K-12 Public Education Insights: Empowering Parents of Color — Trends, Tactics, and Topics That Impact POC

Kim J. Fields

Raising kids can be tough! I know because I’ve been a single mom who raised two kids on my own. And when they get in the K-12 public education system, learning the ins and outs of that system can get you all tangled up, especially when you’re a parent of color (POC). You need to be aware of the current trends, tactics, and topics, as well as the necessary resources to navigate within the system. That’s what the K-12 Public Education Insights: Empowering Parents of Color podcast is all about — providing you with tools, information, and practical actions to help you and your children succeed within the complexities of K-12 public education.

  1. 16H AGO

    Episode 179: Parents Matter More Than Peers In Childhood

    "Send me a Text Message!" "Peer pressure isn’t just a teenage phase anymore. More and more, we’re seeing kids treat their peer group as the final authority, which can leave parents feeling rejected, powerless, and worried about the choices their children make at school and beyond. As I close out season 4, I revisit a line my parents used to say when I was a teen: “We are your peer pressure.” After reading 'Hold On to Your Kids' by Gordon Neufeld and Dr. Gabor Maté, that advice lands with fresh urgency. I dig into the authors’ big idea of peer orientation, in which children attach to peers for direction, values, and identity rather than to parents and other trusted adults. I walk through what may be driving the shift, why kids can’t truly follow two competing “compass points,” and how peer-centered attachment can increase sensitivity to rejection, secrecy, and risky behavior. If you’ve noticed your child becoming harder to guide or less open with you, this language helps you name what’s happening without defaulting to shame or blame. Then we get practical. I break down the six ways children attach (from proximity and sameness to loyalty, significance, warm feeling, and being known) and the four-step practice of “collecting” your child after separations to keep the relationship strong. The throughline is simple: relationship first, then behavior. If you want more peace at home and more influence where it counts, start by restoring connection on purpose, every day. Listen now, share this with a parent who needs it, and subscribe so you’re ready for season 5. After you listen, leave a review and send me a message through the “Send Me a Text Message” link on the episode page with your biggest takeaway. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    28 min

  2. MAY 19

    Episode 178: Daily One-On-One Talk Builds Strong Readers

    "Send me a Text Message!" Kindergarten is supposed to sound like a lively room full of ideas, jokes, and questions. But many early childhood educators are seeing something different: fewer opportunities for young learners to actually practice oral language, even while expectations for early reading keep rising. I dig into why that shift matters so much because vocabulary, syntax, and confident speaking are the building blocks that support literacy, reading proficiency, and long-term reading comprehension. I talk through what’s crowding conversation out of the school day, including the growing emphasis on decoding and written tasks, reduced time for science and social studies, and less unstructured play. Those losses add up, since play and content-rich subjects naturally prompt children to negotiate, explain, and ask “what,” “how,” and “why.” I also connect the dots to home life, where many kids arrive with more screen-based communication and fewer face-to-face interactions, which can affect language development, attention, and comfort when starting conversations. Then I share practical strategies you can use right away: reading aloud to spark talk, making time for both incidental and intentional conversations, encouraging language during play, and using science and social studies moments to fuel open-ended questions. I also explore “serve and return” and the idea of building five conversational turns, and why personal narratives and pretend play help children practice decontextualized language and higher-order thinking, such as creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. If you want a simple way to support stronger readers, start with more real conversation. Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday, share this with a parent or educator who needs it, and leave a rating or review so more families can find the show. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    26 min

