Podcast
Equity Unlocked
Hosted by Culturally Responsive School Leadership Institute · EN
Equity Unlocked is a podcast hosted by CRSLI dedicated to navigating the complexities of educational equity for leaders.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Putting the Flag in the Sand: Dr. Katie Pekel on Culturally Responsive School Leadership
3w ago00:38:32Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Equity Unlocked, Dr. Katie Pekel, Executive Director of Educational Leadership at the University of Minnesota, reflects on her long-standing work with Dr. Muhammad Khalifa and the development of the Culturally Responsive School Leadership Academy. Drawing on her experience as a K–12 teacher and principal, principal development leader, and higher education administrator, Dr. Pekel discusses what school leaders are facing in the current political climate, including backlash against equity work and the loss of key educational resources and funding. She offers guidance for leaders seeking to stay grounded, engage communities with humility, and keep student humanity at the center of culturally responsive leadership. Access the show notes at crsli.org/blog
Transcribe →Schools as Sacred Spaces: A Conversation with Antiracist Leader Dr. Patrick Duffy
Apr 200:47:02Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Equity Unlocked, Dr. Patrick Duffy, author of Becoming an Antiracist School Leader: Dare to Be Real, reflects on the personal experiences and professional journey that shaped his approach to antiracist and culturally responsive leadership. He discusses key tenets from his leadership framework, including the need for adult collaboration focused on racial equity, authentic family and community partnership, and the belief that schools can and should be safe and sacred spaces where students and educators can bring their full identities. Dr. Duffy also shares how the tragic loss of his daughter and her grandfather informed his forthcoming book, Schools at the Center, and deepened his thinking about schools as civic and spiritual centers that can strengthen democracy through substantive integration across race, class, culture, and faith. Throughout the conversation, he offers guidance for leaders navigating political backlash and "pendulum shifts," emphasizing self-knowledge, reflection, truth-telling, and building systems capable of outlasting a single leader. He closes by describing his upcoming work through the Becoming Leadership Group and a new Teachers College Press summit series designed to connect students and educators, reclaim the meaning of equity work, and turn this moment into a movement. Find out more at crsli.org/blog.
Transcribe →TEECH: A Third Space for Community-Connected Educators
Mar 600:38:09Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Equity Unlocked, we hear from four Twin Cities educators who talk honestly about what it means to teach in today's political and social climate. The teachers featured in this episode are participants in the TEECH program, a nonprofit founded by Dr. Muhammad Khalifa with the mission to develop community connected educators. The name "TEECH" is an acronym that stands for Teaching for Equity, Empowerment and Community Healing. Hosted by Kandace Logan, Executive Director of TEECH, the group discusses the real challenges culturally responsive teachers are facing in their school communities today, especially in this political climate. From multilingual classrooms and refugee communities to identity, safety, and student organizing, this conversation centers the lived realities of teachers who are committed to culturally responsive, community-connected practice. Together, they reflect on the power of finding a "third space" for educators and what school leaders need to understand if they want to truly support teachers doing equity-centered work. They not only explore how they're supporting students and families, but also their own wellbeing by finding ways to sustain themselves through the TEECH program. Learn more about the TEECH program and discover how you can partner with TEECH at teeching.org. Find out more about this episode in the show notes at crsli.org/blog.
Transcribe →The Way Forward: PLC at Work® and the Bright Future of Education with Dr. Anthony Muhammad
Feb 1100:39:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Equity Unlocked, Dr. Muhammad Khalifa sits down with longtime colleague Dr. Anthony Muhammad for a reflective and forward-looking conversation centered on Dr. Muhammad's latest book, The Way Forward: PLC at Work and the Bright Future of Education. The discussion explores what it truly means to implement professional learning communities in ways that advance equity rather than compliance. Dr. Muhammad reflects on the historical roots of schooling, the persistence of surface-level reform, and the dangers of knowing better without doing better. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, he offers guidance for school and district leaders who are navigating the current political, cultural, and moral challenges facing equity-centered work in education. You can find out more about this episode in the show notes at crsli.org/blog.
