Episode 31: Interview with Andre Daughty

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations.

I’m your host, Charles Williams. An educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant.

Let’s get started.

In this episode, I chat with Andre Daughty’s who’s educational journey truly began after hearing Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu state, “If you observe children, they will teach you how to teach them.” That phrase shifted Andre’s philosophy of education. By observing the students in his own classroom at the elementary, secondary, and postgraduate levels, he differentiated curriculum and projects based on his students’ interests. His workshops and professional development seminars involve high energy, practical ways to use today’s strategies, collaboration, and fun stories to help connect the content to the attendee’s lives. He enjoys inspiring all through workshops, speaking engagements, seminars, and embedded coaching experiences.

During our conversation, we reflect on the impact that the pandemic is having on education by exploring several questions. Why would we compare this year to others? What is it, exactly, that we are pushing? Why are we trying to normalize this? While we do not propose to have answers to these divisive ponderings, we do our best to offer our own insights to develop appropriate responses. We also address, head on, the very heart of this podcast by challenging common notions about our urban students. Andre insists that we look beyond the deficiencies and instead explore the roots reasons that so many of our students are behind. Only when we acknowledge and accept the historical inequities can we begin to see the current reality.

I hope that you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it.

I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like and subscribe. The show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and several of your other favorite platforms.

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Take care.

Connect with Andre

Twitter - @andredaughty

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