"If this high school is having problems, how long has it been predominantly African American?"

This comment was taken from a video that has gone viral on Twitter. A citizen spoke at a school board meeting against the removal of certain structural pieces of history. He referenced slaves obeying their masters.

When is this going to change? When will people's hearts be transformed? When will the hatred end?

I began to write this poem in the car after watching this horrific clip multiple times in disbelief. I think I found myself thinking, "Surely, the message will be different when it plays again."

I give you, a poem from the pain in my soul, "When?"

I invite you to subscribe to Intelligogy and share your thoughts on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram @TraciBrowder or @Intelligogy. https://tracibrowder.com/

If you've listened to the podcast at length, you know about three series: Monday Matters Rethinking SEL, Equity Talk Tuesday, & Woke Wednesday Rockin' Remote Learning. Today's episode focuses on elements of all three series.

Celebrating students is an essential element of every classroom and every school. Amplifying voices and honoring diversity should be woven into the fibers of every moment of every day.

You will be amazed at what happens in a classroom when we are intentional about mental health, equity, and diversity. Be sure to listen to the full episode, student voices are woven into this episode and the talent is absolutely mind-blowing.

Please share your thoughts by tagging @intelligogy or @TraciBrowder on Twitter. I'd be honored if you would consider sharing this episode with other educators and continuing the conversation....how are you celebrating student voices?

Listeners get to hear a teen's perspective of returning to school after disaster and how teachers engaged with students on their first day back.

This conversation promises to challenge your thinking, direct you to reevaluate how you connect with students, and reflect on your prioritization of instruction and social emotional needs of students.

January 20, 2021.

The United States of America inaugurates its 46th President.

The historic inauguration of the country's first female, non-white vice president.

The most diverse administration in the nation's history.

"A cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer," President J. Biden.

Are you committed to the call to action to unite? To make the dream of racial equality and justice for all become a powerful truth?

Traci challenges us, pushes us beyond our comfort zone to rethink social emotional learning in innovate, fun, and passionate ways.

"If kids don't see that we care, they have nothing to care about (when it comes to class)."

"Give them all you've got from your heart and they will give you all they've got from all they've got from their hearts and minds."

Traci connects all the dots in this powerful episode.

Connect with Traci on Twitter at @Traci Browder or @Intelligogy to let her know how rethinking SEL is changing the landscape of. your classroom, school, and community.

Not only does Traci address those of us carrying the burden of struggles, she talks with those of us who are support systems. She challenges us to ask the difficult questions and prepares us to not afraid of the response we might receive...to instead be prepared to be a source of hope and encouragement. She leaves us the promise that light will come.

Traci approaches an extremely delicate topic with grace, love, hope, and promise on this final day of 2020.

Light will come.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

Many of you tell us how much you love when Traci 's sons join the conversation. Her youngest son is back and full of laughter and energy.

We learn how important the socialization of teenagers is and how the lack of it can impact a student's drive and commitment.

Donovan shares the challenges of a being gifted learner and the dilemmas he finds himself facing.

The live conversation was intense and covered so much ground that it is being segmented into multiple episodes that will release in this Thursday Thoughts series. This is only the beginning. The end of the conversation that will release soon is stunningly profound and full of wisdom for educators about how kids learn best and retain information in their brain...yes, a 15 year old!

Be sure to keep coming back.

Connect with Traci on Twitter at Intelligogy or Traci Browder.

She challenges us to shift by no longer thinking solely about social emotional learning to broaden our view to:

Meeting and Exceeding Emotional Needs of Teachers, Administrators, Parents, & Students.

We begin to understand the relevance and essential nature of weaving MESENTAPS into our practice as Traci explains, "We have some needs that need to be met and they are way outside the realm of learning. Being aware, looking at faces when I talk. Are there interactions coming back in?"

This episode is full of emotion and reasons to think deeply on broadening our thinking by rethinking SEL.

Connect with Traci on remote learning, and rethinking SEL on Twitter at Intelligogy The Podcast or Traci Browder.

Traci challenges us by asking us to think about the fire we had after George Floyd's death. She helps us to understand that the one, tiny thing that most educators flooded social media with as a resolution is not the answer to addressing equity in schools.

We go on an intimate journey into Traci's hometown where she shows us real examples of the disparity that exists not only in education, but in our communities, in the lives of families in impoverished communities.

We can do better.

The end of the this episode is difficult on so many levels. This is an episode to be shared widely. Traci's hope is to help us begin to or continue to understand the depth of the pain and the need for the consistent fight for equity, social justice, and antiracism advocacy.

Make sure you are in a quiet place with no distractions to fully engage with this painful episode.

The secret to meaningful engagement is unlocked in this passionate episode of Rockin' Remote Learning.

Traci compels us to explore what it means to Be YAS.

She explains how to be Your Authentic Self in this dynamic episode that will leave you on fire to explore your why.

Traci reveals the gift we have in the existence of virtual learning, a gift that will provide a new perspective, a gift that will set your soul on fire to immerse yourself in discovering Your Authentic Self to enhance the ultimate engagement experience for your families.

Traci captivates us with a new way of thinking about SEL. She challenges us to shift from focusing solely on social emotional learning to meeting and exceeding the social and emotional needs of teachers, administrators, parents, and students.

We learn the value of:

Being intentional.

Loving and caring for students and their families.

Taking the bold risk of moving learning aside to meet and exceed the social emotional needs.

Understanding when bold measures are necessary.

The immediate return on the investment will fill your heart with joy and fill students with connection, trust, and excitement.

Traci invites us to share ways we are meeting and exceeding social and emotional needs of students. She also encourages us to share how we want to grow to better meet and exceed the social and emotional needs of students.

Connect with Traci on Twitter to continue the discussion. Follow Intelligogy on Twitter!

She makes it clear with this example:

We go to great lengths to make our homes warms, inviting, and welcoming. We take time to the get the right decor to create the ambiance, the atmosphere that stands on its own to say, "Welcome."

Shouldn't the same be true when our students prepare to walk into our classrooms virtually?

Reimagine environment. Rethink startup. Set the stage.

Traci believes in "giving virtual students the exact same experience that they would have if they were in person."

"Parental relationships and those power relationships, it's at the core of my calling, my why. It happens organically in my classroom...I am committed, determined, and steadfast to create that exact same environment virtually."

The challenge: Compare the online start up with the in person walk up.

This is a must-listen episode for administrators and educators to support each other, brainstorm, have powerful dialogue as you reimagine the virtual learning environment.

Join the conversation, connect with Traci on Twitter, @Intelligogy or @Traci Browder with #IntelligogyThePodcast, #RockinRemoteLearning, #TheStartUp.

1. When you're teaching, do the kids see you 100% of the time?
2. Because of your setup, are you teaching sitting down most of the time?

The best description for this episode would be to capture quotes from the episode itself.

"I felt so trapped, I felt like I couldn't be me. I know if it was killing me what was it doing to my students? My ultimate goal was wanting to teach virtually just like I were teaching kids in my class. I wanted to teach in the center of my classroom, that's my power zone. I don't mean power as in owning power. That's where I'm empowered to do my best teaching."

Aren't you excited to dive into this episode?

Traci gives us some immediate action steps in this episode and invites us to tag her on social media to keep the conversation going.

Follow this series each Wednesday. Go back and listen to the first episode in her Monday Matters Series, "Rethinking Social Emotional Learning."

Traci invites educators to join her on the podcast to discuss how they are rockin' remote learning, or how they want to grow and further develop the remote learning environment.

How does this episode resonate with you? Would you like to schedule some time to connect with Traci? Send her a DM on Twitter: @TraciBrowder or @Intelligogy.