Welcome to another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. In this episode, we welcome Stephanie Deutsch, acclaimed writer and critic whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Weekly Standard, The Millions blog, and numerous local publications. Ms. Deutsch is the author of You Need a Schoolhouse: Booker T. Washington, Julius Rosenwald, and the Building of Schools for the Segregated South, a compelling exploration of one of the most impactful educational partnerships in American history.

Growing up in segregated Arlington, Virginia, where she attended an all-white elementary school, Ms. Deutsch offers a personal perspective on how recent and lasting the impact of segregation remains. Through research and lived experience, she highlights educations power to drive change.

At the center of our conversation is the extraordinary collaboration between Booker T. Washington, founder of the Tuskegee Institute, and Julius Rosenwald, president and part-owner of Sears. Together, they started a transformative school-building program that led to the creation of over 5,000 Rosenwald Schools, which provided access to quality education for Black children across the segregated South. The generations that attended these schools would go on to become key leaders in the Civil Rights Movement, proving that education truly is the foundation of change.

Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. Today, we welcome Rosa E. Blackwell, a retired educator and former Superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools, who dedicated 36 years to transforming education and uplifting communities. Ms. Blackwell shares her personal journey growing up in Cincinnati, shaped by a foundation of faith, family, and work ethic. Influenced by teachers who held high expectations and showed respect for all students, she made it her mission to ensure every child, regardless of background, had access to quality education.

Ms. Blackwell highlights the critical role adults play in shaping the lives of young people, emphasizing that excuses should never be the reason children fall victim to low expectations. Her commitment to excellence and community empowerment is evident as she speaks passionately about the need to hold all students to high standards.

Our host, Dr. Canada and Ms. Blackwell reflect on their contrasting academic experiences: Dr. Canadas shaped by desegregation and Ms. Blackwells by segregation. This comparison opens a deeper conversation about the level of support students receive in different educational environments and the effects of systemic inequities. Ms. Blackwell discusses the integration of Cincinnatis school system. She shares her insights on the ongoing challenges of training teachers and administrators to effectively educate students across diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.

Welcome to another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. In this episode, we dive into Reauthoring Savage Inequalities: Narratives of Community Cultural Wealth in Urban Educational Environments, a powerful book exploring the dynamics that shape education in urban communities. Our host, Dr. Theresa J. Canada is not only leading this conversation, but shes also a contributing author. Her chapter, titled "Old School Urban Education: How Friends, Families, Communities, and Teachers Support Success in Early Childhood Education", centers on early childhood education, which has long been her passion and research focus.

Dr. Canada shares insights from her lived experiences and academic journey, highlighting the four key areas that have had a profound impact on educational outcomes for Black children in urban schools: friends, teachers, family, and community. Through personal reflection, she discusses how these support systems shaped her own path and how they continue to influence children today.

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast, we are honored to welcome Dr. Jacqueline Jones, a recognized policymaker, researcher, educator, and former President and CEO of the Foundation for Child Development. Dr. Jones brings decades of experience in both education policy and research, having served as the country's first Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Early Learning and as Senior Advisor on Early Learning to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Together, we explore the impact of the Abbott v. Burke decision, the pivotal 1998 New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that established the legal mandate for high-quality preschool programs in 30 underserved school districts, now known as the Abbott districts. These districts serve approximately 25% of New Jerseys public school students and contributed to the states reputation as a national leader in early childhood education.

Dr. Jones offers an in-depth analysis of the historical context, the legal and policy journey behind the Abbott decision, and the vital role research and advocacy played in its success. We delve into the foundational studies from the 1960s that continue to inform best practices in early education, and we discuss whats working, what still needs attention, and where the future of early childhood policy must focus.

Welcome to another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. In this episode, we take a moment to look forward and reflect on whats still to come on the podcast. As we continue exploring the profound legacy of school integration, we remain focused on the central question: What has been the real impact of desegregation on Black and Brown students and where are we now?

Join our host, Dr. Theresa J. Canada, as we outline the upcoming episodes that dive deep into: the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the broader impact of desegregation on the Puerto Rican and Latino communities, higher education and access, the crucial role of parents in a childs education, early childhood education and policy decisions in New Jersey, and so much more. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Dr. Canada believes it is essential to engage in honest and meaningful conversations about the psychological impact of school segregation and desegregation. Well explore how these experiences continue to influence the lives of students, families, and entire communities today.

These conversations are raw, real, and rooted in the belief that understanding our history is essential to shaping a more equitable future.

In this episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast, we take a moment to pause, reflect, and revisit the insightful conversations that have shaped our journey so far. Inspired by the stories and research in my book, Silk Stocking Sisters: Desegregation in New York City Schools, this podcast was created to educate, inform, and spark dialogue around Americas complex racial history, particularly the often overlooked realities of school desegregation.

Throughout our episodes, we've explored pivotal topics such as Boston's school desegregation efforts, the critical role of teacher representation, the lasting impact of the Sheff v. O'Neill case, increasing diversity in suburban Cincinnati, the essential role of parental advocacy, and the debates surrounding school choice. The challenges and inequities of the past remain deeply relevant in our present, and our mission remains clear: to connect the past to the present in order to shape a more equitable future.

Looking ahead, we will continue to center equity in every conversation, highlighting the importance of access, representation, and resources in education and beyond. We aim to foster dialogue that inspires change and encourages understanding across racial and ethnic lines.

In this powerful and insightful episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast, we explore the history and ongoing impact of school choice and desegregation, focusing on how magnet schools were implemented to promote integration by bringing together students from diverse racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Desegregation is often viewed as a way to provide access to quality education for marginalized groups, particularly Black and Brown students. However, in this episode, we challenge listeners to consider a broader purpose: creating diverse social environments where students learn from one another. Integration should be about more than academics, it should be about shared spaces, mutual understanding, and societal growth. We also examine the impact of the Effective Schools Movement, which emphasized that a schools success is shaped more by social and economic factors than by racial background.

Finally, we discuss the evolution of school choice and the critical role parents play in selecting schools that best serve the individual needs of their children. This episode offers valuable insights into how schools can be transformative spaces for learning and social change.

Welcome to another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. In this episode, we delve into one of the most pivotal and complex challenges of school integration in New York City: zoning. Continuing our discussion on the history of integrating NYC public schools, we explore the 1955 Commission on Integrations zoning sub-committee report. We are taking a deeper look at how school district lines shaped educational access, equity, and segregation.

Join our host, Dr. Theresa J. Canada, as she defines what zoning really means and breaks down what the committee discovered about the causes and consequences of shifting zoning lines. She touches on the persistent problem of permissive zoning, a policy approach that ultimately reinforced racial divides instead of dismantling them.

Dr. Canada draws from her own experience as a participant in the PS 6 desegregation experiment, connecting her personal history with policy analysis to highlight how rezoning efforts both failed and succeeded. We also take a closer look at school utilization, examining how overcrowded schools and under-resourced buildings reflected deeper issues of race, funding, and inequality.