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. 1D AGO

    Episode 164: Students Are Quiet Quitting in School

    "Send me a Text Message!" What if the rise of “quiet quitting” isn’t just about the workplace, but also the classroom? I dig into why so many teens are doing the bare minimum, why homework time has plunged since 2021, and how parents and educators can turn the tide with strategies that actually stick. Drawing on current data, lived experience as a parent and researcher, and proven frameworks, I connect the dots between motivation, belonging, and achievement in a way that’s practical and hopeful. I start by unpacking what quiet quitting looks like for students: present in class but emotionally elsewhere, completing tasks without curiosity or pride. Then I trace the roots—shifting homework policies, AI confusion, grading changes, and a broader cultural slide in engagement—and show why relationships are the hidden engine of effort. Students learn best when work feels authentic, when they feel like respected members of a school community, and when they can see themselves succeeding. High expectations, paired with support, transform compliance into commitment. Parents leave this discussion with concrete steps to make homework equitable and motivating: confirm understanding, aim for quality, coordinate with teachers for purpose-driven tasks, and add simple, reinforcing practice at home. When learning is designed for authenticity, belonging, and competence, students rediscover purpose and progress. If this resonated, follow the show, subscribe, and share it with a friend or parent who cares about K‑12 success. Your review and your stories help more families find strategies that work—what’s one approach you’ll try 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 episode You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    34 min

  2. JAN 27

    Episode 163: Your Kid’s “Tutor” Might Be Making Them Dumber

    "Send me a Text Message!" AI is showing up in every corner of K‑12—from lesson planning and grading to chat-based “tutors” that promise instant help. I pull back the curtain on what gets lost when schools rush in without guardrails: weakened critical thinking, strained teacher-student connection, and new safety threats like deepfakes that can spread faster than adults can respond. You’ll hear what the data actually say, why many districts still lack clear policies, and how missteps can happen. I share how teachers and students use AI differently, where hallucinations and bias creep in, and why academic integrity now lives in a gray zone. Then we get practical. I outline simple, high-impact habits for families: treat AI as a brainstorming companion, build healthy skepticism into every prompt, and bring the human elements—curiosity, empathy, voice—back to the center. For educators, I focus on embedding AI literacy inside real subjects, using models to draft, critique, and verify ideas rather than shortcut the thinking itself. This conversation is for parents who want clarity, teachers who want workable guardrails, and anyone who cares about keeping learning human while still preparing students for an AI-shaped future. By the end, you’ll have a grounded view of risks, a playbook for safer use, and a checklist districts can adopt. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a parent or educator who needs it, and leave a review with your take: where should schools draw the line with AI? 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 episode You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    28 min

  3. JAN 20

    Episode 162: Why Joy, Not Tests, Instills a Love of Learning in Children

    "Send me a Text Message!" Love of learning gets printed on mission statements, but too often gets lost in classrooms filled with scripts, worksheets, and test prep. I pull back the curtain on what the phrase actually means—an enduring, intrinsic joy in the act of learning—and how parents can help children move from fleeting curiosity to steady, self-driven growth. I start by drawing a clear line between curiosity and a true love of learning. Curiosity can be satisfied quickly; love of learning persists through challenge and rewards the process, not just the product. From there, I look at school culture: why joy, safety, and belonging are not extras but essentials for attention, memory, and resilience. I also explore the developmental dip in confidence that often arrives around second or third grade, and what adults can do to protect motivation through those years. Parents play a pivotal role. I discuss how values at home—reading for pleasure, modeling hobbies, honoring questions—shape a child’s identity as a learner. I examine the interplay of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, the power of self-efficacy, and the impact of responsive parenting on curiosity. To make this practical, I share five simple, high-impact strategies to instill a love of learning in your children. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review with one way you spark curiosity at home. Your stories help other families grow a lasting love of learning. 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 episode You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    26 min

  4. JAN 13

    Episode 161: From Engagement To Involvement — How Parents Of Color Drive K-12 Success

    "Send me a Text Message!" When grades lag and motivation dips, waiting for a quarterly report card is like checking the weather after the storm. I explore practical, research-backed ways parents of color can transform school engagement into true involvement that improves achievement, confidence, and attendance. Drawing on post-pandemic data and lived experience, I map out a clear plan: request weekly skill-level updates, leverage out-of-school time programs aligned with classroom goals, and build mentoring relationships that help students feel seen and capable. I share compelling results from after-school and summer initiatives that have boosted GPA, assessment scores, and daily attendance—especially in high-poverty schools. You’ll hear how targeted enrichment, from STEM to arts, accelerates learning while building social skills and joy. I also spotlight a community-driven approach from Long Beach Unified, where the Black Student Achievement Initiative and the Center for Black Excellence address identity, wellness, advocacy, and intergenerational wisdom to create environments where students can thrive. Parenting style matters, too. I break down how to apply one particular parenting style at home with simple routines, clear boundaries, and opportunities for student choice that build independence. Layer in a mentor who sets goals and checks progress, and you create a durable support system that turns short-term wins into long-term growth. If you’re ready to replace uncertainty with a plan, this guide gives you the steps to start today: ask better questions, choose better programs, and lead with care and clarity.  Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a boost, and leave a quick review to help more families find these tools. What’s the first change you’ll make 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 episode You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    23 min

