Episode 1 - The Why

In this very first episode, Esther and Michael dive into the stories behind their why. First, Esther kicks it off with the story behind the Drake Academy of Excellence and where the dream for this school first started. She also identifies some important lessons in humanity that she learned over the years and how they have influenced her perspective and desire to prioritize humanity, especially in education. In part two, Michael shares his passion for others and identifies the events in his life that called him to a life of service. He also discusses what he is doing to impact the lives of those who can be overlooked and marginalized – the young people in our communities. This episode will not only inspire you; it will help you to know that you are not alone in your desire for change and will give you the fuel that you need to keep moving forward!

Key Takeaways

Part I: Esther
Lessons in humanity

1-    Everyone has value and our differences make us better!

2-   With great blessings comes the responsibility to help as many people as you can.

3-   As human beings, we are not designed to be idle or to become stagnant, we are made to live our purpose and experience meaning.

4-   Do what you’re called to do and what you’re passionate about and don’t let anyone stop you from fulfilling your purpose.

Part II: Michael

1-    Children are vulnerable today.  I want to let them know that they matter, that they have value, and that they’re not alone.

2-   The issues children face outside of school are now penetrating school walls and they are impacting our kids in a negative way.

3-   We, as humans, are called to be there for these kids, to advocate for them, and to listen to them.

Part III:
This podcast will be:

Honest: First, we want this podcast to be an honest reflection of what teachers, leaders, and children are feeling.

Meaningful: In every episode, we look at the practices and mindsets we see in schools and organizations, and identify how we need to shift our thinking.

Humanity Driven: We all have fundamental human needs – the need to experience connection, purpose, acceptance, and value. We will identify the problems in schools and organizations and discuss how they are directly related to us not experiencing these fundamental human needs.

Challenging and Inspiring: This podcast is for those who want to be pushed and for those who have become disillusioned with the way that education and leadership are done. We hear you and we are here for you.  

Action Oriented: We all know that it’s one thing to talk about the issues and how we can change them, it’s quite another to push up our sleeves and do the work. So, we are really excited to highlight what we’re doing at the Drake Academy of Excellence to create a new model for education and leadership that is focused on human development and that not only changes existing systems, but works for teachers, parents, leaders, and students.

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