Shows
The DEY Podcast with Kisha ReidEp 26: Starting with Yourself First In this episode, Denisha Jones talks about the new DEY framework, Fostering Healthy Identity in Young Children. Supporting positive identity development in the early years begins with important self-work and unpacking your fears. 2025-03-1818 min
Dr. Andy's Poetry and Technology HourDenisha Coco Blossom and Anthony Xavier JacksonOn the 2/19/25 Edition of Dr Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour:Denisha Coco Blossom joins the show to discuss how she aims to uplift the world with poetry. She cites music as an influence of her early poetics and reflects upon her journey from open-mic nights to becoming a published author. She then shares a poem from her book The Makings of a Project Queen titled, “Welcome to Opportunity” about her time at the University of California, Davis. Blossom then explains her role in Sacramento-Area Youth Speaks, where she inspires the community and individuals alike through sharing culturall...2025-02-2047 min
That's a Hard NoPlay is the Way: Saying 'No' to Too Much StructureDenisha Jones is the Executive Director of Defending the Early Years and an adjunct professor at Sarah Lawrence College and Howard University. Her research interests include organizing activist research projects that examine grassroots movements to achieve racial justice in education, documenting the value of play as a tool for liberation with an emphasis on global approaches to play, and collaborating with parents and educators to foster positive racial, ethnic, and cultural identity development in the early years. Her first co-edited book, Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice, was published in December 2020 by Haymarket Books. She...2024-10-0156 min
Street Data Pod: Imagining the Next Generation of Education[RE-RELEASE] Episode 6: “We Need to Marginalize Standardized Testing” with Young Whan ChoiWe are back for another re-release from season 2 with Young Whan Choi! In this episode, we explore ways of being and leading in education that truly center students. Young Whan implores us to “marginalize” standardized testing, or at least push it to the periphery, as he offers a vision of authentic, community-based, performance assessments that demonstrate what students know and are able to do. He exposes the irony that, while many new leaders evoke the principle of being “student-centered”, students themselves are often painfully absent from professional learning agendas, except perhaps as an aggregated data point. And finally, Young Whan hel...2024-07-0248 min
Coming From Left Field (Audio)“More Than a Score” with Jesse HagopianJesse Hagopian is a high school teacher in Seattle, a union organizer, co-author of several books, and a powerful force in pushing back against the "over-testing" of students. Jesse’s writing has appeared in publications like The Seattle Times, The Nation, The Progressive, and his commentary on education and politics has been featured in Time magazine, The New Yorker, The PBS News Hour with Gwen Ifill, The Dan Rather Report, and Democracy Now!
Jesse’s website: https://iamaneducator.com/
Order the books
More Than a Score: The New Uprising Agains...2024-06-211h 01
Coming From Left Field (Video)“More Than a Score” with Jesse HagopianJesse Hagopian is a high school teacher in Seattle, a union organizer, co-author of several books, and a powerful force in pushing back against the "over-testing" of students. Jesse’s writing has appeared in such publications as The Seattle Times, The Nation, and The Progressive, and his commentary on education and politics has been featured in Time magazine, The New Yorker, The PBS News Hour with Gwen Ifill, The Dan Rather Report, and Democracy Now!
Jesse’s website: https://iamaneducator.com/
Order the books
More Than a Score: The New Uprising Agains...2024-06-211h 01
Self-Awakened LifestylePresenting Teacher Tom’s Podcast (Dr. Denisha Jones)Dr. Denisha Jones is the Executive Director of Defending the Early Years, an education justice advocacy and activist organization.“Something has gone wrong that we've made kids ‘uncurious’ — from kindergarten to twelfth grade. And that's what the entire schooling is.” — Dr. Denisha JonesDr. Denisha Jones is the Executive Director of Defending the Early Years. She is a former kindergarten teacher and preschool director who has spent the past 20 years in teacher education. Denisha is an education justice advocate and activist working with various grassroots organizations to dismantle the neolibera...2024-02-2725 min
The DEY Podcast with Kisha ReidEP025: Slowing Down with Kisha ReidIn this episode, Kisha Reid talks with Denisha Jones about her new nature-based discovery child care program, her visions for inspiring more teachers to choose the power of play, and her plans to slow down.2024-02-2230 min
Making It: How to Be a Successful Online EntrepreneurPresenting Teacher Tom’s Podcast (Dr. Denisha Jones)Dr. Denisha Jones is the Executive Director of Defending the Early Years, an education justice advocacy and activist organization.“Something has gone wrong that we've made kids ‘uncurious’ — from kindergarten to twelfth grade. And that's what the entire schooling is.” — Dr. Denisha JonesDr. Denisha Jones is the Executive Director of Defending the Early Years. She is a former kindergarten teacher and preschool director who has spent the past 20 years in teacher education. Denisha is an education justice advocate and activist working with various grassroots organizations to dismantle the neoliberal assault on public edu...2024-02-1326 min
Teacher Tom's Podcast: Taking Play SeriouslyHow Did We Get Uncurious Kids? (Dr. Denisha Jones)Welcome to Teacher Tom’s Podcast, which is all about taking play seriously. In each episode, Teacher Tom supports early childhood educators, parents, and other listeners with information, techniques, and best practices to provide children with an authentic play-filled childhood.Dr. Denisha Jones is the Executive Director of Defending the Early Years, an education justice advocacy and activist organization.“Something has gone wrong that we've made kids ‘uncurious’ — from kindergarten to twelfth grade. And that's what the entire schooling is.” — Dr. Denisha JonesDr. Denisha Jones is the Executiv...2024-02-0824 min
Conscious Pathways: Conversations for Transformative EducationAdvocating for Educational Equity with Dr. Denisha JonesIn this empowering episode of Conscious Pathways, Brittney Carey engages in a thought-provoking conversation with the incredible Dr. Denisha Jones. Together, they delve into the pages of the impactful book "Black Lives Matter at School," which Dr. Jones co-edited.
