The Humanity of Teaching: Lessons from Kareem Weaver

More Than a Test

In this episode, our host Laura Glaab sits down with the inspiring Kareem Weaver to delve into the profound importance of love in education and its impact on enduring and implementing successful educational practices. We explore Kareem's journey from being a teacher to becoming a principal and his unwavering dedication to helping students succeed. Throughout the conversation, Kareem emphasizes the need for educators to let go of baggage, be vulnerable, and work together to create a culture of honesty and growth. Join us as we uncover the critical role of literacy in achieving equity and access to human rights and challenge the conventional standards of what it means for a child to receive an excellent education. We also discuss the emotional impact on teachers when they realize they could have done better in helping students learn to read, as well as the necessity of humility and accountability in educational leadership. Get ready to be inspired and empowered by the thought-provoking insights and stories shared in this episode!

Timestamps

00:00 The Reading League: Key in literacy movement.

05:32 Navigating criticism in education and its impact.

14:30 Reckoning with life's center, teaching compassion.

16:50 Unconditional love, acceptance, and honesty in relationships.

24:31 Realizing life's preciousness, taking action today.

27:53 Accessing information is vital for informed citizens.

33:54 Belief in making a difference despite challenges.

37:12 Dedicated teachers remember and seek improvement.

47:29 Partisan concerns but encouraged by educator leadership

52:15 Prioritizing kids' needs over personal hardships was commendable.

56:38 Urging for excellence and shedding baggage.

01:01:58 Influential book featuring Jamaican accent, artistic language.

01:05:51 Sharing life experiences to help others learn.

Connect with Kareem Weaver

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareem-weaver-1416596/

Website: https://www.fulcrum-oakland.org/who

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About More Than a Test

Our goal is to take a hard look at the shortcomings in literacy education and tech while still finding a sense of hope in what's possible in education through learning and technology.

Our guests include non-profit leaders, tech CEOs, state and district leadership, research leaders from top institutions, and a few teachers with stories that might bring you to tears.

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0JWhVG2nXZfC3FxOviFoR0

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-than-a-test/id1685012543

Listen on Other Platforms: https://more-than-a-test.captivate.fm/

About Amira Learning

Amira is the world’s first intelligent reading assistant that provides personalized tutoring to students at school, after school, or home. Students working with Amira experience significant improvements in their reading fluency.

About your Host, Laura Glaab

Laura Glaab is a VP of Strategy at Amira Learning. She is a lifetime educator following behind educator parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.

She's worked as a teacher and leader in public, private, and charter schools in places as far as India and as close to home as Boulder, Colorado. She holds degrees from Stanford, the University of Wyoming, and Kellogg School of Management.

Everyone should read Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw and the entire Piggie and Elephant Collection by Mo Willems.

Connect with Laura

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-glaab/

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Visit Amira Learning: https://www.amiralearning.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amira-learning

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amira-learning

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amira_learning/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Amira-Learning-App-100064672554061/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmiraLearning

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Produced by Old Soul: https://bit.ly/3KuYfrD