- Long story short, January was when the insurrection, is that, how, is that what it's called?

- Yeah, the insurrection at the Capitol.

- And like this principal emailed all staff that said, "You can not talk about this.

You cannot bring this up in your class."

- [Man] What?

- And I was like, that's sick.

Like where else you're gonna talk about it, if not school?

And then I responded like, "Oh so we can't talk about current events?"

- [Sergio] Ooh.

- Is that what you're saying?

(Sergio laughing) (upbeat music) - What's it been like, being a teacher these last couple of years?

- Being a teacher is like so much harder than people think.

You're like a teacher, you're like a sibling.

And you're like a coach.

You're like a social worker, not qualified social worker, but you have to be, you know, like it's really intense.

- Right, right.

Have your students ever said anything racially charged towards you?

- Yeah, yeah.

'Cause I'm an English teacher.

And so for my first year teaching at like a more affluent school, the kids saw me and they're like, "Oh, does she even speak English?"

Two kids said that to me.

- [Sergio] Ooh.

- Which is like, I mean, that's like in your face, like welcome lady, you know?

But then by the end of the year, those kids, like they, I could see that they were like, "Oh, I was effed up for doing that."

- [Sergio] Oh wow.

- I could see growth.

So like with kids, I don't really mind, because even if they don't see things as the way, maybe I would hope, they're so young that they'll have me to remember.

They might be even open to being friends with people of a different race or a background, because they've had me in the classroom.

You know, so I'm just like hopeful in that way.

But the thing that I have less patience with is like my colleagues, I'm not gonna lie.

(giggles) - Can you tell me a story about that?

- I'll just share one example.

- Awesome.

- It was, Ramadan was coming up.

And so I said, "Oh I think we should have a prayer room, and a space for the kids who are fasting to be somewhere else."

And that's just, I would've said that if it was Yom Kippur.

Like any kid that's going through something, you need to acknowledge that, you know?

And then I come in the room, and they're like, "Oh we were just talking about, you know, Ramadan, and we just want you to know like we can't memorize every holiday.

There's just so many cultures at this school.

So like, you need to understand that, you know?"

But I was like, I didn't tell you to memorize every culture in America.

I just said, the kids are fasting, and they should have a room.

Like I was driving home, and I was like, that was wrong.

That was really problematic that they even said that out loud.

You would not want somebody to be like, oh I just, there's too many, like American holidays for me.

Like, oh my god, I can't keep up, like what?

Just too much.

(soft, gentle music) Every time I'm like trying to not do too much, you know what I mean?

- No, what do you mean?

- I don't wanna come off as like this angry black lady.

And I'm like a pretty like calm person.

Sometimes I'm like, oh, like, what if I look meaner, than I am.

You know what I mean?

So then I have to be like, even nicer than my nice, if that even makes sense.

Like just saying I'm uncomfortable, it's gonna make people feel like- - Uncomfortable.

- Oh, like she's mad, ooh.

So it's exhausting being with the adults that I interact with.

(dramatic music) - Have you ever considered quitting, because of all of it?

- Yeah, no I write a notice, a two-week notice, every few months.

- Whoa, really?

- My sisters hate me, 'cause I'll be like, "I'm for sure quitting this time, this is too much for my soul."

And then like, I'll go to work.

And like, I don't know something happen in class or like a kid will have an epiphany, or I'll read an essay and then I'm like, no, I'm like meant to do this.

- Ah, so the kids are the ones that are keeping you there.

- Yeah, yeah and then you can't not interact with adults as a teacher, it's not an option.

I mean, if it were an option, ooh, that would've been great.

(Sergio laughing) I think the problem with a lot of people is that they're not good active listeners.

- Oh.

- And it's like such a simple thing to fix.

Just be quiet and listen, you know, absorb.

Imagine like a person in front of you is a book.

And then what they're saying are the words from the book, and like, just act as if you were reading.

Like you wouldn't start screaming at the book, would you?

- No.

- You would just like, listen, and be like, hmm.

oh my god, that's so cool.

Oh, what's gonna happen next?

- What's gonna happen next?

(laughing) And teachers, I mean, teachers are at critical entry points for kids to understand the entire world, you know.

- Every teacher book on language arts talks about the importance of writing for purpose.

And like reading for purpose.

So a key part of instruction is connecting, even if it's like a literature class, connecting it to our world.

We are living in a social media age, the information age.

So for students to know that there's fake news out there.

There's agendas, there's all these different like biases that are just rampant for all sides.

You know, so it's so important that kids know that and are able to decipher that.

But I feel like a lot of parents, and even the school doesn't realize that if you shelter kids they're just gonna fall into these traps.

- Hmm, wow.

Thank you.

- Ah, too dignified.

(Children in the background giggling) (upbeat music)