In this episode (Part 2 of 2 of “Conversation with Shaker Teachers”), we talk with three teachers

• Kelly Grahl
• Jill DiPiero
• Alesha Edwards

These professionals teach in at Lomond Elementary school in Shaker Heights. We asked them to share from their experiences about the challenges they encounter in teaching in the Lomond school building.

The topics we discuss include:

• What it’s like to teach in schools that don’t have air conditioning (and how that impacts the children/students)
• What challenges they’ve encountered with the current (and limited) electrical system
• How the current configuration of the building classrooms impacts teaching in the 21st century
• Why reconfigurable space is necessary for individualized teaching and instruction
• What is needed to create and enhance school safety at Lomond (with an example of school safety done well – at Warrensville Heights Elementary school)
• What it means to be a Title 1 school (40% of the students live in homes below the poverty line) and what equity means for them
• The problem of the lack of access (non-ADA compliance)

I believe this episode is vital for residents interested in knowing why the school district needs this levy to pass.

This podcast is hosted and produced by Mark Goode, a resident of Shaker Heights, on behalf of the Committee for Shaker Schools, a grassroots, citizen-based campaign organization that works to help pass Shaker Heights City School District levies and bond issues. The committee's primary mission is to inform voters about upcoming school levies and bond issues and to direct efforts toward ensuring their passage.