Episode 335: April Braithwaite

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 0:09

Hello everybody and welcome to another great episode of my EdTech Life. Thank you for joining us on this wonderful day and, wherever it is that you're joining us from around the world, thank you, as always, for all of your support. We appreciate all the likes, the shares, the follows. Thank you so much for sharing our content and for all your your support. We appreciate all the likes, the shares, the follows. Thank you so much for sharing our content and for all your wonderful comments. And I definitely want to take some time to shout out our amazing sponsors. Thank you so much, book Creator, eduaid and Yellowdig. Thank you so much for believing in our mission to be able to bring these amazing conversations into our education space so we can continue to grow. And if you're interested in sponsoring our show, please make sure you reach out to me at myedtechlive.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 0:49

But I am excited today because I have been able to meet well, actually not meet in person. Wait, have we met in person? Yes, we did meet. Did we meet in person? Yes, we did. I can't remember. I was like, yes, we did run into each other, and this was over a year ago, because I've lost track of time and it was at TCEA a year ago and I tell you, from that moment on, it was just great.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 1:12

I walked in into the convention area, the exhibit hall, and all of a sudden I get approached by April, who I am excited to welcome to the show, and it has been just something amazing. April is doing some amazing work. She not only is a listener of the show, but now she's working on a great side project, and a very important one. So I'm just thankful to have April Braithwaite here with us today, joining us from the UK, to talk a little bit about this amazing, amazing project that she's working on. That, I think, is something that is beneficial to our space and I'm just excited to welcome her to the show. So, april, how are you doing today?

April Braithwaite: 1:53

Thanks, Fonz. Yeah, I'm doing really well. It's getting darker rainy over here in Cardiff, but what do you expect?

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 2:00

Well, thank you so much, April. Like I said, I just couldn't believe it. It's already almost well. It'll be a year in February, Is that correct? I think that's when we first met and running into you and I was just like this is amazing. So it's great that I did get to meet you in real life and now have you on, am chuffed to bits to be speaking with you today, so I'm excited about that. So, april, tell us a little bit about your context in education, and then let's go ahead and talk about your wonderful project, peelback Education. So yeah, tell us a little bit about yourself.

April Braithwaite: 2:42

Sure. So I got into education through working with book creator, so I'm on a marketing and operations team with them, which meant I've been able to go to events, speak at conferences it's how I met you funds at TCA, which is my favorite conference, I try and make them send me every year and kind of being in that space meant that I got to speak to educators every day and hear their stories, and obviously I'm not necessarily a salesperson, so sometimes we would just be talking about their doing, what their life is like, and it was a really eye-opening kind of space to be in, because I would have teachers telling me about things they can do, can't do, things they're worried about, things that maybe are not always the funnest challenges to come through in the classroom. And this is kind of where peel back education came into it. So I was it's kind of a buddy's door. I was brushing my teeth one night.

April Braithwaite: 3:35

I was just thinking to myself about all of these things. I was thinking about, uh, like farmer forbes, you, claudia fisnoti, all of these amazing educators I'd spoken to very recently about how they became educators and what motivates them, and that's when I kind of had this phrase come into my head of. I'd love to peel back their stories and tell those stories for them. And I just saw it. I saw the logo and I saw all this big idea of telling the stories of these educators for other people, because there's plenty of influencers in this space, there's plenty of companies that are always talking about education, but I would love there to be a place where these educators could have their story told as well, and that's where it comes from.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 4:16

I love it and I love this at this time, and especially now, for a lot of schools that are starting up, and here in the US I know there's some schools that have already started and maybe they're three weeks in, two weeks in or a little bit longer. But I think that educator stories are so important and they are just very useful in so many ways to hear how educators are really masters of their craft, how they are adapting to the everyday things that come their way, how their ability to overcome a lot of those challenges. And I think, for a lot of the younger teachers that are coming in, whether they're first year teachers, whether they're five year teachers, there's so much knowledge and experience within a lot of the educators within our space that can be very useful to motivate and to help and just to simply be there as an ear, to listen and then just share those experiences like you mentioned being able to peel back, and I think that's something that is so great and so important. So when I saw you post that, immediately I reached out and I was like, hey, do you want to be on the podcast? Because I want you to share this amazing project, because this is something that I feel is very important to take off and getting to hear your background stating you know being in a marketing team for an ed tech company not necessarily within, like you know, the confines of the education space let's say, a brick and mortar school and so on but to take the time to know and hear and talk to teachers not necessarily selling, but just hearing their stories I think that is so powerful. So I really love that and I love the way that this all came about.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 6:02

