Schools Podcast

What happens when over 600 educators, students, organizers, and advocates gather in community to center racial equity and storytelling? We found out at this year’s Color of Education Summit in Raleigh, North Carolina. In this episode, Andrew takes us inside the summit—hosted by the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity—to hear voices from across the state and country. From keynote speeches to hallway conversations, we witness the power of stories to connect, inspire, and catalyze change. We hear from Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith, who set the tone with vulnerability, legacy, and a call to collective action. And we meet educators, community leaders, organizers, and students whose stories underscore that equity work is personal, communal, and ongoing. Dr. Val and Andrew reflect on what it really means to talk about equity—and how we move beyond “access” to ensure all children can truly thrive. If you’re wondering what role stories play in building a better future, or where to find hope in hard times, this one’s for you. 🎧 Listen in, and then tell us: What story are you carrying? (http://speakpipe.com/integratedschools) LINKS Color of Education 2025 - https://floodcenter.org/2025/a-recap-of-the-color-of-education-summit-recognizing-the-power-in-the-stories-we-carry/ Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity - https://floodcenter.org/ Tara Roberts - Into the Depths (Podcast) - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/into-the-depths I Am Leandro Project - https://www.iamleandro.org/ Profound Gentlemen - https://www.profoundgentlemen.org/ Public Schools First NC - http://publicschoolsfirstnc.org/ Public School Forum of North Carolina - https://www.ncforum.org/ Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. - https://bookshop.org/shop/IntegratedSchools Share your thoughts by leaving us a voice mail - speakpipe.com/integratedschools Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. - https://www.patreon.com/integratedschools Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. - https://www.youtube.com/@integratedschools Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us podcast@integratedschools.org. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What does it mean to truly know who you are—and how might that knowing shape what you give back to the world? In this episode, we’re joined by Byron Sanders—educator, CEO, community leader, and newly elected Dallas ISD school board member—for a vulnerable, expansive conversation about identity, purpose, and the responsibility that comes with our gifts. Byron shares a deeply personal story of finding his way from trauma to mission, from being driven by what he didn’t want to become to discovering a life of service rooted in community. Alongside reflections on masculinity, Whiteness, and the narratives we inherit (and resist), Byron challenges us to consider the roles we each play in building a more just and joyful future—both in and beyond schools. We talk about the power of imagination as a source of hope, the need for purpose-driven education, and the importance of community-based “third spaces” where young people can build the skills and self-understanding they’ll need to navigate an uncertain future. And we explore the dangers of narrow identity constructs—especially for boys and men—and the urgent need for models that reflect a fuller humanity. This conversation is a reminder that our stories matter, that restorative possibility lives in community, and that every gift is also an assignment. LINKS: Byron Sanders - https://www.linkedin.com/in/byron-k-sanders/ The Creator Archetype from Big Thought - https://www.bigthought.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CREATOR-ARCHETYPE.pdf bell hooks - The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love - https://bookshop.org/a/18658/9780743480338 Richard Reeves - Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It - https://bookshop.org/a/18658/9780815740667 Visit our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. - https://bookshop.org/shop/IntegratedSchools Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. - https://www.patreon.com/integratedschools Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. - https://www.youtube.com/@integratedschools Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, or email us podcast@integratedschools.org. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Additional music Uncertain Ground and Black Mud by Blue Dot Sessions(http://sessions.blue) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism is the Integrated Schools Book Club http://integratedschools.org/book-club/ pick for the fall. So we thought we'd revisit our episode with Dr. Ewing. If you've never attended Book Club, it's a wonderful to chance to chat with folks from around the country who are interested in school integration. We have small groups and great facilitators who make sure the conversation flows. Book Club is free! Register now! - http://integratedschools.org/book-club/ ------------------------- Public education is touted as the bedrock of democracy, a leveler of playing fields, and our best tool to create active, engaged citizens. And while that vision is powerful, Dr. Eve L. Ewing argues that it was never