Transcribe →"Doing the Work" with Drs. Ann Ishimaru and Decoteau Irby
Jan 1500:51:41Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dr. Muhammad Khalifa sits down with Dr. Ann Ishimaru and Dr. Decoteau Irby to discuss their new edited book, Doing the Work of Equity Leadership for Justice and Systems Change. If you've been following the scholarship in this space, you know both Ann and Decoteau as long-time leaders in community-engaged research, critical leadership studies, and racial equity in education. Their new book brings together a wide range of scholars — voices from across the field — to offer grounded, practitioner-focused insights into how wecontinue to do the work of equity leadership in today's climate. Find out more about this episode by checking out the show notes at crsli.org/blog.
Transcribe →Introducing the New Culturally Responsive School Leadership Framework
Dec 1700:20:44Tap to summarizeIn this special solo episode, Dr. Muhammad Khalifa walks listeners through the newly revised Culturally Responsive School Leadership (CRSL) framework. Drawing on an extensive new literature review sponsored by the Spencer Foundation, Dr. Khalifa explains why the framework was updated, what has changed, and how these shifts reflect emerging research on culturally responsive leadership, community connection, and transformative school change. This episode offers a practitioner-friendly overview of the strand indiciators, guiding questions, and dispositions that define CRSL in 2026 and beyond. Dr. Khalifa also shares insight from years of working with school leaders nationwide and reflects on how this updated framework can help principals, educators, and communities navigate today's political and cultural challenges. Listeners can download the full framework at crsli.org/blog. Stay tuned for our upcoming 2026 episodes, featuring conversations with leading scholars and practitioners across the field.
Transcribe →Remaining Steadfast in our Purpose: The Ethical & Moral Basis for Sustaining DEIA in Education
Nov 1300:20:54Tap to summarizeIn this third and final episode of our three-part series with educator and attorney Jeremy Chan-Kraushar, we explore how school leaders can remain steadfast in their commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility amid today's shifting legal landscape. Building on the previous conversations, this episode makes the ethical and practical case for keeping DEIA at the heart of education. Jeremy and the CRSLI team unpack current legal challenges, weigh policy paths, and share actionable, CRSL-aligned recommendations that leaders can implement now—within existing legal frameworks. This episode offers grounded guidance for advancing equity with courage and clarity. You can download and read the accompanying legal brief on our blog at crsli.org/blog
Transcribe →Navigating Risk through the Power of Terminology
Oct 2100:28:38Tap to summarizeThis episode is the second in our three-part series designed to help school leaders navigate the rapidly changing legal landscape around diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Dr. Muhammad Khalifa and attorney-educator Jeremy Chan-Kraushar examine how the terms we use—in policy, communication, and daily practice—can shape both legal interpretation and community trust. Together they discuss real-world examples of how terminology influences risk, perception, and outcomes in schools. Each conversation in this series is paired with a companion issue brief authored by the CRSLI team and Jeremy Chan-Kraushar, offering deeper legal context and practical guidance for culturally responsive leaders. Read the full blog post and download the companion issue brief to share with colleagues at CRSLI.org/blog
Transcribe →A Legal Crash Course: Understanding DEIA & Navigating Risk Amid Uncertainty
Sep 2500:34:24Tap to summarizeThis episode is the first in a new three-part series from CRSLI designed to help school leaders navigate the rapidly changing legal landscape around diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) with confidence and clarity. Each conversation in this series is paired with a companion issue brief authored by the CRSLI team and Jeremy Chan-Kraushar, an educator and attorney. Together, these briefs and episodes provide practical guidance and legal context to support culturally responsive school leaders as they work to advance educational equity while staying within the bounds of current law. In this episode, we unpack what's changing in the legal environment and explore strategies for remaining steadfast in your equity commitments, even as this work faces increasing political and legal challenges. Read the full blog post and download the companion issue brief to share with colleagues here: Read and download the brief
Transcribe →Cultural Responsiveness in Special Education: A Conversation with Two Inspiring Leaders
May 26, 202500:50:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we're excited to bring you practical insights into how culturally responsive school leadership can be mobilized with attention to special education, featuring two remarkable scholars, Dr. Precios Armstrong and Dr. Lauren Katzman. Dr. Precios Armstrong is the Director of Special Education at East Lansing Public Schools in Michigan, and Dr. Lauren Katzman is Executive Director of the Urban Collaborative, based out of Arizona State University. You'll hear them discuss their personal journeys into special education, emphasizing the importance of embracing differences, as well as the promises and pitfalls of how special education is organized within the education system. This conversation is packed with practical takeaways for anyone committed to supporting students with disabilities and ensuring equitable experiences for all students. Stay Connected: crsli.org
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