I think a lot of the greatest ideas that I've had to have happened in the restroom while I'm brushing my teeth or just there, like in the mornings, combing my hair. I think that's where, like those epiphanies happen. So that's something that's fantastic. So let's talk a little bit about Peelback Education. I know you have a website now and everything, so tell us a little bit about this. What is your overall mission now? So we want to hear those educator stories and what else would we be able to find within Peelback Education?

April Braithwaite: 6:35

Yeah. So I'm coming at it as kind of a medium, a storyteller, a messenger for teachers that maybe otherwise don't have the time or the platform to tell their own story, or maybe they're so busy sharing all the great things they do that we haven't uncovered why yet, or their full history. So what I want people to get out of Peelback Education is almost like mini stories or biographies about great educators that could inspire them, or even just a sense of understanding and somebody's been in a similar place to them, so you know, when there's people who have overcome challenges or a sense of being a different teacher in a difficult environment, how did they overcome that? Because that could help any teacher today, whether that's a first year teacher or a teacher in a new campus. I want to offer a place where I'm not selling a product to anyone. I'm not trying to get you to use this in curriculum, but I'm also not giving you top 10 ways to use any kind of product. It's just stories about teachers that might help other teachers.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 7:41

That is great and you know some of the things that I do see here, uh, just amplifying that powerful, authentic stories, and I love, like you said, you're not coming at it, you know in in a different way. Like I said, and I think that's so important that I do want to emphasize again, although you do work in ed tech, you're not really taking that ed tech approach. It's really just the whole educator approach with those stories and amplification. And you know, just to kind of go back a little bit with what you're talking about, I have to share a little bit about my story, which I know a lot of people have heard, but I think that it falls in line with what you're trying to do, because oftentimes I get asked like, well, who inspired you to be a teacher or things of that sort, and I always mention you know just a couple of names, but because their stories and the way that they worked with me and made me feel, helped me continue to move forward in this, and I think that it's a great way for just to share the work that they've done, the inspiration, how they made you feel, and then to ignite and light that fire into some new educators, some new motivation for those five to 10 year teachers, 20 year teachers, and so for myself, when I first got into education. I always say I fell into education, not necessarily wanting to be in education, but once I fell into education not necessarily wanting to be in education, but once I fell into it I absolutely fell in love with education. And it would be I wouldn't be where I'm at today if I hadn't had some great mentors.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 9:24

My first year teaching, which was Mr Nava, who was an algebra teacher also as well, because I just started teaching algebra, coming in from the sales and advertising world into math but the fact that he would take the time to walk down the hall and I had my door open while I was teaching and he would just kind of walk down the hall and just kind of peek in and I would see him kind of go and come back and go and come back. And I remember one day I stopped him and I said hey, is everything okay? Like what's going on? He goes. No, he goes, I'm just observing, you know. And then he told me this that I'll never forget he said keep doing what you're doing, he goes.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 10:03

And if you keep teaching the way that you're teaching, your years are going to fly by so fast, fast forward, 19 years later, still in education, and then pursued my master's, just recently, defended my dissertation too as well.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 10:20

But it was because somebody with more experience than me saw me and said, hey, I just you know, I'm here for you, I just want to share my knowledge, I want to share my experiences, and that, for me, was something that was so important.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 10:37

That has kept me in education, and so I love that. These are the stories that you're trying to capture, those moments in time that, for a lot of educators like myself, have kept us in education, and the work that I do now is also to give back to education, so it just comes around full circle, and I'm just so thankful that you're going to capture that and those authentic stories from our community, because this could definitely be get the I can see this being big April, so I'm so excited for you in in doing these things and you know people reaching out to you and subscribing, you know, to hear these stories, read these stories and being featured educators. I think for a lot of our educators out there, just to hold them up in that sense of that experience that they have is something powerful, so thank you so much for that.