intended to be those things for Black or Native students. In fact, her new book, Original Sins: The (MIs)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism, maintains that schooling in America was created to prepare White kids for leadership, Black kids for subjugation, and Native kids for erasure. She joins us to discuss these three separate strands of education and the tools of discipline and punishment, implied intellectual inferiority, and preparation for economic subjugation used to support them. She leaves us with love, justice and a focus on flourishing as possible antidotes to help us imagine something better. LINKS: Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago's South Side - https://bookshop.org/a/18658/9780226526164 Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of AmericanRacism - https://bookshop.org/a/18658/9780593243701 Bughouse Square - Eve Ewing's Podcast with co-ghost, Studs Terkel - https://studsterkel.wfmt.com/bughouse-square Faith Ringgold - United States of Attica, 1971 - https://whitney.org/collection/works/44678 Gwendolyn Brooks - We Real Cool - https://poets.org/poem/we-real-cool How Watermelons Became a Racist Trope - William R. Black in The Atlantic - https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/12/how-watermelons-became-a-racist-trope/383529/ The Abigail Fisher case - https://www.propublica.org/article/a-colorblind-constitution-what-abigail-fishers-affirmative-action-case-is-r Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica - currently at the Art Institute Chicago - https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/10157/project-a-black-planet-the-art-and-culture-of-panafrica Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://bookshop.org/a/18658/9781571313560 S7E9 – Revisiting Heather McGhee on How Racism Hurts Us All - https://integratedschools.org/podcast/mcgheerevisited/ Use these links or start at our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. - https://bookshop.org/shop/IntegratedSchools Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. - https://www.patreon.com/integratedschools Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, or email us podcast@integratedschools.org. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As Season 11 comes to a close, we wanted to spend some time reflecting on the lessons we've learned from this season and what we hope for in Season 12. We'll be off for the summer with a few possible bonus episodes, and back for real in the fall. In the mean time, we want to express our deepest appreciation for a number of people who make this podcast run. Firstly, to all of our guests, thank you for joining us, for sharing your stories and your wisdom with us. Being in conversation with each of you is a true gift that we do not take likely. To the podcast team - Darci, Jennifer, Jenna, Anna, Susan, Courtney - thank you for your work on transcripts and promotional material, but more importantly for your thought partnership on each episode and the entire season. The conversations you share, the insights you bring are what keeps the podcast relevant and topical and helps us dive into nuanced topics knowing you're listening and thinking about these things along side of us. To our Patreon supporters and Integrated Schools donors, your belief in this work and your willingness to support it with your financial resources isn't something we take for granted. Your belief in us keeps us invested in the work and motivates us to always make the best episodes we can. And finally, to all of you, our listeners, it is truly and honor to be in this with each and every one of you as we try to know better and do better. Until next season! ________________ Finding a school where your children can thrive, while avoiding contributing to the ongoing segregation we see today, can feel like a tough issue for socially conscious parents. Check out our FREE guide on how you can start engaging with the education system to achieve just that: Download the guide now! https://mailchi.mp/integratedschools/start-guide ________________ Visit our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. https://bookshop.org/shop/IntegratedSchools Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. https://www.patreon.com/integratedschools Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, or email us podcast@integratedschools.org. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

“I hope that you know that I believe you, the community of listeners believes you, and that's good enough.” Dr. Asia Lyons Dr. Asia Lyons is the host of 'The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators' where she practices archival justice by sharing the stories of Black educators who have left the classroom. Her own journey to education and then out of the classroom led her work both on the podcast, and in creating intentional spaces of healing for Black educators. Dr. Lyons's work focuses on the less sexy, but often more important work of retaining Black educators. Recruitment is a crucial starting point, but if we can't create spaces of wellness for Black educators, retention will always be a challenge. Dr. Lyons encourages all of us to speak up on behalf of Black educators, to create spaces of healing, and to advocate for justice at least as loudly as the voices