29 min listen
Teacher shortages, special education, and kids of color
Teacher shortages, special education, and kids of color
ratings:
Length:
21 minutes
Released:
Mar 3, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Schools around the country are facing a huge shortage of special education teachers and other staff. How is the teacher shortage impacting kids with disabilities or learning and thinking differences? What about kids who are marginalized?Co-host Marissa Wallace starts the episode with a story about how her husband, a Black man, was offered a special education teaching job even though he’s in the field of finance. This kicks off a discussion with co-host Julian Saavedra about why there’s a teacher shortage — and its impact. Julian and Marissa share their experiences as parents and teachers, and they react to news stories from around the country. They also share tips for families on what to do when schools say they can’t deliver services because of staff shortages.To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org. Understood is a nonprofit and social impact organization dedicated to shaping a world where the 1 in 5 people who learn and think differently can thrive. Learn more about The Opportunity Gap and all our podcasts at u.org/podcasts. Copyright © 2022 Understood for All, Inc. All rights reserved.
Released:
Mar 3, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (49)
Omicron, special education, and marginalized communities: Schools are reeling from the impact of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. But what does it mean for special education, kids with learning and thinking differences, and marginalized communities? Hosts Julian Saavedra and Marissa Wallace discuss how they’re managing the new COVID wave as both parents and teachers. They get an update on how schools around the country are responding, with some going virtual, others staying in-person, and — in a few cases — even closing because of a lack of staff. Marissa shares about how her virtual charter school is approaching the Omicron wave and special education. And Julian shares a poignant story about a student who ran away from home and for whom in-person school is a safe place. Understood is a nonprofit and social impact organization dedicated to shaping a world where the 1 in 5 people who learn and think differently can thrive. Learn more about “The Opportunity Gap” and all our podcas by The Opportunity Gap