The Teacher's Forum

David Harris
  • 5.0 (19)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Welcome to "The Teacher's Forum" hosted by David Harris, a veteran educator with 32 years of experience in private, public, and charter schools. This podcast is your platform to hear the voices of educators from the United States and around the world, with a special focus on educators of color, who are often overlooked in crucial education discussions today.  Join us as we dive into important topics, and experiences of K-12 educators,  and get a chance to hear from David’s former students, as they share their stories, insights, and experiences. Be sure to tune in and let's celebrate the dedication and excellence of educators together!Follow The Teacher's Forum on X (Twitter) @thefourm1993 or email us at david@theteachersforum.org with your thoughts for future programs or if you would like to be a guest on the show.

  1. Equity Under Construction | Daniel Harris

    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.

    55 min
  2. When Democracy Fell: The Wilmington Coup of 1898 | Guy Hill

    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.

    55 min
  3. Teaching Islam in America | Dr. Celene Ibrahim

    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.

    54 min
  4. Black History at 100: Resilience, Resistance, and Responsibility in an Age of Backlash

    FEB 24

    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.

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

    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.

    1h 7m
  6. Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Ernest Crim III on Teaching Martin Luther King Jr. Honestly in an Age of American Backlash

    JAN 19

    Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Ernest Crim III on Teaching Martin Luther King Jr. Honestly in an Age of American Backlash

    In this special episode of the Teachers Forum, David is joined by Emmy-nominated producer and anti-racist educator Ernest Crim III to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his 97th birthday. Together, they delve into the complexities of King's later years, exploring his evolving views on economic justice, non-violence, and the ongoing struggle for civil rights. Through a rich dialogue, they challenge listeners to reflect on King's question, "Where do we go from here: chaos or community?" and consider its relevance in today's socio-political climate. If you would like to contact Ernest you can reach him by visiting his website: ErnestCrim.com Speech: Where Do We Go From Here - August 16, 1967 Where do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community by Martin Luther King, Jr. 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.

    1h 1m
  7. Gender and the Education Gap: Dr. Charlotte Jacobs and Dr. Roderick Carey on Boys, Girls, and Student Belonging

    JAN 5

    Gender and the Education Gap: Dr. Charlotte Jacobs and Dr. Roderick Carey on Boys, Girls, and Student Belonging

    In this thought-provoking episode of The Teacher’s Forum, David Harris is joined by Charlotte Jacobs and Roderick L. Carey to examine the narratives shaping conversations about gender and education. The episode opens with a classroom incident that raises questions about how boys experience discipline, attention, and belonging in schools (01:44), before turning to reactions to the CBS documentary Boys to Men and the media framing of a so-called “boy crisis” (04:05). The conversation critiques this framing by situating it in historical and social context, including how Black boys have long been viewed as problems to be managed rather than young people to be supported (06:35). Dr. Jacobs challenges zero-sum thinking around resources for girls and boys, emphasizing that equity work for girls addressed centuries of exclusion and remains unfinished (09:25). Dr. Carey reframes the idea of boys being “overlooked,” arguing instead that Black boys are hyper-visible in discipline but emotionally invisible in schools (12:56). The discussion then explores how boys are navigating a changing cultural landscape, including the pull of the “manosphere” and growing skepticism about traditional college-to-career pathways (15:00). Both guests stress the importance of validating boys’ interior lives (20:30) and moving from a narrow focus on achievement toward self-actualization and well-being (24:45). The episode concludes with a call to reimagine schools as centers of care rather than test-driven institutions (29:05), along with recommended readings that center healing, love, and human flourishing in education (32:45). 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.

    1h 3m
  8. Teaching Through Crisis in Charlotte: Dr. James Ford on Immigration Raids, Student Safety, and Educational Equity

    11/21/2025

    Teaching Through Crisis in Charlotte: Dr. James Ford on Immigration Raids, Student Safety, and Educational Equity

    In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum, David Harris speaks with Dr. James Ford about the recent immigration enforcement actions in Charlotte and their impact on students, families, and schools (02:35). Dr. Ford discusses what educators must do during moments of crisis to ensure students’ physical and emotional safety (05:46), the pressures teachers feel to remain silent (10:30), and why claims of classroom “objectivity” can become harmful when discussing issues of human dignity (14:40). The conversation then turns to the values public schools claim versus the values they practice (21:00), the fragility of rights like those affirmed in Plyler v. Doe (25:42), and the trauma today’s youth navigate in a digital age (29:00). Dr. Ford offers historical insight into the role of Black private schools as spaces of autonomy and safety (33:15), distinguishes between reform and true transformation in education (36:00), examines the “illusion of inclusion” many students of color experience (38:50), and reflects on the teacher who deeply shaped his own journey (41:10). To contact Dr. Ford and learn more about the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED) please visit their site at https://www.creed-nc.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.

    1h 6m
See All (46)

5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Welcome to "The Teacher's Forum" hosted by David Harris, a veteran educator with 32 years of experience in private, public, and charter schools. This podcast is your platform to hear the voices of educators from the United States and around the world, with a special focus on educators of color, who are often overlooked in crucial education discussions today.  Join us as we dive into important topics, and experiences of K-12 educators,  and get a chance to hear from David’s former students, as they share their stories, insights, and experiences. Be sure to tune in and let's celebrate the dedication and excellence of educators together!Follow The Teacher's Forum on X (Twitter) @thefourm1993 or email us at david@theteachersforum.org with your thoughts for future programs or if you would like to be a guest on the show.

Information

  • Creator
    David Harris
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Teacher's Forum
  • Show Website
    The Teacher's Forum

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