On this episode, I Zoom in Karla Vigil and we chat about culturally responsive teaching and the work she does with EduLeaders R.I.
Karla E. Vigil is an Education Strategies Specialist at Highlander Institute where she supports the implementation of blended and personalized learning initiatives in classrooms across Rhode Island. Prior to joining Highlander Institute, Karla served as a 4th grade classroom teacher dedicated to broadening students' perspectives through multicultural education.
Karla is a social justice advocate committed to promoting equity in education. She recently helped found EduLeaders of Color Rhode Island - a statewide initiative that aims to challenge inequities in education, strengthen local organizations led by people of color, and foster community partnerships. She also regularly leads workshops on culturally responsive teaching and diversity and equity in education.
Karla earned her Masters of Arts in Teaching with a focus on social justice and multicultural education from Roger Williams University through the Gordon Teacher Residency Program. She earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island.
Karla was born in El Salvador and now lives in East Providence with her partner and sons- Taliq Tillman, Reuben Tillman IV and baby Kamil Howard-Vigil.
On this episode, I hangout with Gretchen Schultek and we chat about her journey to becoming an edupreneur.
Gretchen (Schultek) Bridgers is author of Always A Lesson. In German translation, Gretchen’s last name “Schultek” means ‘Teacher.’ It must have been fate that she is an educator today!
She was a general education teacher for 8 years. She has taught grades 2, 3, and 5 at both low and high performing elementary schools in Charlotte, North Carolina. She currently works for The New Teacher Project in multiple roles, but most often a Teacher Development Coach for first year teachers.
In 2006, she received her Bachelor’s degree at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. In 2010, she received her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Supervision from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In the fall of 2012, Gretchen received her National Board Certification as an Early Childhood Generalist.
In 2014, Gretchen published her first book for new teachers called “Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College.” Click here to purchase at a discount or clickhere to purchase at full price. She is also currently writing a children’s book.
On this episode, I Zoom in Courtney Kofeldt and we chat about online learning in K12 Education.
Courtney Kofeldt is the Supervisor of Educational Technology at PA Leadership Charter School. A K-12 cyber and blended learning environment. As a Supervisor of Educational Technology, she utilizes her background in both education and technology to bring a unique vision to PALCS and its programs. During her time in the position, PALCS has jumped into social media, adopted Google Apps for Education and added another LMS, Canvas in addition to Moodle. She helped spearhead the iPALCS (iPad) program which put 2:1 devices into the hands of K-5 and 9th grade students at PALCS.
Courtney has also presented at many conferences most recently at ISTE, iNacol, PETE and C and K12 Online. She is also a Nearpod PioNear, Google Certified Educator (Level 2), and an Alpha Squirrel. She was recently selected as a Next Generation Leader. This was awarded to me by CoSN and Edscoop. The award annually recognizes emerging K-12 school system technology leaders from across the country. She is extremely passionate and inspired by what technology can do for education, and how it can prepare students for the future and make them the problem solvers of today!
On this episode, I Zoom in with Bari A. Williams and we chat about the need for women and people of color to create their own opportunities, what she learned from Zuckerburg, inclusion and much more.
Bärí A. Williams is Head of Business Operations Management, North America at StubHub as of January 2017. In this role, she is responsible for business planning and operations, including cross functional work with Product, Marketing, Strategy, Partnerships, Customer Service, Trust and Safety to manage and oversee technical metrics, product innovation, key strategic partnerships and drive P&L results across the company.
Prior to StubHub, Ms. Williams was Lead Counsel for the Global Infrastructure, Development, and Operations (“Inbound”) Commercial Legal team at Facebook. In this role, she drafted and negotiated contracts supporting Facebook’s internet.org connectivity efforts, building aircrafts, satellites, and lasers, along with purchasing and procurement to keep the company running – from software and hardware for the development of new products for users, including marketing messenger bots for Tommy Hilfiger during Fashion Week, to deals for supplies and equipment needed to take care of Facebook employees worldwide. Additionally, she also successfully took on the passion project of developing strategy and implementing the launch Facebook’s Supplier Diversity Program, announced at White House Demo Day in 2015, and officially launched at NMSDC in October 2016. She also served on Facebook’s Black Employee Resource Group leadership team, which launched “Black Leadership Day” event.
Prior to joining Facebook, Ms. Williams was an attorney at CSAA Insurance Exchange, formerly known as AAA Insurance, where her work focused on commercial contracts, primarily in the IT space, data and privacy.
In addition to advising and counseling startups, Ms. Williams is a writer. Her writing has been featured in The New York Times, Fortune, TheRoot.com, WIRED, and Fast Company. She has been a featured speaker on panels at festivals and events, and has been featured on Elle.com (online feature of ElleMagazine), TheRoot.com, Levo League, and in Black Enterprise,Essence,and the Sept. 2017 Most Powerful Women print edition ofFortune magazines. She is a 2015 recipient of the National Bar Association’s “40 Under 40” award, recognizing young attorneys excelling in achievement, innovation, vision, leadership and legal community involvement in their careers, as well as their “Excellence in Legal Innovation” award, and a 2015 recipient of the Digital Diversity Network’s “Top 40 Under 40: Tech Diversity” award.
Ms. Williams is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley (BA, Mass Communications), St. Mary’s College of California (MBA), the University of California, Los Angeles (MA, African-American Studies), and the University of California, Hastings College of Law (JD). She is also very active in her community as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Links, Incorporated, and in political organizing and fundraising at the local, state, and national level. An Oakland native, she and her husband, Jaime, live in Oakland with their two children.
On The Dr. Will Show, I interview educators and entrepreneurs on leveling up. Each week I Zoom in someone who is dope and we chat about what it means to live your best life.
