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Empowering Students Through Activist Teaching

Ed and Jacqueline interviewed Allen Levie, a retired educator and author, about his experiences teaching for 20 years at Horlick High School in Racine, Wisconsin.

Levie shares his philosophy that learning is a political act and discusses how he empowered his students, particularly those from
working-class backgrounds, to become active participants in their education and community. He describes organizing events like Black History programs and voter drives and connecting students with community organizations to address issues like immigration and racial profiling. Levie credits influences from Pablo Freire, Saul Alinsky and Jonathan Kozol for shaping his teaching approach,
and emphasizes the importance of building students' confidence and sense of worth to help them see education as a pathway to success.

Challenging School Tracking Systems
Allen shared his experience as a social studies teacher who challenged the traditional tracking system in schools, which separated students by academic ability and maintained low expectations for working-class students. He described how his approach, which involved engaging students in community issues and fostering relationships across different social groups, led to positive changes
in both students' academic performance and teachers' attitudes. The discussion highlighted the resistance he faced from institutional structures and the importance of student-teacher relationships in driving educational change.

Teacher-Student Connection Strategies
Allen shared his experience as a teacher who built strong connections with students by spending time with them outside the classroom and listening to their personal stories. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing students' well-being over curriculum and making subject matter relevant to their lives. Allen also discussed his work with a nonprofit that aims to inspire future teachers by connecting them with successful former students and supporting youth-led clubs in schools that address various social issues.

Education Technology and Relationship Building
The meeting alluded to educational technology and its role in teaching, however, Allen stated that while tools like AI are important, the foundation of education remains building relationships with students.

Next Steps
Allen shared his vision to use his book "Thriving in a Public School" as a tool for professional development and staff training at both the high school and college level.

Contact Information and social media inks
To contact Allen Levie for public speaking, professional development or to continue the conversation: allen.levie@gmail.com

Purchase the book https://tinyurl.com/mryz9hjh

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