Lessons Learned

An Edify series featuring personal stories of education

'They Were Always There': The Power Of Including Indigenous Perspectives

As teachers consider ways to create more inclusive curriculum, one Amherst professor details the power and importance of the experience of indigenous tribes when teaching history.

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05:29Jul 27, 2020

Jessica Brito is a rising senior at New Bedford High School. (Courtesy)

Students Say Race Belongs In The Classroom — And Not Just History Class

Following the death of George Floyd, some high school students are pushing for discussions about systemic racism and inequality to be a cornerstone of every classroom.

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05:59Jun 29, 2020

Class Of COVID-19: Receiving Diplomas With A Mix Of Sadness And Pride

Three college seniors reflect on graduating college during a pandemic.

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03:33May 25, 2020

Arria Coburn has been the principal at The Springfield Renaissance school for five years. (Courtesy Arria Coburn)

Learning To Lead: Why One Principal Puts Student Voice And Identity At The Center

Arria Coburn learned how important student voice and identity can be, after a dispute over students using the N-word in class two years ago. It still informs her leadership today.

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06:21Apr 27, 2020

Elias Perea and Makeeba McCreary at the MFA. (Carrie Jung/WBUR)

Showing Up: A Special Bond Between A Persistent Caseworker And A Troubled Student

Elias Perea's connection to one of his caseworkers in school, Makeeba McCreary, showed him how to support young people struggling with trauma like his.

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04:37Feb 24, 2020

Elizabeth Co, Program Director of Human Physiology, in her office at Boston University. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

'I Wanted To Talk About It Forever': Two Hearts And A Moment Of Clarity

Elizabeth Co knew she loved biology but didn't know how to translate that into a career. Until she held two human hearts in her hands.

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03:41Jan 27, 2020

UMass Amherst senior, Timothy Scalona. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Dorm Life Offered This Student Greater Stability, Giving Him Space To Give Back And Thrive

For years, Timothy Scalona and his family struggled with food and housing insecurity. Now a senior at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Scalona is working to ensure others who face...

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04:33Dec 31, 2019

Art teacher Amanda Davis in her classroom at Hull High School. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Beyond Paint: How One Teacher Uses Art To Foster Community

Amanda Davis' mission is to demonstrate to high school students that art is about more than just the technical skills of painting and drawing, but also a tool to learn...

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04:57Nov 25, 2019

Meggie Noel reflects on her efforts as a member of the #BlackAtBLS movement. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

How Racial Tensions At School Helped This Student Discover The Power Of Her Voice

Meggie Noel reflects on her struggles -- and triumphs -- at Boston Latin School at a time when racial tensions were heightened across the U.S. and inside her prestigious exam...

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05:13Nov 4, 2019

Professor of Biology and Chemistry Catherine Drennan, at her lab at MIT. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

'The World Is Open To Me Now': A Scientist With Dyslexia On How Learning To Read Changed Her Life

In first grade, Catherine Drennan hit a major stumbling block. Drennan couldn't make sense of books. She was later diagnosed with dyslexia. Finding a way to decode text opened new...

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04:37Sep 30, 2019

David Jones, humanities teacher at Boston Day and Evening Academy. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

How A Poor School District Provided This Student The Resources He Needed The Most

While money can buy a school things like computers and new facilities, David Jones says an experience in elementary school taught him that not all the necessary resources can be...

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05:13Aug 26, 2019

'I Lived Through These Characters': An English Teacher's Life-Changing Impact On A Student

Reading and a chance encounter with a former English teacher helped Dan Wise through what he called the scariest time in his life.

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06:08Jul 29, 2019

Chef and restaurateur Jamie Bissonnette, at Little Donkey in Cambridge (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

'Like Going To Church': How A Boston Chef Found School Success Through Food

Jamie Bissonnette describes himself as a late bloomer. Today he is the chef-partner of well-known area restaurants. But his road to success wasn’t always straightforward.

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03:50Jun 24, 2019

Adam Stumacher, Director of Instruction at the Henderson Inclusion School, Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

How A Disruptive Student Taught His Teacher Patience And Perseverance

Adam Stumacher struggled to connect with a student who went to great lengths to disrupt his English as a second language class. Until they bonded over music.

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07:00May 27, 2019

Sydney Chaffee, a ninth grade humanities teacher, and Tyrell Brewster, an upper school math teacher, at Codman Academy Charter Public School (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

A First-Year Teacher Clashed With A Student. Then She Learned Where He Was Coming From

A clash between a first-year teacher and a student leads both to learn how their perspectives shape their interactions.

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05:16Apr 22, 2019

Catherine McCusker, assistant professor of biology, is seen at her lab at UMass Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

How Struggling Through Calculus Taught This UMass Professor To Push Her Limits

When Catherine McCusker was 17, she had her sights set on art school. Then she bumped into math teacher Jamil Siddiqui.

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05:16Mar 25, 2019

Anthony Jack, in a file photo (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

'I'm Tired Of Justifying My Admissions Letter To People'

Anthony Jack's path from Miami to Harvard has been dotted with people who questioned whether his successes were solely a result of affirmative action policies, rather than hard work. Here's...

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05:43Feb 25, 2019

José Bou, who's the equity family and community partnerships manager with Holyoke Public Schools, stands by a canal in the western Massachusetts city. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Education As A Way To Find Freedom In Prison

Meet José Bou, who went from solitary confinement to college professor and youth mentor.

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04:36Jan 28, 2019

Lessons Learned: Personal Stories Of Education

Edify brings you a new series of stories of change in education. Send us your stories and then check them out.

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Jan 17, 2019

Here & Now

'They Were Always There': The Power Of Including Indigenous Perspectives

Students Say Race Belongs In The Classroom — And Not Just History Class

Class Of COVID-19: Receiving Diplomas With A Mix Of Sadness And Pride

Learning To Lead: Why One Principal Puts Student Voice And Identity At The Center

Showing Up: A Special Bond Between A Persistent Caseworker And A Troubled Student

'I Wanted To Talk About It Forever': Two Hearts And A Moment Of Clarity

Dorm Life Offered This Student Greater Stability, Giving Him Space To Give Back And Thrive

Beyond Paint: How One Teacher Uses Art To Foster Community

How Racial Tensions At School Helped This Student Discover The Power Of Her Voice

'The World Is Open To Me Now': A Scientist With Dyslexia On How Learning To Read Changed Her Life

How A Poor School District Provided This Student The Resources He Needed The Most

'I Lived Through These Characters': An English Teacher's Life-Changing Impact On A Student

'Like Going To Church': How A Boston Chef Found School Success Through Food

How A Disruptive Student Taught His Teacher Patience And Perseverance

A First-Year Teacher Clashed With A Student. Then She Learned Where He Was Coming From

How Struggling Through Calculus Taught This UMass Professor To Push Her Limits

'I'm Tired Of Justifying My Admissions Letter To People'

Education As A Way To Find Freedom In Prison

Lessons Learned: Personal Stories Of Education