Conversations About Education

A new four-part public affairs series that takes a closer look at the challenging issues faced by school districts today.

From Blue Sky Project, in association with WXXI, Conversations About Education presents discussions with individuals intimately involved with setting the direction for education in the modern age — from the Chancellor of the Board of Regents to students, parents and educators from around the state. Hosted by Hélène Biandudi Hofer, Conversations About Education airs Fridays through October 2, 2020 at 8:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

The series engages the community in positive conversations about putting the needs of children first – to spotlight pathways to progress, motivate understanding, showcase new voices and viewpoints, and inspire hope.

Episode 2, Reversing a Culture of Low Expectations airs Friday, September 18.
There is a misplaced mindset among many people that certain students, for a myriad of reasons, are incapable of truly succeeding and therefore the bar is set low for them. This segment features a short interview with a recent RCSD graduate who talks about what it feels like when your teachers don't believe in your capacity to achieve. Helene then speaks to Mayor Lovely Warren about a personal experience she had with expectations being set low as a student at Wilson High School. The segment also visits the Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, who completely changed their approach to learning with impressive results. Superintendent Edwin Quesada, the board chair, administrators, teachers and students talk about the changes in the school and the impact of the encouraging outcomes.

The panel discussion that follows, including candid discussion that the role that implicit bias plays in setting expectations too low, includes: Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa, Mayor Lovely Warren, Distinguished Educator Jamie Aquino, Superintendent Terry Dade and Superintendent Michael Nagler of Mineola.

Additional episodes include: Actualizing Equity, airing Friday, September 25; and Returning from COVID, airing Friday, October 2

Conversations About Education is supported with funding from Rochester Area Community Foundation, ESL Foundation, the Max and Marion Farash Charitable Foundation and Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation.

An Emmy Award-winning not for profit film and media production company based in Rochester, NY, Blue Sky Project supports social justice initiatives that encourage all people to explore and discover the joys and challenges of living in a free and open society. Blue Sky creates and distributes original film, video, print and other media that are intended to inform, educate and inspire. Blue Sky projects are intended for broad distribution through a wide range of venues that may include (but not limited to) classrooms, television broadcast, film screenings, and internet; as well as community-based settings such as museums, libraries and individual interest groups.