Episode 111: Interview with Rabia Khokar

In this episode, I chat with Rabia Khokar, an elementary teacher in Toronto and an education and equity consultant at Rabia Teaches. She is also a PhD student at the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education. Her research interests include equitable education, curriculum, and children’s literature. Rabia is passionate about ensuring schools are inclusive spaces where all students with their multiple and intersectional identities are reflected, represented, included and seen through an asset based lens. She is the recepient of the Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario’s 2021 Anti-Racist and Equity Activism Award and the 2022 Professional Learning and Curriculum Development Award.  Rabia enjoys sharing her teaching and learning on her twitter platform @Rabia_Khokhar1 and her website www.rabiakhokhar.com.

During our conversation, we talk about the contrast between lived experiences and expected realities. Oftentimes we, especially marginalized populations, are forced to comply with preconceived notions of who we are and can face harsh backlash when we push back against those prejudices. Singular stories do not always capture the entirety of our existence and yet they continue to persist because of their presence within so much of the media that is consumed. What if, instead of relying on these portrayals of those who are different from us, we spent time building affinity across differences? What if we developed spaces not only to amplify our voices but those of others who are sharing similar experiences?

Ready to hear more from this powerful educator and influencer? Let’s go.