The LET's Talk Podcast

About this podcast

Mesquite ISD's Leadership & Empowerment Team (LET) is the latest initiative of this award-winning public school district in North Texas. LET's goal is to knock down any racial-, cultural-, or gender-related obstacles to ensure students have the most equitable learning environments to become the leaders they want to be.

The LET's Talk Podcast

Episodes

2021
Episode 20: Let's talk with Executive Director of Instructional Technology Cara Jackson
Executive Director of Instructional Technology Cara Jackson talks about how MISD worked quickly through the pandemic to overcome an "inequity in tech" and the ultimate benefits to students, student families and staff.
March 2, 2021
28 min
Let's Talk with Mesquite ISD Superintendent Dr. David Vroonland
Replay of Episode 1: Superintendent Dr. David Vroonland Introduces LET. Hear what inspired "Dr. V" as he is known across the Mesquite ISD community to create the Leadership and Empowerment Team (LET). You'll learn how students and staff and the local community will be better for the influence of LET.
February 23, 2021
31 min
Let's Talk with Director of Library Services Mary Woodard
In Episode 19, learn about Director of Library Services Mary Woodard’s leadership goals and how our goals for our district libraries align with LET. She says MISD's national award-winning library operations live by the 1939 Library Bill of Rights, offering resources for all people and all points of view. But it was her “woke” experience that has inspired this 34-year MISD educator and her librarian team even more. Her ultimate mission is to train all MISD students “how to think critically about information and be able to use it to improve their lives.”
February 16, 2021
28 min
LET's Talk with The Mesquite Academy Principal Abram Joseph
In Episode 18, learn why Principal Abram Joseph refers to The Mesquite Academy as a program instead of a school. Also hear why he’s more proud that some of his former students are now black educators like himself than overcoming his start in life as a sharecropper’s son. His life missions include helping students realize they have the power to determine their own destiny.
February 9, 2021
47 min
LET's Talk with District's Leadership & Empowerment Director Dr. LaDonna Gulley
Episode 17 features a conversation between the district’s new Leadership & Empowerment Director Dr. LaDonna Gulley and co-hosts Daniel Norwood, MISD social studies coordinator, and Ted Madden of the district’s Communications Department. Dr. Gulley opens up about her 30-year background in education that includes a dissertation on equity in the classroom. She also shares some of her LET goals to inspire “cultural intelligence” and more.
February 2, 2021
34 min
2020
LET's Talk with Mesquite ISD Education Foundation Executive Director Randy Lewallyn
MISD Education Foundation Executive Director Randy Lewallyn is the special guest of the 16th episode of the LET’s Talk podcast. This Poteet High School alumnus shares how the foundation is taking to heart LET’s mission of equity to all students through its grant process. Thanks to generous community members and MISD employees, the foundation has funded millions for innovation in MISD classrooms and won’t stop fundraising in this pandemic despite its challenges.
December 15, 2020
29434 min
LET's Talk with North Mesquite U.S. History Teacher Shanisha Neal
In Episode 15, we hear from North Mesquite High School's award-winning U.S. history teacher Shanisha Neal. In her first year of teaching last year, North Mesquite High School named her the First Class Teacher of the Year. Hear what makes her special and why Mesquite ISD is looking for more minority teachers just like her.
December 8, 2020
604331 min
LET's talk with Director of Guidance & Counseling Kem Edwards
Episode 14 features Director of Guidance & Counseling Kem Edwards, who shares how MISD has reimagined school counseling and now has an award-winning program with a focus on equity for all students. She announces a new program for MISD staff members--free counseling!
December 1, 2020
844638 min
LET's talk with Curriculum Coordinator, Secondary English Language Arts (ELA) Kyle Fritsche
Episode 13. Despite dealing with this year's all-new, state-mandated high school English Language Arts curriculum and educator challenges in the season of COVID-19, hear how Kyle Fritsche still finds the time and focus to open teacher and student minds like never before.
November 17, 2020
613843 min
LET's talk with Poteet Graduate & Texas Tech Freshman Nia Threatt
Episode 12. Poteet Graduate & Texas Tech Freshman Nia Threatt shares what it was like growing up as a black teenager in Mesquite ISD schools. As a member of the district's Leadership & Empowerment Team (LET), her opinions are helping shape future initiatives of the Leadership & Empowerment Team.
November 10, 2020
489048 min
LET's talk with Director, Personnel Services-Secondary, Emilio Duran
Mesquite native and MISD's first Latino principal Emilio Duran talks about his career in Mesquite ISD and why LET is important.
November 3, 2020
571222 min
LET's talk with A.C. New Middle School Principal Regina Jackson
Episode 10 features A.C. New Middle School Principal Regina Jackson, a black administrator in MISD, who describes how she serves as a role model to minority students.
October 27, 2020
792541 min
LET's talk with Horn High School Assistant Principal Terry Riley
Episode 9
October 20, 2020
706442 min
LET's Talk with Coordinator of Advanced Academics Russ Weeks
Episode 8
October 13, 2020
498284 min
Florence Elementary Assistant Principal Dr. Israel Garcia-Jacinto
Episode 7
October 6, 2020
467443 min
LET's talk with Director of Professional Learning Jennifer Morris
Episode 6
September 29, 2020
587232 min
LET's talk with Mesquite High School Principal Gerald Sarpy
Episode 5
September 22, 2020
612215 min
LET's talk with Shands Elementary Assistant Principal Kay Velarde
Episode 4
September 15, 2020
534715 min
LET's talk with Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Services Mary Randall
Episode 3
September 8, 2020
582296 min
LET's talk with Librarian Amianne Bailey
Episode 2
September 1, 2020
562463 min

