Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 2/4/2022 - 7:00 PM
Category: School and Community Relations
Type: Info
Subject: Superintendent’s Podcast - Unapologetic Talk with the Supe
ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 1: Systemic Alignment
ACPS will build a culture of continuous improvement and design equitable systems for school and instructional improvement.
Goal 2: Instructional Excellence
ACPS will ensure that all students have access to and engagement with high-quality instruction.
Goal 5: Family and Community Engagement
ACPS will ensure that all families and community members feel welcomed, respected, and valued.
Policy: KBC - Media Relations
Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
File Attachment:
210204_Board_Brief_Supts_Podcast_v1.pdf
Agenda Item Summary: The Office of Communications is preparing to launch a podcast hosted by Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., titled Unapologetic Talk With the Supe. The podcast will launch the week of Feb. 7, 2022. The podcast is part of the new activities outlined in the 2021-25 ACPS Strategic Communications & Community Engagement Plan, as shared in a Dec. 17, 2021 Board Brief.

The podcast will provide the opportunity for the superintendent’s voice to be heard on issues related to ACPS’ anti-racist journey to fulfill the mission of the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) 2025 Strategic Plan: Equity for All. It also serves as a platform to bring to the ACPS community thought leaders on antiracism and educational equity for all via engaging and compelling discussions with diverse voices and current issues.

Each month, a new episode of the podcast will be posted on a new ACPS web page, with each roughly half-hour episode featuring a guest being interviewed by Dr. Hutchings. The podcast can be easily accessed via our website and listened to at no cost on the Soundcloud platform.
Background: The 2021-25 ACPS Strategic Communications & Community Engagement Plan identifies as a core opportunity the facilitation for stakeholders–especially our historically underrepresented populations– to engage with ACPS on division-wide issues that are important for all students and the future of the school division. With racial equity at the center of every decision our school division makes, this podcast aims to explore the underlying issues in education that play a role in the social, emotional and academic learning of ACPS’ most vulnerable students.

Unapologetic Talk with the Supe will center on conversations addressing the barriers to learning that come from systemic racism as well as ideas for how educators can work to empower all students to thrive in a diverse and ever-changing world. Dr. Hutchings will host leading advocates for racial equity including recent guests such as thought leader and author Mary-Frances Winters and civil rights activist Joan Trumpauer Mulholland. Together, the superintendent and his guests will unpack the history, challenges and opportunities that guide us towards an antiracist society and racial equity in education.

A new episode of the podcast will be posted online during the third week of each month and will be shared via outreach on established communication channels including the ACPS Express and Insider newsletters, and social media to help further the dialogue on racial equity within the ACPS community. Target audiences include families, staff, community members, educational leaders, students and aspiring educators.
Recommendation: The superintendent recommends that the School Board review this brief to become familiar with the plan for the podcast that aligns with the school division’s goals and contributes to the ACPS Strategic Plan 2025. Please view the podcast webpage on the ACPS website to listen to the first episode, recorded on Jan. 10, 2022 with guest Mary-Frances Winters.
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Julia Burgos - Chief of School and Community Relations
Signed By:
Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. - Superintendent