  5. 12/16/2025

    Episode 160: Your Kid’s 'A' Might Be Lying, And So Is The Homework

    "Send me a Text Message!" Grades shape futures, but do they measure what a student actually knows—or how well they play the points game? I take a hard look at why traditional grading often blends behavior, compliance, and access to resources with academic mastery, creating signals that mislead families, fuel bias, and widen gaps. Drawing on current research and classroom experience, I break down how equitable grading centers learning with proportional scales, retakes, and a focus on recent performance, making grades more accurate, bias-resistant, and motivating. I walk through the mechanics: moving from 0–100 to 0–4 to avoid the punishing weight of zeros, separating soft skills from academic evidence, and building transparency with standards-aligned rubrics and simplified gradebooks. You’ll hear how these shifts reduce Ds and Fs, lower classroom stress, and strengthen trust between teachers and students. I also address the pushback—fears of lowered standards, confusion about change, and top-down mandates—and explain why clear communication and collaborative rollout matter more than ever. For parents and caregivers, I offer a practical script to start a productive conversation with teachers: ask for their grade meaning statement, review how mastery is determined, and clarify how retakes and recent learning are weighed. For educators and leaders, I highlight steps to align on what a grade should mean, report mastery consistently, and coach soft skills without hiding them inside letter grades. If grades are a compass, accuracy is non-negotiable—and equity is the calibration that makes the compass point true North. Subscribe, share with a friend who cares about fair grading, and leave a review with your take: Should grades measure learning, behavior, or both? 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 episode You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    33 min

  6. 12/09/2025

    Episode 159: Vanishing Books, Shrinking Minds

    "Send me a Text Message!" Books are quietly disappearing from American classrooms, and kids are paying the price. I dig into why excerpts have replaced full-length novels and plays, how that shift affects comprehension and attention, and what it means for students who deserve a rich, inclusive literacy diet. Drawing on research and classroom realities, I unpack the tension between teaching to high-stakes tests and building the deeper reading stamina that colleges and life demand. I also relate the quality of the texts that middle school and high school students are reading to the surge in book bans. The numbers are stark: thousands of titles challenged or pulled, most often those by or about people of color and LGBTQ+ communities. That censorship doesn’t just limit shelves; it narrows imaginations, erases "mirrors and windows," and undermines the democratic promise of education. Finally, I connect the dots between policy, politics, and practice, and I talk plainly about who gets silenced when story choices are made out of fear. This conversation isn’t just a diagnosis; it’s a roadmap for the future. I outline a balanced approach that pairs short texts with sustained reading of entire novels, plays, and nonfiction works. I share specific steps parents and educators can take: form curriculum committees, map reading across grades, set clear targets for long-form works, and advocate for diverse authors. If you’re ready to help your child become a stronger reader and protect inclusive libraries, you’ll leave with practical tools and a sense of agency. Subscribe for weekly episodes, share this one with a friend who cares about K-12 literacy, and leave a comment on our site to tell me what you’re seeing in your schools. Your voice matters—join me and help keep whole books and inclusive stories within every student’s reach. 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 episode You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    30 min

  7. 12/02/2025

    Episode 158: Why Waiting Until High School To Plan Careers Fails Kids

    "Send me a Text Message!" If middle school feels too early to think about life after high school, the data says otherwise. I explore why so many classrooms lack career-connected learning, how this fuels anxiety and disengagement, and what it takes to match a child’s natural aptitudes with real-world opportunities. From the sharp drop in four-year college plans to the rise of non-degree pathways, I trace the shifts families are navigating and share tools to turn uncertainty into momentum. I walk through a practical roadmap: start with aptitude discovery around age 14, layer in interest exploration, and add hands-on experiences like job shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, and service learning. You’ll hear why durable skills—teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, flexibility—show up in most job postings and how students build them through real projects, not worksheets. I also look at what schools, employers, and policymakers can do right now: expand access to personalized assessments, integrate career relevance into core classes, invest in work-based learning, and create flexible schedules that let students learn at job sites and in labs. Parents remain the biggest influence, so I share candid guidance for starting early, asking better questions at school, and using Edtech to fill gaps when programs are missing. By connecting strengths to in-demand roles, students shift from passing tests to pursuing purpose. The goal is simple and urgent: help every student graduate with both a diploma and a resume—confident, informed, and ready to choose college, training, work, or service with clarity. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s planning their child’s path, and leave a quick review to help more families find these insights. Your feedback shapes future episodes. 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 episode You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    32 min

  8. 11/25/2025

    Episode 157: Your Kids Can Outsmart Your Wi‑Fi, But Can They Write An Email?

    "Send me a Text Message!" The way our kids learn has changed faster than most classrooms and homes can keep up. We’re past the era of memorizing from a single textbook; the real advantage now is knowing how to verify a claim, trace a source, and turn digital tools into deeper learning—not distractions. I share a clear roadmap for parents and educators who want students to thrive in a world where search results, AI tools, and social feeds shape what children see and believe. You’ll hear why starting media literacy in elementary school matters, how personalized and competency‑based models unlock growth, and where game‑based learning and collaborative platforms can raise engagement and agency. I lay out 10 practical benefits digital tools bring to classrooms, from real‑time feedback to publish‑ready student work that builds pride and audience awareness. Beyond the classroom, I tackle the hidden gaps: keyboarding, file management, safe browsing, email etiquette, privacy, and data analysis. I  connect digital citizenship with social and emotional learning, pointing to tools like VoiceThread, Headspace, and Canva that foster perspective taking, mindfulness, and reflective goal‑setting. For families seeking real support, I outline a community‑powered solution—school “Tech Nights” that turn family engagement into shared learning, complete with themes, short activities, and simple guides so parents can practice the same tools their kids use every day. If you’re ready to raise savvy, ethical, and capable digital learners, this conversation is your playbook. Subscribe, share with a fellow parent or teacher, and leave a review to help more families find practical strategies that work. 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 episode You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

    34 min
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5
out of 5
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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