  3. MAY 12

    Episode 177: Your Kid Forgot To Zip Their Coat And Now Everyone Is Mad

    "Send me a Text Message!" Teachers are sounding the alarm about young kids who struggle with basic independence, and parents are hearing it as one more accusation. I take a different route: I look at the bigger picture behind why teachers are blaming parents and why stress may be a major part of the backstory behind these school readiness gaps. I start with what early educators are reporting about life skills and social-emotional development, then I juxtapose those observations against the day-to-day reality of modern family life. Dual-income schedules, after-school logistics, homework support, and bedtime routines can leave families with almost no breathing room, and technology keeps work creeping into home time. I also name the parallel stress teachers carry when they spend the day helping dysregulated children regulate, which can create a cycle of frustration on both sides unless we build better, judgment-free communication. Then I go deeper into why “parent blaming” is not just unhelpful, but historically dangerous, especially for parents of color. I connect today’s school narratives to long-standing family deficit models that push assimilation, ignore cross-cultural strengths, and distract from inequitable systems. Finally, I share concrete action steps to build resilience and self-efficacy at home by letting kids practice everyday life skills, fail safely, and try again until independence becomes normal. Subscribe to new Tuesday episodes, share this with a parent or educator who needs a better frame, and leave a review so more families can find the show. What are your thoughts on stress, parenting, and independence skills? Leave me a text comment on the podcast website. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    37 min

  4. MAY 5

    Episode 176: Why Schools Undervalue Writing And How Parents Can Help

    "Send me a Text Message!" Writing is the most overlooked literacy tool in K-12 education, and it might be the fastest way to help your child become a stronger reader. In this episode, I’m unpacking why writing instruction matters so much, especially for families navigating public school systems where priorities often follow testing and time constraints. If your child can read the words but struggles to explain what they mean, writing may be the bridge that finally makes comprehension click. I dig into the research behind the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing. Writing forces kids to slow down, think critically, and make meaning through predictions, inferences, and conclusions. It also reinforces the core components of literacy development, such as phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and reading comprehension, while helping students turn oral language into clear written communication. Writing is not just for English class; it belongs in science, social studies, and math because every subject requires students to organize ideas and convey information. I also discuss why so many students enjoy writing less over time and why daily writing habits are fading, and then explore practical ways to rebuild motivation. You’ll hear how song lyrics can become a surprisingly effective gateway into reading and writing, plus simple at-home strategies like setting up a small writing center with inviting supplies, giving your child a personal journal, creating projects tied to their lived experiences, and displaying their work to grow confidence. Subscribe for weekly K-12 public education insights, share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find the show. What’s one small writing habit you can start at home this week? Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    20 min

  5. APR 28

    Episode 175: The Success Sequence's Teaching of Family Values In Schools

    "Send me a Text Message!" Some lawmakers want a “success sequence” taught in schools: finish high school, work full-time, get married, then have children. That sounds like simple advice until you ask the real question: Is K-12 public education helping students build responsible decision-making skills, or is it turning one set of family values into a curriculum mandate? I walk through how politics and education collide around social-emotional learning, character education, sex education, and family formation. I trace the roots of the success sequence and why it’s showing up in state bills and good citizenship standards, then I get honest about what the research can and cannot claim.  Poverty is not just a personal choice problem, and teaching a narrow model can stigmatize students from single-parent homes or families that don’t fit a traditional mold. At the same time, data on Millennials suggest real associations among education, work, marriage timing, and financial well-being, which is why this topic deserves nuance rather than slogans. Then I bring it back to what you can control. I share practical action steps to strengthen family-school partnership: build relationships with educators, ask direct questions about curriculum goals, advocate for inclusive engagement, share your culture, keep reading at home, connect classroom learning to family life, and stay on top of assignments.  Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your take: should schools teach the success sequence, and if so, how? Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    35 min

