The Teacher's Forum

David Harris

Welcome to The Teacher's Forum, hosted by David Harris, a veteran educator with 33 years of experience in private, public, and charter schools. The Teacher's Forum explores the people, ideas, and issues shaping education and the world around us. Through conversations with educators, authors, researchers, students, and other thought leaders from across the United States and around the globe, we share diverse perspectives, inspiring stories, and practical insights that inform, challenge, and inspire. Whether you're an educator, a student, or simply someone who loves learning, there's a place for you in the conversation. Visit theteachersforum.org, follow @theforum1993 on X, connect with David on Threads and Instagram @dwharris1691, or email david@theteachersforum.org with your thoughts, episode ideas, or if you'd like to be a guest on the show.

  1. Jun 8

    Teaching While Queer: Bryan Stanton on Pride, Education, and Belonging

    Bryan Stanton joins The Teacher’s Forum for a special Pride Month conversation about education, identity, advocacy, and belonging. An award-winning theater educator and founder of Teaching While Queer, Bryan reflects on his journey from being outed as a teenager to becoming a national voice for LGBTQ+ educators and students. Bryan shares the experiences that shaped his commitment to creating inclusive schools, discusses the challenges facing queer educators in today's political climate, and explains how theater can help students develop empathy and a deeper understanding of others. David and Bryan also explore resilience, representation, student advocacy, and the importance of finding community in difficult times. The episode concludes with a hopeful reflection on what today's students can teach us about authenticity, acceptance, and the future. This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about courage, education, and the power of being seen. Topics discussed: • Bryan's journey into education and theater • Being outed as a teenager and finding community • Challenges facing LGBTQ+ educators • Theater, empathy, and student belonging • Hope for the next generation Send us a text with your thoughts or ideas, and follow and subscribe to The Teacher’s Forum so you don’t miss future episodes. Join the Conversation: david@theteachersforum.org@theteachersforum.bsky.socialX (formerly Twitter) @theforum1993Please subscribe, share and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us amplify the voices and issues of K-12 educators all over the world.

    Teaching While Queer: Bryan Stanton on Pride, Education, and Belonging

  2. May 18

    Poetry, Pan Africanism, and the Black Imagination with Nick Makoha

    Nick Makoha joins The Teacher’s Forum for a powerful conversation on poetry, exile, identity, and the transformative power of language. Born in Uganda and later settling in London, Makoha reflects on how displacement, memory, and the Black diasporic experience shaped both his life and his art. Nick discusses why poetry remains one of the most vital forms of human expression and protest, particularly within Black communities around the world. He explores the spiritual nature of writing, the pressures many young people face to pursue conventional success over artistic passion, and the moment he chose authenticity over a corporate career he found unfulfilling. David and Nick also discuss Makoha’s acclaimed collection The New Carthaginians, examining how mythology, history, and figures like Jean-Michel Basquiat can reimagine the Black experience beyond narratives of suffering alone. Together they explore Pan Africanism, the global Black diaspora, the “white gaze” in literature, and the role teachers play in helping students think critically and see language as a bridge toward deeper understanding. This is a rich and thought provoking conversation about storytelling, liberation, education, and what it means to create art that speaks honestly to both pain and possibility. Send us a text with your thoughts or ideas, and follow and subscribe to The Teacher’s Forum so you don’t miss future episodes. Join the Conversation: david@theteachersforum.org@theteachersforum.bsky.socialX (formerly Twitter) @theforum1993Please subscribe, share and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us amplify the voices and issues of K-12 educators all over the world.

    Poetry, Pan Africanism, and the Black Imagination with Nick Makoha

  3. May 4

    Who Is School For? Rethinking Equity in Education | Dr. Meisha Porter

    Who is school really for? In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum, David sits down with Dr. Meisha Ross Porter, the first Black woman to serve as Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, to explore what it takes to lead for equity in a system that often resists change. Drawing on her journey from Bronx youth organizer to leading the largest school district in the country, Dr. Porter shares how policy, power, and community shape what happens in schools. The conversation explores the realities of systemic inequity, the role of leadership in driving meaningful change, and how educators can rethink schools to better serve all students. They also discuss the role of arts and mental health, the challenges of political shifts, and how emerging technologies like AI can support, rather than replace, teaching and learning. Send us a text with your thoughts or ideas, and follow and subscribe to The Teacher’s Forum so you don’t miss future episodes. Join the Conversation: david@theteachersforum.org@theteachersforum.bsky.socialX (formerly Twitter) @theforum1993Please subscribe, share and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us amplify the voices and issues of K-12 educators all over the world.

    Who Is School For? Rethinking Equity in Education | Dr. Meisha Porter

  4. Apr 8

    Equity Under Construction | Daniel Harris

    In this powerful episode of The Teacher's Forum, David sits down with Daniel Harris, as he shares his 30-year journey from a law student to a pioneer in equity work at John Burroughs School in St. Louis, and founder of The Equity Exchange. Daniel reveals the secrets to creating spaces where diverse voices are heard, valued, and impact real change—especially when it feels like the system is working against you.You'll discover how early efforts to foster difficult conversations led to groundbreaking strategies for creating inclusive environments that thrive on authentic self-expression. Daniel reflects on the decades of evolving ideals around multiculturalism, the hurdles faced during backlash moments, and how to stay grounded amid opposition. For more information on The Equity Exchange visit https://www.theequityexchange.org/ Send us a text with your thoughts or ideas, and follow and subscribe to The Teacher’s Forum so you don’t miss future episodes. Join the Conversation: david@theteachersforum.org@theteachersforum.bsky.socialX (formerly Twitter) @theforum1993Please subscribe, share and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us amplify the voices and issues of K-12 educators all over the world.

