Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama has notable figures such as founder Booker T. Washington, the Tuskegee Airmen, scientist George Washington Carver, and famed photographer Chester Higgins Jr. There is also the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment. What is not well-known is the successful student uprising. Dr. Brian Jones, who is the Director at the Center for Educators and Schools at the New York Public Library, is the author of The Tuskegee Student Uprising: A History which highlights this hidden movement by the unsung heroes: young black college students ..read more

Can you tell your story in 6 words? Larry Smith knows you can. The founder of the widely popular 6 word memoir series wrote his 10th book A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Year: Hundreds of Stories on the Pandemic by teachers, students and parents. Each story allows those who sat in front of a screen or next to it while learning and teaching to explain their experience as they navigated a global pandemic ..read more

Hockey, while not known for its diversity with NHL players and its audience, is a widely popular sport. On June 2nd 2021, Dr. Damion Thomas, the curator of sports at the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, opened an exhibit to showcase the history and contributions black people have and continue to have in the sport. The exhibit also dedicated a statue to honor the first Black player in the National Hockey League (NHL), Willie O’Ree ..read more

After decades of fighting with the state of New York, The Alliance for Quality Education was able to secure $4 billion for NY public education. It was time to celebrate at the Education Block Party! Maria Bautista, the former campaign manager for AQE and NY Senator Robert Jackson talked about their efforts in this historic win for students ..read more

HallPassBreak is back for Season Two! It begins with an interview with Empatico.org, a non-profit organization that links classrooms to other classrooms around the world so kids can learn empathy through cultural awareness. Director of Business Development Kristin Ohnstad and Partnership Manager Erick Roa discuss how Empatico is fun, flexible, and free for teachers to use ..read more

Whenever a classroom teacher is absent, there is a substitute teacher to fill in. Do you ever wonder what they do when they are not in school? Probably not. This episode features Benjamin Verdoes. He not only is a part of the two-man group, Iska Dhaaf, he creates music as a solo artist. The Seattle based musician talked about how the West Coast music scene/lifestyle/education system stacks up against the East Coast. And what it is like to balance being a teacher in the NYC public schools while making music. Hint: It is hard ..read more

The very first episode of HallPassBreak redone for new listeners. Larry Smith, the author of the widely popular "Six Word Memoir Series" talked about he has been able to get classrooms from all around the country to share their life story in just six words ..read more

One of the most popular National Parks in the U.S. is the Grand Canyon. Not everyone is able to visit. What are the National Parks doing to encourage educators and young people to visit? How has this place remained special for so long? My conversation with two Grand Canyon staff members helped me to understand how they are able to link 2.5 billions years of the earth's history with the classroom ..read more

This episode features Cadence and Andi, educators of Zion National Park, who work with school groups nearby and far to expose students to the beauty of nature ..read more

Ever wonder why the New York City landscape changes so frequently? And the importance of diversity when it comes to making these decisions? This episode features two urban planners who discuss the impact of their projects and the importance of having more diversity within the architecture field ..read more