Episode 149: SHAPE America EDI Podcast, Episode 1: What Is Social Justice?

SHAPE America's Podcast - Professional Development for Health & Physical Education Teachers

Sean is joined by award-winning teacher educator Kenny Smith to talk about social justice, how it applies to education, and how teachers can create and support a culturally responsive environment. Kenny shares ideas for how to create agency in your classroom and bring out student voice. Finally, Sean and Kenny discuss how to connect with students in the current day and age.
Kenneth M. Smith is a National Board Certified Teacher and Montgomery County’s Washington Post Teacher of the Year for 2018. As a lead teacher in Maryland’s Montgomery County Public School system, he has taught several courses under the social studies umbrella including United States Government, AP US History, and African-American Studies. Currently he teaches Introduction to Sociology and a course that he designed for the county called Hip-Hop History and Culture. He is a strong advocate for teacher leadership outside of the classroom as well. He serves on the leadership team for the BOND (Building our Network of Diversity) Project which is an initiative focused on increasing the hiring, development and retention of male educators of color. He is also on the executive committee for the Minority Scholars Program (MSP), a youth-driven, social justice initiative designed to address the opportunity gaps that exist within the educational system. He’s dedicated to building the capacity of educators to be reflective, culturally responsive practitioners and social justice advocates for traditionally marginalized learners. Currently, MSP is partnering with the NEA to train students to lead professional development for teachers on how to engage their students on issues dealing with racial injustice in the classroom.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @mrsmithinspires