Advertise on podcast: School Me

For more than 30 years, schools, hospitals, and places of worship have been considered "sensitive locations" — spaces protected from immigration enforcement. But recently, President Trump has moved to strip away those protections, opening the door for ICE to enter campuses and target families. Now, a coalition of educator unions, community organizations, and families has come together to fight back. Our guest is Karen Tumlin, Founder and Director of the Justice Action Center, and one of the attorneys leading the PCUN v. Noem lawsuit, which seeks to restore these decades-old protections and defend every student’s right to learn without fear.

Jennifer Albert Mann joins the show to discuss her book "Shift Happens, The History of Labor in the United States," a labor history book for teens and young adults. Shift Happens was the September young adult book recommendation on NEA’s Read Across America Calendar, under the theme “invite transformation.”

Our two part series on billionaires and public education continues. Today, we’re zooming in on the rise of new, well-funded activist groups targeting school boards, banning books, and attacking everything from diversity initiatives to trans student rights. Who’s behind groups like Moms for Liberty and Parents Defending Education? What is “dark money,” and how does it quietly reshape local and national education policy? And who is Leonard Leo, and why is he so influential in this fight? Alyssa Bowen, deputy executive director of True North Research and the director of True North’s Equality Project, explains.

Have you ever wondered why the rich and powerful seem to have so many opinions about public education, especially when neither they nor their children have attended public schools? This is the first of a two-part series exploring how the rich and powerful are cashing out on public education. Today, we’re looking at the big picture: the historical, decades-long agenda by wealthy donors and corporate interests to privatize schools, weaken unions, and limit what educators can teach. Our guest is Lisa Graves, founder and Executive Director of True North Research.

Mentioned in this episode: Join the Movement for Paid Student Teaching

Mentioned in this episode: Tell Congress to protect Medicaid funding - https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/action-center/take-action/dont-slash-medicaid-and-childrens-health-careCall in and share your story - Call 866-426-2631Find out more about Medicaid’s impact in your school district, congressional district, or state.Organize locally using this toolkit: https://www.nea.org/resource-library/toolkit-ideas-organize-locally-protect-students-and-public-schools

Mentioned in this episode: Safe Zone policies - https://www.nea.org/resource-library/safe-zone-school-districtsNEA’s Immigration Resource Hub - https://www.nea.org/resource-library/guidance-immigration-issuesOpen letter to Higher Ed admin - https://www.nea.org/open-letter-protect-speech-college-and-university-campusesLegal resources for immigrant educatorshttps://iamerica.org/legal-help/https://ailalawyer.com/

The Trump administration is waging war against diversity, equity, and inclusion. But what does that mean for educators when it comes to discussing race, equity, and history in the classroom? How can schools continue to foster inclusive learning environments despite these restrictions? Alice O’Brien, general counsel for the National Education Association, walks through your rights, risks, and opportunities to push back against anti-equality policies and fear tactics.

With the rise of social media and constant online communication, bullying is affecting students in new, pervasive ways, and schools are often on the front lines of addressing it. Madeline Micou, a middle school counselor with over two decades of experience in education, shares her insights on the realities of cyberbullying, how it differs from traditional bullying, and what educators and families can do to combat it effectively.

A conversation with Kwame Alexander: a poet, educator, and best-selling author of The Crossover, Booked, The Door of No Return, and so many other books that have inspired young readers across the country. In celebration of NEA’s Read Across America, Kwame has teamed up with NEA for a unique project—bringing literature and music together with a jazz-infused reading of The Crossover. You can hear Kwame’s special 10th anniversary reading at https://www.nea.org/crossover.

In 2020, collective bargaining for public sector workers returned to Virginia after a nearly 50-year ban—a huge win for Virginia educators. But change doesn't happen overnight. Fairfax Education Association President Leslie Houston joins the show to talk about how educators in Fairfax, Virginia came together to create their first collective bargaining agreement since the ban, and what other districts can do to bring similar wins to their schools.

Read more from Mary Ellen about how low pay affects education across the nation, and how unions are helping educators get the pay increases they deserve: https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/dear-educators-youre-still-not-paid-enough As the nation’s largest labor union, we stand in solidarity with the Costco Teamsters in their fight for a fair contract. Just as we fight for the rights and dignity of educators and their communities, we proudly stand with all workers demanding the wages and benefits they deserve.

Learn more about the Washington Education Association’s Apprenticeship Residency in Teaching https://www.washingtonea.org/events-training/residency/

Learn more about Read Across America, and access the calendar: https://www.nea.org/readacrossamerica Check out Simon B. Rhymin' : https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/read-across-america/find-your-book/simon-b-rhymin