April Braithwaite: 11:31

And it's exactly that kind of exactly why I'm coming at it. So one thing I remember hearing a lot in the community space is that oftentimes when teachers want to get recognition or be promoted, it relies on all of this stuff outside of the classroom. Other webinars, other people featuring you or some teachers aren't even allowed to have that and that's actually looked down upon in some districts, and so I kind of came at it as this. I'm not in education. I can tell any story I want because I'm not in the classroom.

April Braithwaite: 11:59

So whether you want to tell your story publicly and use that to show how great you are and try to access that career that you want, or you have a story that you're not allowed to tell but you want it out there in the world, I want to be available for both those teachers because I think of it as my way of getting back, because I had great teachers when I was in school that really motivated me to keep trying with myself. I was a bit of an absentee student for quite a few years into, like high school level. There's a couple of teachers that made me remember that I matter and, as an adult, then keep pursuing education or keep trying hard because, well, they believed in me. So why would I give up on believing?

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 12:38

on me.

April Braithwaite: 12:38

And it was that sense of dignity and respect that they gave me that I would like to give to teachers today, because I think, hopefully, that I'm quite a good writer and it's something that is my. My bread and butter is blogging and putting stories out there, so why not use that for this good?

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 12:57

yes, absolutely, and you know I think that this is so wonderful. You know you're taking those skills, you know that you use on the day-to-day, you know as somebody who's working in ed tech and now using it for this, and I think that that's something that is fantastic to be able to market those stories and share, and you know validating educator work, but then also, like you said, you know offering a space, a safe space, to be able to share those stories because, as we know, as much good as there is in the education space, you know there are some tough stories and some tough situations that are out there because of our systems, and maybe this could also be a way to be able to help fix and remedy these things and be able to get at it at the root level, make those changes and better the situation for our educators here within our classrooms, and I think that's something that's very important. So I love that you're just going to be open and honest in really sharing these stories and being able to put these out there and market education in that way. And so, again, I'm just definitely excited about those things, education in that way, and so, again, I'm just definitely excited about those things and now so kind of falling in line with that, like you mentioned, there are those teachers that it's how they made you feel and you know. So tell me a little bit about you know.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 14:18

Just to kind of get back into that peelback education, I want to peel back a little bit about you to amplify your story as well and just so we can make that connection of now why you're doing this. But as far as in your education you know coming up who might be those, let's say, maybe two or three teachers that you remember that made a big difference in your world, that maybe kind of changed your trajectory or maybe helped you, like, move forward in the same path that you landed in, as far as in the ed tech space or, you know, now with this new role, or as far as peel back education is concerned, yeah, for sure, the number one teacher I always think of and maybe it's a little bit embarrassing, maybe I'm a fangirl.

April Braithwaite: 15:50

I probably think about this teacher more regularly than you're supposed to when you leave education. But when I was a junior and senior year in America, when I was in college in the UK, I had a philosophy and religious studies teacher called Martin Sinclair. So you called your teacher by your first name at that level, so I'd called him Martin. He had Einstein-like gray curly hair. He'd ride his bike through the park into work and he was just such a character and it was the first time that I'd really ever met a teacher that was so unique and bold and curious and creative. He was a zen buddhist and he had certificates in astrology and he'd just talk to you about the most random things, because that's what he would do in his philosophy classroom. And one thing that really stuck out to me really early on when I met him was him saying that he didn't necessarily go to university did at his religious studies teaching degree he taught uh well, sorry, was taught by buddhists. He went to, uh, monasteries. He went through that religious studies education and then became a teacher and then became a college teacher and I remember thinking at the time I'd never really heard that you could do that and I was already a kid that was thinking I don't know if I'll be going to you, I don't know what I want to do. So having that reassurance that someone I respected still could make such an impact and be a teacher makes such a big difference on how I looked at life. But it was actually something that happened later, for the end of my studies with Martin.

