There it is. It's busted pencils fully. Let it education talk. Educated educators talking
in education classes in session. Dr. Johnny Lupinati me, Dr. Tim Slecker, Jacob chairman
of the board. We're all here and we've got two great guests for our show. Return guest,
Alan Levy and a maybe more important and we'll get to introducing our other guests
here in a second. But Alan, we, man, I forgot. We met you at a conference. You had your
book thriving in public schools. We got you on. We talked to you. First of all, just a quick
reminder, the book thriving in public schools, where did it come from? How did it get out
there to be published? And then we'll go on to the next thing. Just a reminder for everybody
thriving in public schools. What's it about? It's basically about my 19 years of teaching.
How do you reach kids that have been marginalized? How do you embark an education on them?
How do you get them to really want to do well? And what I do is I use, I chronologize
or in chronology order, I kind of show how to blend classroom learning with community
organizing and building power with these students. And what does that look like? It's kind
of, in a way, it's a guide for teachers to say, to show them how you can do that, how
you can actually energize and get the kids moving and wanting to be productive within the
schools. Well, I mean, you know, we talked about because, I mean, what you did is you, to
me, you created the opportunity for students to live out democracy in a way that actually
brought their issues to the point where they were truly living and practicing, you know,
activism, action in advocating for themselves and them students. And so, Ellen, you know,
at the time, we were like, man, this is a great stuff. It's a great book. But we were,
you know, we get the email from you. We're like, what? Wait a minute. You got to tell
thriving in public schools, the documentary filmed and directed by an Emmy award-winning
cinematographer. Like, what in the world are you talking about? And yeah, we're talking
about the other guests with us. Romell, is it's Jen, Jen Sianna? Yes. Romell, Jen Sianna.
Romell, Jen Sianna, how are you, Romell? So an Emmy award-winning cinematographer, what
are you doing hanging out with Alan Levy? Well, yeah, I ran into his story and was completely
enamored by Red the Book. And I feel with the current political climate that we're going
on today and education and questions of people's power and organizing, I thought it'd be a really
good story to tell right now as soon as I can. So, yeah, that's how we got together. Okay,
give us a second before and then because I know Johnny's got some stuff. But so the Emmy
tell us a little bit about, you know, how that came about. I mean, just pure luck and just
to read the right time at the right place with the right people and the right project. It was
for the code of nation versus the United States of America documentary. It's being released by AMC
right now. I think that's where you can stream it. You can buy an Apple TV, Amazon, all those
things. And that's also a very, very important story. And that's also being told. And hopefully,
this action that's happening because of all of it, of these conversations are happening. And I
feel like this is a great medium that we use that we can do this kind of stuff. And with that,
with my previous work and other things I get to do anyway, I want to tell this story. I think
Mr. Levy's story and his time in the early two lots, right? When was that 20 years? I guess
early 2000s. That was my 2022. Yeah, yeah, all through. So I feel like
history is kind of cyclical. This fight has been kind of going on. It's been kind of building
to the top, you know, the bush years, the really good Obama years and then 45. And then what
are we going through now? Yeah, so I think let's talk about what was going on. Let's see what
the parallels are happening. Let's see. I want to follow the students now and what did they take
away from their time with Mr. Levy? And how would they use it in their own everyday struggles?
