More Than a Seat at the Table Podcast

The episode features a conversation with Vince Marigna, CEO of the Breakthrough Collaborative, and Zaniya, one of the program's graduates, discussing how giving college students a robust summer teaching experience that includes professional development and mentoring can lead to a diverse teaching workforce.

 

Vince Marigna is CEO of Breakthrough Collaborative, a national network of 25 affiliates dedicated to expanding pathways to college and careers in education. Breakthrough prepares students to succeed in college and cultivates the next generation of educators, building a future where every young person has the opportunity to learn, lead, and thrive.

 

Zaniya Harrison is a 2025 graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She’s an alumna of KIPP New Jersey, Breakthrough New York, Teach For America Ignite Fellowship, and the All Stars Project New Jersey. Currently, she’s a member of Teach For America’s 2025 Corps. She’s also a sixth-grade science teacher in the Newark Charter School District. 

 

Listen to Co-Director Romie Robertson as she describes the work that Journey into Education & Teaching (JET) does, building paraeducator-to-teacher pipelines to diversify the educator workforce so that school faculty reflect the students and families they serve.

In this episode, we sit down with Tammy Warner (Distinctive Success Solutions), Lisa DiMartino (the Rhode Island Foundation), Betzabel Vazquez, and Simona Simpson-Thomas (Freedom Dreams). These four individuals and their organizations are engaged in a collective impact approach to increasing the diversity of the educator workforce in Rhode Island. 

Tammy, Lisa, Betzabel, and Simona will share their successes, challenges, and advice for others who are working toward educator workforce diversification.

Join us to learn how funders, community partners, policymakers, and educators in Rhode Island are breaking down silos, building trust, and collaborating to make a larger impact.

In this episode, we welcome Jalene Tamerat, educator, leader, and advocate for teacher sustainability. As a faculty member at Boston University Wheelock College of Education, she leads initiatives supporting leadership and teacher diversification. Jalene is also co-author of Education Across Borders and a consultant for the MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education.

Today, we explore her passion project, Kintsugi Educator Retreats, designed to help teachers of Color unwind, heal, and sustain their passion for teaching. Inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, these retreats provide restorative spaces to process challenges, build resilience, and reconnect with purpose.

Join us as we discuss:

• Why rest and renewal are essential for teachers of Color
• The systemic challenges leading to burnout
• How retreats and wellness practices foster longevity in education

This episode is a must-listen for educators and advocates committed to sustaining and supporting teachers of Color.

If you're interested in learning more about Kintsugi Educator Retreats, reach out to info@kintsugieducators.com.

Join us as we interview guests Pema Latshang and Jawad Brown of Teach Western Mass.  Teach Western Mass builds and bolsters a diverse, sustainable educational workforce by providing alternative pathways to classroom careers and transformative educator opportunities to achieve educational equity in the Western Massachusetts region. Through their certification program and ongoing support, they work to eliminate the barriers that have kept talented BIPOC teachers from serving the schools and students of Western Massachusetts.

Pema Latshang is the Founding Executive Director of Teach Western Mass. At the time of recording, Jawad Brown was the Manger of Teacher Development at Teach Western Mass. He is now Expert Teacher in Math at Holyoke Public Schools.

If you'd like to learn more about the Great Schools Partnership's Diversifying the Educator Workforce Collaborative, visit us at https://www.greatschoolspartnership.org/dew-collaborative/

This is the second and final episode featuring a live panel of five powerful voices who are leading DEW work across New England. This episode continues to build off last week’s, delving into the topics of leaders of color, teacher fellowships, and coalition building. Listeners will leave this episode with concrete ways to support leaders of color, as well as both logistical and theoretical things to consider when creating a coalition in your district.

This panel discussion was recorded during an extended session at the 2024 School Redesign in Action Conference with moderators Danielle Pierre and Leah Tuckman, senior associates at Great Schools Partnership.

Panelists include:
Devin Morris, Executive Director, The Teachers’ Lounge, MA
Ralph Saint-Louis, Science Teacher, Lowell High School, MA, and Senior Policy Fellow, Teach Plus 
Stacy Szczesiul, Associate Dean, UMASS Lowell, MA
Quinci Worthey, DEIJ Director, Concord School District, NH
Mikaela Simms, DEIJ Director, Windham Southeast Supervisory Union, VT

Looking ahead to the next season: Want to highlight one of your DEW best practices? We would love to spotlight your initiative and amplify your voice. Feel free to reach out to dpierre@greatschoolspartnership.org to get involved.

This is the first of two episodes that features a live panel of five powerful voices who are leading DEW work across New England. The panelists introduce themselves and their work and discuss initiatives they are leading in their school districts, communities, and states. You'll hear about paraprofessional to teacher pathways, legislative work related to equitable pay for paraprofessionals, coalitions focused on diversifying the educator workforce, and efforts to make school buildings welcoming to teachers and administrators of color. 

This panel discussion was recorded during an extended session at the 2024 School Redesign in Action Conference with moderators Danielle Pierre and Leah Tuckman, senior associates at Great Schools Partnership. Panelists include:

• Devin Morris, Executive Director, The Teachers’ Lounge, MA
• Ralph Saint-Louis, Science Teacher and Teacher Leader, Lowell High School, MA
• Stacy Szczesiul, Associate Dean, UMASS Lowell, MA
• Quinci Worthey, DEIJ Director, Concord School District, NH
• Mikaela Simms, DEIJ Director, Windham Southeast Supervisory Union, VT

This episode features Dr. Día Bryant, former executive director of the Education Trust New York and current partner with Context Matters Strategy Group. In this episode Dr. Bryant brings new light to the often talked about topic of teacher diversification, including how to support teacher diversity through fostering both the psychological well being of staff members as well as removing barriers to entry into the profession.