The LET's Talk Podcast

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

The LET's Talk Podcast

Episodes

Episode 20: Let's talk with Executive Director of Instructional Technology Cara Jackson

Let's Talk with Mesquite ISD Superintendent Dr. David Vroonland

Let's Talk with Director of Library Services Mary Woodard

LET's Talk with The Mesquite Academy Principal Abram Joseph

LET's Talk with District's Leadership & Empowerment Director Dr. LaDonna Gulley

LET's Talk with Mesquite ISD Education Foundation Executive Director Randy Lewallyn

LET's Talk with North Mesquite U.S. History Teacher Shanisha Neal

LET's talk with Director of Guidance & Counseling Kem Edwards

LET's talk with Curriculum Coordinator, Secondary English Language Arts (ELA) Kyle Fritsche

LET's talk with Poteet Graduate & Texas Tech Freshman Nia Threatt

LET's talk with Director, Personnel Services-Secondary, Emilio Duran

LET's talk with A.C. New Middle School Principal Regina Jackson

LET's talk with Horn High School Assistant Principal Terry Riley

LET's Talk with Coordinator of Advanced Academics Russ Weeks

Florence Elementary Assistant Principal Dr. Israel Garcia-Jacinto

LET's talk with Director of Professional Learning Jennifer Morris

LET's talk with Mesquite High School Principal Gerald Sarpy

LET's talk with Shands Elementary Assistant Principal Kay Velarde

LET's talk with Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Services Mary Randall

LET's talk with Librarian Amianne Bailey

The LET's Talk Podcast

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

The LET's Talk Podcast

Episodes

Episode 20: Let's talk with Executive Director of Instructional Technology Cara Jackson

Let's Talk with Mesquite ISD Superintendent Dr. David Vroonland

Let's Talk with Director of Library Services Mary Woodard

LET's Talk with The Mesquite Academy Principal Abram Joseph

LET's Talk with District's Leadership & Empowerment Director Dr. LaDonna Gulley

LET's Talk with Mesquite ISD Education Foundation Executive Director Randy Lewallyn

LET's Talk with North Mesquite U.S. History Teacher Shanisha Neal

LET's talk with Director of Guidance & Counseling Kem Edwards

LET's talk with Curriculum Coordinator, Secondary English Language Arts (ELA) Kyle Fritsche

LET's talk with Poteet Graduate & Texas Tech Freshman Nia Threatt

LET's talk with Director, Personnel Services-Secondary, Emilio Duran

LET's talk with A.C. New Middle School Principal Regina Jackson

LET's talk with Horn High School Assistant Principal Terry Riley

LET's Talk with Coordinator of Advanced Academics Russ Weeks

Florence Elementary Assistant Principal Dr. Israel Garcia-Jacinto

LET's talk with Director of Professional Learning Jennifer Morris

LET's talk with Mesquite High School Principal Gerald Sarpy

LET's talk with Shands Elementary Assistant Principal Kay Velarde

LET's talk with Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Services Mary Randall

LET&#39;s talk with Librarian Amianne Bailey

LET's talk with Librarian Amianne Bailey