In this heartfelt episode of UTalks, host Dr. Laci Coppins-Robbins sits down with Senora Toni Fink, a 25-year veteran educator at Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School and the 2023 ULC Alumna of the Year. Toni shares her inspiring journey from doubting her ability to become a teacher to achieving her dream through the Urban Learning Collaborative's alternative licensure program.

Toni reflects on her experiences teaching second grade entirely in Spanish, the challenges of urban education, and the transformative power of community involvement and mentorship. She highlights the importance of building confidence and relationships with students and families, emphasizing that these connections are at the heart of educational success.

This episode also explores the value of literacy initiatives, overcoming barriers in marginalized communities, and creating opportunities for all learners. Toni’s passion for education and dedication to making a difference shine through as she shares success stories of her students and discusses the lasting impact of her work.

To learn more, go to urban-learning.org.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this inspiring episode of UTalks, host Dr. Clavon Byrd welcomes 2023–2024 Teacher of the Year, Roxanne Heard, from the Milwaukee Environmental Sciences Academy (MESA). Roxanne shares her unexpected journey into teaching, starting as a para and office assistant and rising to become an award-winning educator. She reflects on the importance of building connections with students, the value of mentorship, and strategies for fostering literacy and growth in the classroom.

Roxanne discusses how her classroom became a haven of learning and structure, leading her students to make remarkable strides in reading proficiency. Discover how she taps into students’ interests to cultivate a love for reading and overcomes challenges like budget constraints and large class sizes through creativity and community support.

The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion on the future of education, emphasizing the need for equitable funding, smaller class sizes, and personalized learning programs. Dr. Byrd and Roxanne inspire educators and aspiring teachers to see the profound impact they can make, no matter their starting point.

To learn more, go to urban-learning.org.

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In this UTalks episode, Dr. Laci Coppins-Robbins interviews Joshua Capodarco, the 2024 Alum of the Year and agricultural educator, who shares his journey from a city background to a passion-driven career in agriculture education. Capodarco discusses his transition into teaching, inspired by work on various farms and at a Milwaukee nonprofit focused on food justice, and highlights his efforts to make agriculture relatable to urban students, often by connecting lessons to food literacy and sustainability. He shares initiatives like establishing a "free store" at his Sun Prairie school to address food insecurity without stigma. Capodarco credits Urban Learning Collaborative for equipping him with essential teaching skills and praises the supportive community that helped shape his approach.

To learn more, please visit urban-learning.org.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.