  6. APR 21

    Episode 174: When School Tech Tools Multiply But Learning Does Not

    "Send me a Text Message!" Schools have never had more educational technology, and yet many parents are still asking the same question at the kitchen table: Is all this screen time actually helping my child learn? I dig into what’s driving the growing pushback against edtech in K-12 public education and why “more tools” can lead to more confusion when schools can’t point to clear learning outcomes. I walk through how school districts are changing their approach from buying the newest digital platforms to running a more skeptical evaluation process. That includes tracking actual usage, reducing redundancy, checking costs, and insisting on stronger alignment with instructional goals. I also talk about the less visible pieces that matter just as much: student data privacy, app integration with learning management systems, and whether the technology supports real personalization instead of replacing human connection in learning. I also focus on the impact for students of color and how over-reliance on edtech can widen the digital divide when digital literacy and self-regulation supports are uneven. I touch on national concerns raised about screens, mental health, AI in schools, and why some states are proposing limits on screen-based instruction, especially for younger grades. You’ll leave with practical parent advocacy steps you can use right away, including what to ask your principal and how to set guardrails at home. Subscribe for weekly K-12 Public Education Insights, share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find the show. After you listen, what tech tools are your child required to use every day, and do you think it’s too much? Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    20 min

  7. APR 14

    Episode 173: Screens Are Replacing The Skills Kids Need For School

    "Send me a Text Message!" Your child can be bright, curious, and loved deeply at home and still walk into kindergarten missing the skills that make school work. That’s the gap I tackle today, because early educators are sounding the alarm: more students are arriving at pre-K and kindergarten dependent on adults for basics, struggling to follow directions, and melting down when they hear “no.” When that happens, teachers are forced to pause academics and shift back to school readiness, and kids start forming an early belief about whether they “like school” or “are good at school.” I connect educational research to real classroom realities, including what the latest reports say about screen time and device ownership, and why tablets and phones have become the go-to pacifier for far too many families. I unpack how heavy screen use can shrink attention span, reduce interest in books, and limit the hands-on play that builds fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and independence. I also talk about social-emotional learning in plain language: turn-taking, coping skills, patience, and appropriate play are not “nice to have” skills. They’re core to learning. Then I get practical. I share simple, doable action steps to build kindergarten readiness at home through conversation, reading, puzzles, blocks, coloring, cutting, movement, and routines that teach independence. I also explain what to look for when you observe preschool, pre-K, or kindergarten classrooms so you can reinforce the same expectations at home.  If this helped you, subscribe, share with another parent, and leave a review so more families can find these K-12 public education insights. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    28 min

  8. APR 7

    Episode 172: Gentle Parenting Meets Shoelaces And Loses

    "Send me a Text Message!" Kids used to learn toilet training and shoe tying like a normal rite of passage. Now, early childhood educators are saying something has shifted, and it is showing up in classrooms as weaker fine motor skills, gross motor skills, self-regulation, and trouble following simple instructions. If you are a parent trying to make sense of what is happening in K-12 public education and how it connects to what happens at home, this conversation is for you. I walk through what a recent Education Week Research Center survey reported from pre-K to 3rd-grade educators, including eye-opening numbers on shoe tying, directions, and the belief that increased screen time and parenting trends are contributing to developmental delays in age-appropriate skills. I also connect those observations to research published in JAMA on developmental milestone changes in children ages 0 to 5 and on why ongoing monitoring matters when long-term outcomes remain uncertain. Then I get practical by breaking down the four main parenting styles: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive (gentle), and neglectful. I explain how each approach can shape independence, emotional regulation, resilience, and the everyday life skills that help children thrive once academic demands ramp up. You will leave with clear action steps to strengthen foundational skills at home, set boundaries with warmth, and stop measuring your worth as a parent by perfect outcomes. After you listen, share this with a friend and leave a quick review so more families can find it, then send me your thoughts on the episode page at K12EducationInsights.buzzsprout.com. What changes are you seeing in your child or in your community? Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episodeYou can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and familyContact me with any specific questions you have at:  kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    28 min
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5
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2 Ratings

About

Raising kids can be tough! I know because I’ve been a single mom who raised two kids on my own. And when they get in the K-12 public education system, learning the ins and outs of that system can get you all tangled up, especially when you’re a parent of color (POC). You need to be aware of the current trends, tactics, and topics, as well as the necessary resources to navigate within the system. That’s what the K-12 Public Education Insights: Empowering Parents of Color podcast is all about — providing you with tools, information, and practical actions to help you and your children succeed within the complexities of K-12 public education.

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