Johnny. Oh, yeah, this is just awesome. You know, we got to have the wonderful opportunity to
hear from Alan about, you know, the book and for listeners, if you're not familiar local,
right? We're seeing Wisconsin, right? So this is this is a close to home story for a lot of our
listeners. But I think like Ramallah's saying here, there's a story here that is, you know,
a very big one, a very important one to the world, to the nation, especially right now at the time
we're in in our country, whether you're an educator, whether you're a student, whoever,
wherever you find yourself in the moment in this nation's democracy, this is a really important
story. So I love, I absolutely love too, that this awesome book becomes, you know, also a form
of media that we can tell a story through documentary and we can, you know, teach from it,
I'm very excited about it, you know, coming to fruition and the work that you're both doing on
this, because as a teacher, you know, literacy extends even beyond reading, sometimes to see people,
to see the, the scenes and the human experience, right? Of organizing together, of confronting struggle
in productive ways. But without me, you know, skirting around it, Alan Romalt, can you tell us a
little bit about the story? Give our listeners a little taste. Maybe they don't, maybe they didn't hear
the episode, Alan did with us about thriving in a public school. Tell us a little bit about the
story and the documentary thriving in public schools. Alan Romalt, no, no, yeah, you jump in. No,
no, Alan, Alan, you start, you start, you start, you start, you start with the book,
wow, yeah, yeah, yeah, we have a trailer, but essentially, I mean, we've, it's hard because we
talked about this, you know, it was, it's really about empowering these students and empowering them
in a way that they, it's a life lesson. And what this documentary does is it shows, it goes beyond
the classroom. And it goes, like, what it looks like is that we're going to be able to follow a lot
of the, he has a list of students that go over 17, 19 years spin, who, who were very affected
by the work that we did. And they're successful in many different ways. And some students who aren't
who aren't successful, they still, they carry with them something that nobody can take away.
Yeah, I think it's a very empowering thing, but I'm very blown away that Romalt would, would
decide to do this. I mean, it's really a dream for me to see, to reconnect with these students
and to see that they're not students anymore. They're fully, they actualize adults who've learned
tremendous lessons through all the work that they did. And it's not my work, it's their work.
It's almost like if you have a good coach, I coached them, but nobody within our system
coaches kids to think about power and to think about what is really politics. It's about allocation
of resources and to go after those resources for themselves and for their families and their
communities. And in Racine, literally, the voting patterns have changed in Racine.
Whole communities are voting that never voted because they were knocking on doors,
you know, a decade before. And they're telling their kids you have to vote. They're
relatives. You have to vote. You have to stand up for the issues. Racine is a very dynamic place
as a result of all the work that they did generations. Yeah, Alan, it's not just receiving.
It's also Milwaukee. And I think part of the story, the documentary, it's going to also focus
in on the legacy because Milwaukee also has been organized in the same way. And there are generations
that hopefully Vermel will be able to talk to some of those folks as well. Yeah, and
go ahead, Vermel. Sorry, in terms of story, like, what's the story going to be about? That's
the biggest struggle here. It's just because we have such a scale. I have so many interviews.
A lot of Zoom meetings between Mr. Levy and the students and Zoom interviews, Mr. Levy
and the administration. And we have cell phone videos, VHS videos, many DV really, because
the iPhone wasn't as easily available that, right? So a lot of it is trying to strip things out
of YouTube, trying to get back into the people who put those up who might have the actual footage
and can we use it. And it's weaving a storyline that will be accessible to everybody. So
there's a couple of storylines that we're trying to go through right now. And we'll see how that
works out in the short version of this movie. Or can we expand this into a long form movie? But one
thing is for certain that the city of Racine is not an accent why this happened here as well,
right? Because it's next to Chicago and Milwaukee. It's, they're, their biggest, their height was
in the 1950s, 60s white flights. All of the things that happened in the 80s with Reagan, right?
All of NAFTA, all the car manufacturers weaving, all the jobs coming in. And right now it is
a frontline for ice and immigrant rights. And it becomes just a powder cake of so many things
we can talk about. So my struggle right now is where do we go with this? Where do we go with this?
Where do we go with this? Where do we follow this? So yeah, where we are in the movie, that's where we
are, right? We're trying to raise money to get more editing. I want to fly back to Racine,
get more interviews. I want to buy rights to some TV footage. I want to use music that's original
and scored. And you know, this is a labor of love, but this is also like a very important piece of
work that needs to be told correctly, for it to really, really do something. I agree.