April Braithwaite: 17:26

I was in my last year of class, like a two year class, and I was just not turning up. Really I think my attendance was like three quarters of the time. I was just not there. And I do come in one of his classes. I sit down in the corner back corner of my friends and he just comes over just very quietly, just very calmly. He says why are you never in? And I didn't have an answer at the time. I was like, oh, I don't know, I just never in. But it stayed with me that whole time Because he noticed that I was never in and there were so many teachers that never really said anything or certainly never made a big deal out of it.

April Braithwaite: 18:04

But in some ways, when you're a student who's maybe just trying to fade into the background, having that one teacher recognize that you have a connection or you do respect them and being willing to say it had been life-changing. Because it's one of those things that I come back to. I think why wouldn't I try, why wouldn't I show up for myself? Because I always think that Martin would like to hear that I did or that I tried. I think about emailing him all the time like, oh, you never guess what I do. Now, martin, I work in education. Now I tell these stories because I think that I like to remember. I think he'd be proud of me and I think this is what I hear regulate conferences that teachers want to hear their former students have, and I had interviews recently that are going to go up on the blog. They kind of solidified that that teachers want to know they're making a good job, and I'm like, well, I know teachers that did a good job and I know teachers doing a good job today that remind me of Martin or another teacher.

April Braithwaite: 18:56

Being Miss Portman, my English teacher, probably the only subject where I thought I could just do it English language. I got my first ever A star, which is like 97 plus percent. And I remember we had this fiction piece where we had to write like a tension story and she said your work made me cry. I cried at the end and that just stayed with me. Maybe, as I could be a writer, I could do these things. And I never did go to uni for it and Pop didn't go that way. But she reminded me that I always could and I always come back to that and that's why I'm writing today.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 19:28

That is so wonderful. See, these are the wonderful stories that I think we definitely need to honor and hear back or hear of more, and I think that what you're going to do through peelback education is something that is wonderful in that sense of being able to honor the work, but also it could be a way, like we talked about that motivation, but for many too, it could be like a way of healing also as well Just being able to share your story, share your heart and things of that sort, because this is a labor of love. I think education is one of the most noble professions that is out there, because we are investing so much of ourselves in our students. And I just want to share one more story, because it's just the way that you shared about Martin. You shared about Martin and I've said the story and shared this before, but for me, I'll never forget a substitute teacher that I had in ninth grade so you're looking at back in 1994 when I was a freshman in high school, ninth grade, and it's stuck with me forever and it's also been part of my motivation in education is his name, was Mr Rodriguez.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 20:43

He was also he's a. He was at the time a retired biology teacher, so he would come and sub in our biology class and, of course, he was one of those teachers that I think I might say that I'm, I was or I am a little like him, in the sense that I was always just thinking outside the box, so I didn't. He never really followed the teacher lesson plans when the teacher was out, but we all knew that we were in for a treat when he would come in, because we were going to learn something like just awesome and something that was just going to, you know, really make an impact on us, and I never forgot it was mainly just the way that he made us all feel, but I'll never forget one of the lessons that he shared with us was we walked in, we sat down and he said, on the board, you know, this is what you're going to see. And he wrote out and it's just really kind of like in an acronym form. But he wrote out see, hopkins Cafe. And we're all just sitting there and he's asking, really kind of like in an acronym form, but he wrote out See, hopkins Cafe. And we're all just sitting there and he's asking us what do you think this means? And we're like, we're just like dumbfounded, like looking at each other like I don't know, and then he just went into an explanation saying, hey, these are, you know, the seven or some of the elements, but some of the seven most important elements that you need as a human to survive. And he just broke it down and it was C Hopkins cafe, which is carbon hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, potassium, iodine, nitrogen, sulfur, calcium and iron. So I was just like, and it stuck with me and I saw him and so, so this kind of ties into maybe this might be one of my favorite, maybe an entry that I might put in.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 22:25