    Equity Under Construction | Daniel Harris

  5. Mar 23

    When Democracy Fell: The Wilmington Coup of 1898 | Guy Hill

    In 1898, a democratically elected government in Wilmington, North Carolina was overthrown in a violent coup, the only successful coup d’état in United States history. For decades, the truth of what happened was buried. In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum, David speaks with Guy Hill about the Wilmington Coup of 1898 and the destruction of a thriving Black community. Together, they unpack how white supremacist violence reshaped the city, why this history was suppressed, and what it reveals about the fragility of democracy in America. Guy also reflects on his journey into education and his commitment to teaching African American history with honesty and care. This conversation connects Wilmington to other moments of racial violence, including Tulsa, and challenges us to confront the stories we’ve been taught and the ones we haven't. This is not just a history lesson. It is a reckoning. For more information on the Wilmington Massacre of 1898 checkout the PBS Documentary: American Coup: Wilmington 1898 Send us a text with your thoughts or ideas, and follow and subscribe to The Teacher’s Forum so you don’t miss future episodes. Join the Conversation: david@theteachersforum.org@theteachersforum.bsky.socialX (formerly Twitter) @theforum1993Please subscribe, share and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us amplify the voices and issues of K-12 educators all over the world.

    When Democracy Fell: The Wilmington Coup of 1898 | Guy Hill

  6. Mar 9

    Teaching Islam in America | Dr. Celene Ibrahim

    In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum, David speaks with Dr. Celene Ibrahim, about teaching Islam in America, religious misconceptions, and how educators can approach religion in the classroom. They discuss her personal journey from Catholicism to Islam, the role of religion in public life, and how educators can approach complex religious topics in the classroom. Dr. Ibrahim also addresses common misconceptions about Islam, the historical presence of Muslims in America, and the importance of fostering thoughtful dialogue and deeper understanding across religious and cultural differences. Send us a text with your thoughts or ideas, and follow and subscribe to The Teacher’s Forum so you don’t miss future episodes. Join the Conversation: david@theteachersforum.org@theteachersforum.bsky.socialX (formerly Twitter) @theforum1993Please subscribe, share and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us amplify the voices and issues of K-12 educators all over the world.

    Teaching Islam in America | Dr. Celene Ibrahim

  7. Feb 24

    David Harris: Black History at 100—Resilience, Resistance, and Responsibility in an Age of Backlash

    In this special episode of The Teacher’s Forum, David shares the keynote address he delivered at Providence Day School’s Black History Month celebration, marking one hundred years since Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week, the foundation of what would become Black History Month. Drawing on Toni Morrison’s assertion that “definitions belong to the definers,” David reflects on Woodson’s determination to build an institution that would allow Black people to research, write, and teach their own history. He situates Woodson’s work within the violent and contested landscape of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and considers what it means to define ourselves when Black history is under fierce attack. At the heart of the address is a central question: What does Black history teach us in this challenging moment? David offers three enduring lessons, resilience, resistance, and responsibility, and invites listeners to consider how those lessons shape both our understanding of the past and our obligations in the present. Send us a text with your thoughts or ideas, and follow and subscribe to The Teacher’s Forum so you don’t miss future episodes. Join the Conversation: david@theteachersforum.org@theteachersforum.bsky.socialX (formerly Twitter) @theforum1993Please subscribe, share and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us amplify the voices and issues of K-12 educators all over the world.

    David Harris: Black History at 100—Resilience, Resistance, and Responsibility in an Age of Backlash

  8. Feb 3

    AI in Education: Jeffrey Riley on AI Literacy, Teachers, and the Future of Learning

    In this episode of the Teachers Forum, David speaks with Jeffrey Riley, former Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, about the intersection of artificial intelligence and education. They discuss the importance of AI literacy for both educators and students, the potential benefits and pitfalls of AI in the classroom, and the evolving role of teachers in an AI-driven world. Jeff emphasizes the need for educators to understand AI's capabilities and limitations, and the importance of teaching students to critically evaluate AI-generated information. The conversation also touches on the challenges of bias in AI systems and the necessity of democratizing access to AI literacy for all students. To reach Jeffrey Riley and learn more about his organization visit dayofai.org Send us a text with your thoughts or ideas, and follow and subscribe to The Teacher’s Forum so you don’t miss future episodes. Join the Conversation: david@theteachersforum.org@theteachersforum.bsky.socialX (formerly Twitter) @theforum1993Please subscribe, share and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us amplify the voices and issues of K-12 educators all over the world.

    AI in Education: Jeffrey Riley on AI Literacy, Teachers, and the Future of Learning
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5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Teacher's Forum, hosted by David Harris, a veteran educator with 33 years of experience in private, public, and charter schools. The Teacher's Forum explores the people, ideas, and issues shaping education and the world around us. Through conversations with educators, authors, researchers, students, and other thought leaders from across the United States and around the globe, we share diverse perspectives, inspiring stories, and practical insights that inform, challenge, and inspire. Whether you're an educator, a student, or simply someone who loves learning, there's a place for you in the conversation. Visit theteachersforum.org, follow @theforum1993 on X, connect with David on Threads and Instagram @dwharris1691, or email david@theteachersforum.org with your thoughts, episode ideas, or if you'd like to be a guest on the show.

Information

  • Creator
    David Harris
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Teacher's Forum
  • Show Website
    The Teacher's Forum