Equity isn’t a program—it’s a daily practice. In this episode, Cornelius and Kass Minor, founders of The Minor Collective, explore how belonging is shaped in the smallest instructional moments: how we respond to mistakes, how we define rigor, and how we support students who struggle to express their ideas in writing. Through practical examples and honest reflection, they show how minor shifts in language, expectations, and attention can create classrooms where every student feels seen, valued, and capable.
Thought Leader: Kass Minor
Kass Minor is an inclusive educator who is deeply involved in local, inquiry-based teacher research and school community development. She is the author of Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools and the co-founder of The Minor Collective, a community-based organization designed to foster sustainable equity and literacy in schools. Her pedagogy is centered in joy from the communities that surround her and motivated by the idea that every adult can teach, and every student can learn. Teacherhood, paired with motherhood, has driven her love of information sharing, redefining who gets to be a knower in the fiery world we live in today.
Thought Leader: Cornelius Minor
Cornelius Minor is a Brooklyn-based educator. He works with teachers, school leaders, and leaders of community-based organizations to support equitable literacy reform in cities (and sometimes villages) across the globe. His latest book, We Got This, explores how the work of creating more equitable school spaces is embedded in our everyday choices, specifically in the choice to really listen to kids. He co-founded The Minor Collective, a community-based movement designed to foster sustainable change in schools. As a teacher, Cornelius draws not only on his years teaching middle school in the Bronx and Brooklyn, but also on time spent skateboarding, shooting hoops, and working with young people.
Get to Know the Host: Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift
Cheryl holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership, is a distinguished educational leader, and has been recognized with multiple awards for her achievements. She served as the lead curriculum developer for Learning Without Tears' Get Set for School Language and Literacy curriculum, which received an AEP Distinguished Achievement Award, and was awarded the Investors Bank Educator of the Year Award.
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