But I remember seeing him several years later, after, you know, I had just gotten into education and he's a lot older. We were in a doctor's office and he walked up to the water fountain to get some water and I just kind of, you know, kind of followed him over there in that way just to go say hi and I was like, hey, mr Rodriguez, and you know, take him back a little. You know, he was just like I don't remember you, I'm not, you know, and I just introduced myself and I told him I will never forget that you taught me C Hopkins Cafe in ninth grade and I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate you and thank you for the way that you always made us feel, and I saw his eyes get watery and teary. He got so teary eyed and I think that moment, too, was an impact for me, in the sense that back in 1994, when he was in that classroom, he didn't know that he had planted a seed there.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 23:34

And now, many years later, you know, I ran into him and I got to share that story. So he want to see and why. I think for educators it's important that if a student can remember them, just hey, how are you? Thank you so much for this. I think that just makes a huge difference for so many educators out there to know that what they put in there, what they planted, that time spent, that effort, you know, was able to bear some wonderful fruit. And that effort, you know, was able to bear some wonderful fruit and you know, just, I think that's something that's great and amazing.

April Braithwaite: 24:07

So this is why I'm just so excited, because this is something so different than what we normally see, and you know, I'm kind of taken back a little bit, like in a good way, that this is happening and that you're putting your efforts into this to be able to share these stories and the heart of teachers that are out there, too as well yeah, ah, me too, because I have been doing some interviews, getting them ready to go out, and I had a completely almost full circle moment in one where, almost just like you, just then, I'm interviewing educators to tell their story and then they'll start telling me about their most influential educator and it's like this full golden circle of implement on influence and it's just.

April Braithwaite: 24:52

It reminded me in this moment I almost kind of zoomed out for myself and saw all of these stories and people as the generations of building blocks and community. That's what it comes down to. Education is the backbone of all of society and when I'm speaking to people who aren't in education, like my husband or my friends, and I'm explaining it to them and trying to explain to them what's happening and the things that are happening on a political level, or why teachers can't buy pencils for themselves, I'm realizing how much people don't know about education when they're not in that space. And that's another reason why I want to tell that story, because if we don't have the building blocks of society, if we don't have these teachers, what do we have?

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 25:33

Exactly exactly. So this is great and I'm just really excited about this and like so, you're tell us a little bit more now as far as the process. So right now I know we're talking about the types of stories and you know how you're working alongside that as far as putting them out and publishing. So for our listeners here that are just listening to about peelback education for the very first time, I will make sure and link the website into our show notes as well, but tell us a little bit about the process. How would a teacher go about and say, hey, I want to share my story. What should be the first thing that I do, aside from going to the web page?

April Braithwaite: 26:11

Yeah. So I think the main thing that I would do as far as coming along is have an idea of what motivates you. That's really my one ballpark question that it all comes from. So there's no set questions. There's no set way that we have to speak. What happens is I sit down for half an hour chat.

April Braithwaite: 26:34

If you can't do video, we can do call or text. It's really there's no barrier to entry. You just have to be an educator who is willing to speak to me for half an hour. I promise I don't bite, so I consider it my job to ask the questions that understand what your story is and to make that into some kind of story. All you have to do is come and tell me about you and that could be how you got into education or something you're currently working on, because I believe that that can always be different for every person. It could be different this month to what it's going to be in six months, and I like to think that at the time you're ready, you will just come home and that these things are somewhat predestined, if you will, to just happen and the best stories will come to life.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 27:21

I love it and you know, kind of going back even to what you're saying, and just the ripple effect of those stories because, like right now, just me sharing this with you, I mean that was a ripple in time for me, that you know, now I'm here in this position, in this role, being able to do so many things because of those educators and there's many more educators, but these are the ones that really they're in my heart and I will never, ever forget that because of them, I'm still here and I think that that is something that is wonderful because, like you said, right now, just being able to listen to this work that you're going to do, it's just really I'm excited about it and I'm excited to subscribe and hear and read and learn from all those stories, because it's just something that we do and I thank you too, like you mentioned, you know, explaining these things from not being in education per se and being able to put these stories out. The importance of that for people that are not in our space, in our bubble, in our landscape per se, the education landscape, to be able to hear and read the story. I think that could also, you know, help have a ripple effect Because, as we do, we all learn through storytelling and, you know, in any other situation there are people that they learn from as well and be able to see those moments and capture and say, hey, this was, this is why this person was a great leader, this is why this person was a great manager, this is why this person was a great teacher, because there's just something in them that they're able to just share and engage and you know, our students in curiosity and engage them with excitement and things of that sort to be able to change their paths as well, you know. So that's really, really exciting. So you've said that you have already started and so you've already had some.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 30:08