Dr. Denisha Jones, Executive Director of Defending the Early Years and a passionate education justice advocate, draws from her extensive experience as a former kindergarten teacher and preschool director. With over 20 years in teacher education, she sheds light on the crucial role of early educators in the ongoing battle for educational equity.
Tune in as they...2023-12-121h 09
Banking on KCDenisha Jones of Sweet Peaches Cobblers: Peaches Are Their PassionOn this episode of Banking on KC, Denisha Jones, founder of Sweet Peaches Cobblers, joins host Kelly Scanlon to discuss how perfecting her grandmother’s peach cobbler during the pandemic led to a wholesale business featuring a line of frozen cobblers and pie fillings distributed throughout the Midwest. Tune in to discover: How a pandemic pivot launched Denisha’s entrepreneurial journey. How G.I.F.T. program grants helped fuel the growth of Sweet Peaches Cobblers. Insights into refining your company pitch, finding a mentor, understanding your finances, and taking advantage of Kansas City’s entrepreneurial resource...2023-10-1125 min
That Early Childhood NerdNERD_0280 A Conversation with DEY’s Denisha JonesDenisha Jones of Defending the Early Years (DEY) joins host Heather Bernt-Santy to talk about the kinds of early learning experiences children deserve, issues of equity in our work, and why it matters that we get it right.2023-05-1748 min
WAESUP WAESN??The National Movement for Black Lives Matter in the SchoolsTracy and Chris are joined by leaders in the national BLM at School movement, Denisha Jones, Jesse Hagopian, and Darrin Hoop. We talk history, organizing, barriers, and how to sustain the movement.2023-03-031h 16Street Data Pod: Imagining the Next Generation of EducationEpisode 6: “We Need to Marginalize Standardized Testing” with Young Whan ChoiIn an emotional Episode 6, Alcine and Shane get real with author and educator Young Whan Choi, witnessing his personal story of marginalization in school and how it took another Asian man–during college orientation–to help him see himself for the first time in American history. Together, they explore ways of being and leading in education that truly center students. Young Whan implores us to “marginalize” standardized testing, or at least push it to the periphery, as he offers a vision of authentic, community-based, performance assessments that demonstrate what students know and are able to do. He exposes the irony th...2022-11-0347 minThat Early Childhood NerdNERD_0254 Liberated By PlayIn this episode, Lizz Nolasco, Rixa Evershed and Heather unpack this quote from Denisha Jones: "Joy, engagement and reflection are the keys to liberation for both children and teachers. Through the freedom to take risks knowing they are loved, the children are liberated from deficit orientations, and adult imposed limitations on what play should look like. While liberated, they exhibit a type of confidence that only develops through freedom and love."2022-10-1244 min
The DEY Podcast with Kisha ReidEp014: Denisha Jones and The Future of DEYDEY's Executive Director, Denisha Jones, joins Kisha Reid to discuss hew new role and plans for the future. 2022-10-1227 min
Get Top Full Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Social ScienceBlack Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice by Denisha JonesPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/514194 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice Author: Denisha Jones Narrator: Lisa Reneé Pitts, Mirron Willis, Kirsten Potter Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 10 hours 28 minutes Release date: September 13, 2022 Genres: Social Science Publisher's Summary: 'Black Lives Matter at School is an essential resource for all those seeking to build an antiracist school system.' —Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award-winning and #1 New York Times Bestselling Author. Black Lives Matter at School succinctly generalizes lessons from successful challenges to institutional racism that have been won through the Black Liv...2022-09-1330 min
