Square Pizza Podcast

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The Square Pizza podcast focuses on the intersection of education, innovation, and diversity. We host and interview leaders doing incredible work around the country to ensure all students have access to an equitable education. The Square Pizza podcast is hosted by SchermCo, a social-impact implementation firm that offers strategic implementation and project management services to schools and education-focused organizations across the country.

Link to podcast episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/829513/episodes/15909425 

Square Pizza Audience, we have a special episode featuring our family empowerment cohort. Our school leaders and key players in family engagement/empowerment gather quarterly to share insights and best practices about family empowerment at the school level. This round, our focus was on supporting newcomer and multilingual families. You will hear from Ms. Quenesha Pinkey, social worker at Reid Park Academy, on how the school uses one specific annual event to focus on their multilingual learners. You will also hear from Mrs. Michele Mveng-Managa, dean of students at Governors’ Village STEM Academy, about how the school launched monthly family empowerment and networking nights to support multilingual families.

In this episode:

  • Challenges faced by newcomer families
    • Language barriers, unfamiliarity with educational expectations, and cultural differences.
  • Strategies for support
    • Building trust, fostering a welcoming environment, and ensuring clear, culturally relevant communication.
  • Community resources and networks
    • Tools and resources available to help schools engage and support newcomer families sustainably.

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