You know people reach out to you and so on. So tell me how that process has been for you, that it from the point of all right, here is where I got the idea, idea from Peelback Education. Now I put my website out and now I'm getting people that are reaching out to share their stories. How has that made you feel? How has the response been to Peelback Education? To this point, because this is short-lived, right you just posted this. What was it? Maybe about a week ago.

April Braithwaite: 30:38

Yeah, it's been. It feels like it's been a lot longer than it has. It's been a bit of a whirlwind in that way. I did not expect to immediately get kind of the support and positivity that I did. I really thought it would just sit there for a while and probably not do anything. Um, I'm kind of mission driven to a fault, so I won't really do anything unless I truly believe in it, and I've always I had my own business years ago decided to leave it because it wasn't what I wanted to do. At times I've always kept saying to my husband like, oh, I kind of want something, but I don't know what. It is not the right time. You know, I have these skills. I want to write, I want to do blog, social, but I didn't have the.

April Braithwaite: 31:20

At midnight I was up until like 2am using like ChatGPT to help me get some like structure ideas in my cake. But how would I do that? What system do I need for this? I just did not sleep and the next day I just spent like fixated hours putting it together and released it to the world and it's. It's been really lovely to see people already believe in that, and so one of the pages that I added later over the weekend was be a featured educator.

April Braithwaite: 31:49

I needed to put it together to show someone. And it was kind of a magical moment for me, because then it had been up for maybe six-ish hours and I logged in the next day and someone had just found it from my social media and booked straight in. And then when I emailed them, I said, yeah, I just came across it and it felt, you know, I read the tagline they're not here for a reason and it just felt right. And so that was a magical moment for me, realizing that, okay, maybe I'm doing something right here. It wasn't just this random brainwave, it is this mission, it is worth something. And so now it's been about a week. And so now it's been about a week we've got some interviews lined out, some things written, some things prepared. Uh, originally I had said I'd probably try to release one a month because, again, I didn't think there's going to be that much interest in it. But I think it's going to be a lot more than that.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 32:37

But we'll have to see that is so fantastic and I mean this is wonderful. April, like again I. I know that I saw this pop up and you know you and I both being connected on LinkedIn and so on, I was, and you know there's so much negativity within you know the education space that is being spoken and, of course, so many things happening politically that can really just it weighs down on an educator and I think the worst thing is is just having that weight and feeling like, is what I'm doing? Does it even make a difference? Does it even matter? And I want to share with all educators yes, it does. Yes, it does, because you know, if it wasn't for me sitting in that seat with that, with Mr Lurie is, or if it wasn't for myself just coming into education and having Mr Nava walking around and just telling me and reassuring me and just supporting me, I mean those are the stories that we definitely need to hear and learn from and just to continue to ignite that passion for education and it's the same thing for our students, that that is your future.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 34:01

I just had a student on LinkedIn. I think it was about four months ago or something. I think they graduated in the spring, so it was a couple of months back and she reached out to me. She's Georgia Tech. She graduated and she was a sixth grader, which was my first year as a sixth grade teacher. She was in that class, she graduated from Georgia Tech and now she's working as a software engineer for Spotify, and she sent me a message and said thank you so much for sharing technology with us, and everything that you did with us in sixth grade really helped motivate me and stay on track to do this now. And so you never know, you never know who's sitting in your classroom and you never know what difference they will make in the years to come.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 34:46

And so please, for all my friends and listeners that are out there, please visit Peel Back Education. The link will be in the show notes. Please make sure you connect with April, connect with her on all socials I'll make sure and link all that out too as well and be part, share your story, be part of this mission and help the education space, help all of us. You know sharing your wonderful stories and just to you know, you don't know the great impact that it'll have, not only on students, but just on ourselves too as well. So thank you so much, april.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 35:20

I mean, I'm just so excited, I'm just so thankful for the work that you're doing and that you're going to continue to do, and I can't believe it Like it's been a week since you've put this out and just hearing how much that you know people are already reaching out and the impact that this is going to have, and then again reigniting your passion in that sense of now writing, blogging, presenting and just taking this to a different level. Just like you know my podcast many years ago, so I'm excited that you get to do this too as well and enjoy it. So are you really excited, like, is this something that might possibly turn later on into a podcast, or is this right now just simply going to be blogs, uh, a written story of that sense?