Access Unmissable Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Current Affairs, Law, & PoliticsBlack Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice by Denisha JonesPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/514194 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice Author: Denisha Jones Narrator: Lisa Reneé Pitts, Mirron Willis, Kirsten Potter Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 10 hours 28 minutes Release date: September 13, 2022 Genres: Current Affairs, Law, & Politics Publisher's Summary: 'Black Lives Matter at School is an essential resource for all those seeking to build an antiracist school system.' —Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award-winning and #1 New York Times Bestselling Author. Black Lives Matter at School succinctly generalizes lessons from successful challenges to institutional racism that have been won through the...2022-09-1330 min
BIG PICTURE Social Emotional Learning PodcastEp. 96 - Social Justice Conversations in Preschool, with Nadia Jaboneta and Brian SilveiraBrian Silveira and Nadia Jaboneta are Pedagogical Leaders at Pacific Primary Preschool in San Francisco, California. They each bring about 25 years experience as Early Childhood Educators, and clearly that combination of 50 years teaching experience has only deepened their commitment to providing relevant and alive education for their young students. Their bios, below, are extensive and impressive, and I hope you’ll check them out.
I invited Nadia and Brian into this conversation because they were both featured teachers in a recently released film titled “Reflecting on Anti-Bias Education in Action: The Early Years.” Definitely worth watching.
Nadi...2022-06-2446 min
Old Gold & In Your EarsThe Outside In: Mental HealthThe news cycle is constantly changing and many of us struggle to keep up with its fast-paced rhythm. On “The Outside In”, we talk about the important news stories that dominate headlines for weeks and months at a time. Then, we relate these stories back to our campus here at Wake Forest and break down the issues with experts from our community.
In this episode, Sophie Yass (‘22) and Stephanie Lu (‘25) explore the mark that the pandemic has left on the mental health of students and how it has exacerbated pre-existing issues like health disparities and funding constraints. The host...2022-01-2120 min
Heartland Labor ForumThe Latest Scam Scare: Critical Race TheoryIn the past 6 months, Critical Race Theory has been at the front of a media storm of fear and misinformation about the role of racism in our history. This week on the Heartland Labor Forum, we’ll clear up these misconceptions and ask education expert Dr. Denisha Jones what Critical Race Theory is, and what’s behind the […]2021-07-0659 min
Talk Out of SchoolCritical Race Theory within the context of NYC public education with Dr. Denisha Jones and Dr. David E. KirklandResources:- The Right Has Chosen Critical Race Theory as Its New Boogeyman to Scare Voters – by David E Kirkland- Honesty on critical race theory – by Dianne Ravitch- What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? - By Stephen Sawchuk
2021-07-0356 min
Haymarket Books LiveBlack Lives Matter at School: Iowa EditionEducation activists Lisa Covington, Jesse Hagopian, Denisha Jones, Lucket Kiche, and Matè Muhammad, in conversation about the struggle against systemic racism in schools, how we can win real educational justice and other lessons from Black Lives Matter at School organizing in Iowa and beyond.
Order your copy of Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice from Prairie Lights Bookstore here: https://www.prairielightsbooks.com/book/9781642592702
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Speakers:
Matè Muhammad is an activist, organizer and cultural worker from Des Moines, IA. Matè is a passionate writer, graffiti artist and musician and began his activism in 2014 after the tragic pol...2021-05-261h 23
Haymarket Books LiveThe Racist History of Standardized TestingAwo Okaikor Aryee-Price, Jesse Hagopian, and Denisha Jones discuss the racist history of standardized testing and its impacts today.
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Join antiracist educators and organizers for a conversation about the history of eugenics and standardized testing, the racist impacts of high stakes testing on learning and instruction and how we can build a movement against the testing regime.
Speakers:
Awo Okaikor Aryee-Price, Ed.D is a former classroom teacher, teacher-leader, and organizer, who is committed to collectively undoing and unlearning the racist, colonial, patriarchal, and other oppressive systems and structures that hinder us all from being able to access our...2021-05-071h 29
Haymarket Books LiveBlack Lives Matter at School: Early Childhood EditionJoin Black Lives Matter at School educators for a conversation about the new uprising for educational justice in early childhood education.