For our listeners too, I mean, you hear in this, this is a story that is really special and
unique and powerful. And as Ramallah said here, it's emerging. There's so many experiences shared,
right? Do those interviews, thrills, conversations. And, and if you haven't been able to, you know,
find out more about what happened at Horlick High School, right? Alan, did I remember it
correctly? It's, yeah, Horlick High School. And if I, if I remember, it's yes, right? I think
you told us about a group of youth that's hard in the struggle. Yes. That's it. You grew into
youth and power and shirt. Youth empowered in the struggle. Yeah. And so, uh, let us know,
let we're talking more about it, but where can our listeners who are probably close by and a lot,
we have listeners all over, but especially in the area, you know, near to recene and are probably
familiar, but maybe want to learn even more, where can they get a sneak peek of the trailer,
learn more about the book? And how can they help? Hey, listener out there, if you can help,
these things cost a lot. So, you know, fun to help out, pitch in. This is a important story for
our nation, for the world, but especially for showing how important youth voices, you know, not only
in recene, but out of constant. Alan, so where can we get this stuff, man?
Is there's a website called thriving in public schools. And I said, we actually started
on dot org, dot org, thrive in public schools, dot org. We started a nonprofit for this very reason,
is to really build a big. Yeah. Yeah, we got we had sorry. You know, we'll get that. And here's
the other thing too, knowing about, you know, with the podcast, we will have the links to thriving in
public schools and all of that there. Remel though, I want to take just say, you know, Alan's like,
it's not about me, it's about the kids, it's about, you know, but I mean, let's be, you know,
let's be honest. I mean, it's a really special thing for a teacher to invest, you know, 19 years
with all of those student groups, because you know, you hear about a teacher, I did a special
project one year. You know, we're talking about 19 years. And, you know, I'm going to kind of
encourage you to go like a, you know, throwing a little bit of telling the, the story about the
power of a, of a teacher motivated, of course, to actually, you know, do the job beyond the,
quote, you know, the academics, the reading and writing, but really the true essence of being a
teacher, which is to activate and power the youth for a life long, you know, what it means to,
to thrive in a democracy after schools. And what that means, it's, you know, it's a struggle,
the things there. And Alan, I mean, you know, let's give yourself some credit, man. I mean,
this is really special that you made it happen. Tim, Tim, I just saw this part of the job.
You know, as a teacher, how can you teach kids knowing that you're going to fail them?
You know, if you're not elevating the students who are in a position where they're not going to
succeed, then what are you doing? And it only makes sense that they're connected to their community,
connected to their parents, work on issues that are important to them as a social studies teacher,
especially. If I'm teaching about democracy, they have to live it. They have to live it. If
they don't live it, then what are we doing? That's kind of what this, that's what the book is about.
And I hopefully the documentary. Well, that's, and that's why I saw, you know, come on,
Rovelto, you know, give a little bit of emphasis to going like, hey, man, you know, can you imagine
if we had all kinds of Mr. Levy's and we know they are actually out there too. But, but, you know,
especially in today's culture, I got to say that potentially a lot of, you know,
Alan Levy's that are out there, they're kind of sitting kind of tight and kind of hiding out,
because it's dangerous to be a teacher the way Alan was. And you know, a little bit here,
maybe the documentary can be a reminder of going like, hey, teachers, you know what,
it is not against the law to have your students actually learn life lessons and participate
in democracy. So Ramag just throwing that to you, man, is a little kind of like, you know,
put, put some, put some emphasis on the teachers.
Thank you. Yes. You're going to have so
Rovelto keep going. It keeps going. No, this is also a system that just keeps going, right?
This isn't about the single individual as well. This is, of course, Mr. Levy
inspired so many, but he didn't leave from the front, right? He didn't leave like, follow me,
do this, do no, no, no, no, he was like, in that, and this is say something. I don't care,
I don't care if they're speaking, say right now, go, you have a voice, you need to say something
right now, go ahead, you say it. I can't say it for you because I'm not in the same struggle,
right? So there's that, right? Of course, but like, there's the idea that like, if there was
if there's a bridge, right? He's the canoe, right? There's a river behind. He's the canoe that
brings you back, right? Connects you all. So yes, and at the same time, that kind of teaching is
under attack these things, right? You have to teach to the test. You have to teach to a system.