April Braithwaite: 36:10

oh, I mean I would love if it turned into a podcast. That would be really cool, I think. For now I'm going to set some realistic expectations will be written. However, if you do follow on kind of the video social medias like instagram and tiktok, I'll be putting out some clicks from my interviews that are just kind of those distilled moments so that not only hear the voice and the writing but actually hear the voice and that passion from those educators directly.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 36:46

I said, it's just April, like if, if this does come to fruition, where it does become a podcast, I'm definitely excited about that too as well, and definitely anything that you need.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 36:51

I am here to help Because I truly believe in this project, and so I just want to thank you for your time today, to share your heart and your passion and the great things that you're going to be doing, and I'm just again, this is something that is refreshing. I know that this isn't our normal content that we normally do here on Maya Tech Life, but who cares? It's my show and I can do whatever kind of content I want, and this is something that I needed, and I'm thankful that you were here too as well, because it really filled my bucket and it filled me with joy and it just it just reminds me of why I do what I do, and it takes me back to those basics and to never forget where I came from and what I'm doing, and I think that's something that's so important, and so thank you for the work that you're going to do through peelback education, because this is something fantastic thank you, and thank you for having me as well.

April Braithwaite: 37:46

It's been a pleasure to talk about it and just kind of give my brain child some love, because I do love talking about why it should exist and kind of making people see that we should be telling educators stories.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 38:00

Excellent, wonderful. I love it. Well, april, as you know and I know that you are a listener of the show we always end the show with these last three questions, so hopefully you are ready to go. So here we go. Question number one as we know, every superhero has a point of weakness, so I want to ask you, in the current state of education, what would you say? Is your current edu kryptonite?

April Braithwaite: 38:30

what would you say is your current edu kryptonite? It's been my kryptonite for a very long time misinformation, fake news. I wish far more people knew how to digitally read headlines or how to look for the correct thing and use a little bit more thinking and questioning time when they read things online, because I think it's dividing us when it should not. We should be bringing people together above everything.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 38:51

Excellent, great answer. Love it All right. Question number two, april, is if you could have a billboard with anything on it, what would it be and why?

April Braithwaite: 39:02

It would say be kind to yourself above all, and for flowers. But also there would be at least three pictures of my cat, because I can't make anything about including a picture of my cat, so he'll be on there too.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 39:15

I love it. Wonderful, all right. And question number three is if you could change places or search places with a single person for one day, who would that be and why?

April Braithwaite: 39:27

I recently started following on Instagram I'm sure it's on TikTok too, but Mr Luke, who's likea and it's like a first year or like kindergarten teacher and his videos are just so fun. He tells stories about the questions he gets. He's always so excited, his t-shirts crazy fun and I would love to be Mr Luke for a day, because he seems to have the best job in the world teaching his classes.

Dr. Fonz Mendoza: 39:51

Awesome. Well, we'll make sure and tag him here on the episode too, as well. That way, we can go ahead and hear the big shout out to Mr Luke. So shout out to you, Mr Luke. Thank you so much. No-transcript. Connect with her, too, as well, and stay connected as far as any releases and, of course, all those wonderful clips that she'll be putting out too well, but also when you visit our website. Not only will you be able to catch this episode, but you'll be able to catch the other 334 episodes that we have, and I promise you you will find a little something there just for you that you can sprinkle onto what you are already doing great. So thank you so much as always for all of your support and again, big shout out to our sponsors, Book Creator, EduAid and Yellowdig. Thank you so much for believing in our mission and, my friends, until next time, don't forget, stay techie.