In this episode of Our Classroom, we dive deep into what education truly means—beyond just what happens in schools. In this engaging conversation, host Wade Kelly is joined by Lorena Germán, co-founder and academic director of Multicultural Classroom, and author of Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices. Lorena brings her lived experience as an immigrant and a dedicated educator to the forefront, sharing how her personal journey fueled her passion for transforming classrooms into spaces of equity, justice, and cultural affirmation.

Together, they unpack the nuances of culturally sustaining pedagogy (CSP), exploring its origins, importance, and practical implementation. Lorena openly discusses the challenges and opportunities teachers face in justice-centered work—especially in today’s climate of social and political upheaval. This episode also delves into how educators can stay grounded in restorative practices, find hope in community, and recognize the power dynamics within their classrooms.

Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or curious learner, this episode promises candid reflections, actionable insights, and a renewed commitment to making classrooms places where everyone’s story matters. Tune in and explore what it truly means to make education restorative, representative, and transformative for all.

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto had the honor of joining Penny Kittle for a powerful, heartfelt conversation about his poetry collection, Blue Ink Tears. In this episode, they dig deep into the long journey that brought this book to life—over 20 years in the making—and discuss how his experiences as an educator, school leader, and Dominican-American have shaped his writing and my mission.

Penny and Roberto talk about the importance of vulnerability, especially as a Black Dominican man, and why sharing our authentic stories can be both an act of courage and inspiration for others. They explore the structure of Blue Ink Tears, breaking down the emotional spectrum behind its three sections—blue, ink, and tears—and why it was important for him to create a collection that’s both memoir and poetry, reaching readers on multiple levels.

Throughout their conversation, Roberto shares poems that open windows into his life, from celebrating love and family, to confronting pain and navigating complicated relationships within our educational systems. They discuss the challenges and rewards of putting personal work into the world and why storytelling—our own and our community’s—matters so much.

Listen as they unpack the stories, the struggles, and the hope behind Blue Ink Tears, and why Roberto believes everyone’s voice deserves to be heard. Whether you’re an educator, a student, a poet, or simply someone searching for meaning, this conversation is sure to leave you inspired to put your own truth down on the page.

On today’s episode of Our Classroom, we invite you into an intimate and profound conversation about the realities of the immigrant experience in the United States. Lorena Germán shares her personal immigration journey—from her childhood in the Dominican Republic to growing up bicultural in the U.S.—and exposes the invisible and often painful challenges so many immigrants face.

Lorena offers a powerful reflection on navigating legal documentation, the emotional burden of being treated as the Other, and the ever-present anxiety tied to immigration status. She draws striking parallels between the legacy of dictatorship in the Dominican Republic and the current political climate in the U.S., exploring themes of fear, belonging, and resilience.

This episode is more than one woman’s story; it’s a call to action for educators, families, and communities. If you’ve ever wondered how immigration policy shapes the daily lives of those around you, or what role you can play in supporting our most vulnerable neighbors, this conversation is essential listening. Join us as we unpack urgent questions about humanity, justice, and the meaning of true citizenship.