You can't get too close to students outside of what class minutes, right? It's minutes,
not even hours anymore.
Johnny, you know, come on, man, right? Well, I love this. I absolutely love this because,
I mean, I am, I love storytelling and especially storytelling that passes full,
like tells a story that empowers people to see themselves in it, to like, to organize around,
to inspire, to be, you know, contagious. And I think books do that. I think storytelling,
sharing those stories and I absolutely think that documentary film is one of the most powerful
mediums to capture that kind of those those flash moments that, you know, that last then forever
all kinds of ways. So I'm, I'm just in awe of the work that both of you are doing.
I'm wondering selfishly is a little sneak peak. I know there's so much emerging right now where
you're at in the project. What's one of your favorite storylines or story moments? You know,
that is sort of sitting with you as you, you know, allow things to emerge and the story to come
together. What's a little snapshot of your favorite? Um, man, I guess it would be, she's already in
the trailer. So I guess we can talk about her, right, Fernanda, just kind of her story. She's a
young girl with, with a kaffir in the red and just seeing from her growth of when she came in,
how did she come in? She was just kind of like, I'm going to be a cheerleader in high school and
hang out and just go to class and not do anything and got swept up into the storyline
because she herself was now under attacking an undocumented person and, and then she found power
and and community. She found comrades. She learned to organize. She herself became a leader with a
very, very strong voice. And currently right now she's helping write grads and working within
the system to help, right? The same fights that she was doing when she was in high school or even
before high school, which she didn't know she was fighting these things. Her story is very inspiring,
her storyline so far. I feel is easiest to really put into the future. It's all be, it'll be there.
But yeah, that's one story I could just easily say. Yes, that one's easily going to be in there.
Man, there is so, you know, it's so much. And again, like, you know, Alan, I mean,
you know, when we met, I was at two, three years ago and you're like, man, I got this book,
come on, I want, you know, give me on your show. We're like, all right, man, come on, let's go.
We get you on. We're talking and and now, you know, again, you know, again, 19 years as a teacher,
all of this work, we're, again, we're not talking about something that, you know, happened one,
one weekend, one year, but this was a, you know, accumulation of 19 years of providing students,
you know, that that coaching to, like you said, Alan, you know, you step back, present, give opportunities,
let them lead the way. And again, what a great example as a teacher and then having those
students, then, you know, Ramel to be able to talk to them now and how that was there, you know,
what a great lending of two great talents, Alan, you know, writing that book, Ramel bringing,
you know, your cinematography and storytelling to this. I mean, we are looking forward to, again,
the, you know, when it when it's finished, we definitely have the description and the link to
thriving in public schools documentary that'll be in the podcast description. So anybody who's
listening and downloading, you'll be able to get that information. Again, it's thriving in public
schools.org is where you can go. You can check it out, you know, check out the trailer, the documentary
for what's coming up. But, you know, lots going on. Class was truly in session. Love having the
both of you. And, you know, here's what we say to our guests. Alan, hopefully you remember this.
Alan, Ramel, Ramel, Ramel, thanks for busting pencils.
You're welcome. All right, guys. And now it's time for your moment of zin.
Okay.
Objectivity is not desirable because if we want to have an effect on the world, we need to emphasize
those things which will make students more active citizens and more moral people.
Thanks for listening to busted pencils, everyone. And especially thank you for joining us on
this special class in session. And you can always grab great podcasts like this one.
Just head on over to busted pencils on Apple podcasts, Spotify. And of course, you can always
find us on the civic media website. Hey, and don't forget to find us throughout the week every,
every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with home rooms class in session. And always loads of fun to wrap
up the work week on Fridays with Jacobs producer's choice. And listen up pencil busters. You can always
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every Saturday for one hour of your favorite blue collar scholars. Tim and Johnny and keep
Bustin pencils.