Episode 85: Interview with Cale Zuiker

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 urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office.

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In this episode, I chat with Cale Zuiker, the child of two educators, he grew up in Marshfield, WI and attended Youngstown State University in Ohio on a basketball scholarship for one year before transitioning and receiving his undergrad in English Education at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Cale began his teaching career as a substitute teacher for a year before being hired as a high school English teacher where he taught 9th and 10th graders for five years. During this time he also coached basketball, track, and strength training. Cale received his masters degree in Educational Leadership from Viterbo University and now serves as a principal.

During our conversation, we talked about the need for educators to be cognizant of the stereotypes that others have placed upon them, those that we place upon others, but also those that we place upon ourselves. We often talk about the issues of implicit bias and how those impact those around us but we don’t usually discuss how our negative perceptions of ourselves help to shape those thoughts and our interactions with others. Cale talks about its important for us to own what is happening in our spaces and not to shy away from difficult conversations and situations understanding that is how we make real change happen. He also shares his daily three - three questions that he uses to reflect on his leadership.

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