Education activists Takiema Bunche-Smith, Laleña Garcia, Angela Harris, Denisha Jones, Makai Kellogg and Nancy Carlsson Paige discuss the struggle against systemic racism in schools, how we can win real educational justice and the lessons from Black Lives Matter at School organizing focused on early childhood education.
These early childhood educators will discuss how racism impacts the early educational experiences of Black children and will share ideas for centering Black Lives Matter in School from the struggle against systemic r...2021-03-231h 24
Haymarket Books LiveMaking Black Lives Matter From the Streets to the Classroom w/ Opal Tometi & more (2-4-21)Join Opal Tometi, Brian Jones, Denisha Jones, Jesse Hagopian and Marshé Doss in conversation about Black Lives Matter and education justice.
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Join us for conversation about making Black lives matter in our schools and beyond as part of this year's Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action.
In her foreword to Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice Opal Tometi writes: "Both within classrooms and outside the school grounds, Black lives are under threat. The events that led to the creation of Black Lives Matter—the murder in 2012 of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of his...2021-03-051h 26
Haymarket Books LiveBlack Lives Matter at School California Edition (2-3-21)Join Black Lives Matter at School activists and educators for a conversation about the new uprising for educational justice in California.
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Education activists Nathaniel Genene, Jesse Hagopian, Taunya Jaco, Denisha Jones, and Cecily Myart-Cruz in conversation about the struggle against systemic racism in schools, how we can win real educational justice and get cops out of our schools and other lessons from Black Lives Matter at School organizing in California and beyond. The event will include also include a statement from Derrick Sanderlin. #carenotcops
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Cecily Myart-Cruz is a teacher, activist and the United Teachers Los Angeles President...2021-03-051h 24
Haymarket Books LiveBlack Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice (12-2-2020)Jesse Hagopian and Denisha Jones, editors of Black Lives Matter at School, discuss antiracist education with contributor Brian Jones.
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Join us for the launch of Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Education Justice, an essential collection of essays, interviews, poems, resolutions, and more from educators, students, and activists who have been building the Black Lives Matter at School movement across the country, including a foreword by Opal Tometi.
“Black Lives Matter at School is an essential resource for all those seeking to build an antiracist school system." —Ibram Kendi
“Black Lives Matter at School centers the humanity of our...2021-03-041h 27
The Lurnist ShowBonus Mentorship Panel E6What does mentorship mean to you? Why is it relevant for all stages in life? The conversation we had amongst these incredible women is one to not miss. No more struggling to find the confidence to go and do what you always wanted to do, this episode has the motivation you need!
CONNECT WITH THEM!
DEEPTI JAIN Email, LinkedIn, Twitter
DENISHA JENKINS LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram.
KARINA JONES LinkedIn
ERIN RANDAL LinkedIn
YVETTE FRANCINO LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
...2021-02-2158 min
Talk Out of School2020 Election Recap With Diane Ravitch and Denisha JonesResources and Links:Video: Denisha Jones’ question about standardized testing and Joe Biden’s response at the AFT forum in January 2020.Education Next - What a Democratic Sweep This Fall Would Mean for EducationEducation Next - Biden’s Regulatory Agenda on Education
2020-11-0455 min
Warriors of Education PodcastEpisode 17: Bringing Black Lives Matter Curriculum into the Schools: A Conversation With Denisha Jones,Laleña Garcia, and Martin UrbachToday's podcast focuses on The Black Lives Matter Movement and how the it is leading to bringing BLM curriculum to all schools. We talk about the Thirteen Principles of the Movement for Black Lives into child-friendly language, in order to support classroom teachers beginning this work.The conversation is with national and NYC Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action Action steering committee members Denisha Jones, Laleña Garcia and Martin Urback
Denisha Jones is the Director of the Art of Teaching Program at Sarah Lawrence College. She began her career in education as a kindergarten an...2020-06-1533 min
School MeBringing the Black Lives Matter Week of Action to Your SchoolErika Strauss Chavarria and Denisha Jones discuss the importance of bringing a racial and social justice lens to the classroom, and how educators can bring the Black Lives Matter week of action to their schools.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the School Me podcast so that you’ll never miss an episode!
2019-11-0845 min
Clearing the FOG with co-hosts Margaret Flowers and Kevin ZeeseEducation is Under Attack, How We Fight Back Last week, the US Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos as the new head of the Department of Education. DeVos, who has no experience in public education, is a wealthy Republican donor and proponent of vouchers and charter schools. There was widespread opposition to her appointment by teachers and the public. Public schools and the rights of teachers have been under attack under the past two presidents, and DeVos is surely to continue that trend. We will discuss the struggle for education in the US, its connections to other struggles and what people can do to strengthen and protect education with...2017-02-131h 04