who aren't. ________________ Finding a school where your children can thrive, while avoiding contributing to the ongoing segregation we see today, can feel like a tough issue for socially conscious parents. Check out our FREE guide on how you can start engaging with the education system to achieve just that: download the guide now! https://mailchi.mp/integratedschools/start-guide ________________ LINKS: The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators - https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ William A Smith - who coined the term Racial Battle Fatigue - https://profiles.faculty.utah.edu/u0173846 Taking Care and Moving Forward with Dr. LaShaune Stitt - https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/taking-care-and-moving-forward-with-dr-lashaune-stitt/ Boundaries, Burnout and Black educator Wellness with Josephine Ampaw-Greene - https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/boundaries-burnout-and-black-educator-wellness-with-josephine-ampaw-greene/ S11E14 – What Was Lost: Noliwe Rooks on the Failures of Integration - https://integratedschools.org/podcast/s11e14-what-was-lost-noliwe-rooks-on-the-failures-of-integration/ S10E15 – Rebuilding The Black Educator Pipeline with Sharif El-Mekki - https://integratedschools.org/podcast/s10e15-rebuilding-the-black-educator-pipeline-with-sharif-el-mekki/ S10E14 – Jim Crow’s Pink Slip with Dr. Leslie Fenwick - https://integratedschools.org/podcast/s10e14-jim-crows-pink-slip-with-dr-leslie-fenwick/ S11E8 – Gratitude and Validation: One Family’s Journey Through Integrated Schools - https://integratedschools.org/podcast/s11e8-gratitude-and-validation-one-familys-journey-through-integrated-schools/ S11E15 – Unearthing Joy: Gholdy Muhammad on Teaching with Love - https://integratedschools.org/podcast/s11e15-unearthing-joy-gholdy-muhammad-on-teaching-with-love/ Visit our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. - https://bookshop.org/shop/IntegratedSchools Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. - https://www.patreon.com/integratedschools Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, or email us podcast@integratedschools.org. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

“At its inception, in the courts, and as a project, integration was deeply contested and Black people were deeply divided about it. ” – Dr. Noliwe Rooks The common narrative about integration often frames it as a clear victory—a moment when American education finally confronted injustice. But Dr. Noliwe Rooks argues the reality is far more complicated. In her new book, Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children, she traces the history of Black education, showing how the pursuit of desegregation sometimes led to profound losses for Black communities. In this conversation, Dr. Rooks discusses the overlooked sacrifices Black communities made as schools integrated, from the closure of vibrant Black-led schools to the erasure of Black educators’ roles and perspectives. Through the story of 4 generations of her own family, she reveals how integration initiatives frequently dismissed Black voices and visions for education, leaving systemic inequities intact. This episode challenges us to rethink what integration truly means, and what’s required if education is to fulfill its promise of justice and liberation for all students. ________________ Finding a school where your children can thrive, while avoiding contributing to the ongoing segregation we see today, can feel like a tough issue for socially conscious parents. Check out our FREE guide on how you can start engaging with the education system to achieve just that: Download the guide now - https://mailchi.mp/integratedschools/start-guide ________________ LINKS: Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children - https://bookshop.org/a/18658/9780553387391 A Passionate Mind in Relentless Pursuit: The Vision of Mary McLeod Bethune - https://bookshop.org/a/18658/9780593492420 Cutting School: The Segrenomics of American Education - https://bookshop.org/a/18658/9781620975985 S6E9 – BvB@67 – Noliwe Rooks Revisited – Dr. Rooks from our Brown v Board anniversary series - https://integratedschools.org/podcast/s6e9-bvb67-noliwe-rooks-revisited/ S11E9: The Containment: Michelle Adams on Northern Jim Crow - https://integratedschools.org/podcast/s11e9-the-containment-michelle-adams-on-northern-jim-crow/ No Choice Is the “Right” Choice: Black Parents’ Educational Decision-Making in Their Search for a “Good” School – Dr. Linn Posey-Maddox - https://meridian.allenpress.com/her/article-abstract/91/1/38/464262/No-Choice-Is-the-Right-Choice-Black-Parents?redirectedFrom=fulltext S10E14 – Jim Crow’s Pink Slip with Dr. Leslie Fenwick - https://integratedschools.org/podcast/s10e14-jim-crows-pink-slip-with-dr-leslie-fenwick/ Ep 11 – White Women and the Politics of White Supremacy - https://integratedschools.org/podcast/mcrae/ Use these links or start at our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. - https://bookshop.org/shop/IntegratedSchools Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. - https://www.patreon.com/integratedschools Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, or email us podcast@integratedschools.org. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy