PoCC On Air Podcast

PoCC On Air with The Straight A’s is a podcast built as an extension of the National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference, the flagship of NAIS' commitment to equity and justice in teaching, learning, and sustainability for independent schools.

Hosted by four long-time independent school educators and industry leaders, and featuring visits from conference speakers, organizers, and participants, the podcast seeks to amplify the many voices in and around PoCC that help make the event a mainstay on NAIS's annual professional development calendar.

It previously existed independent of NAIS as The Straight A's Podcast; dedicated listeners of that show will no doubt recognize the combination of thoughtful questions, spirited storytelling, and witty banter that continue in this next iteration.

Find PoCC On Air on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast apps.

Meet The Straight A’s

Art Hall

Art’s coast-to-coast journey as an educator has spanned 25-plus years and has included stops in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Philadelphia. His work is guided and informed by a deep passion for the success of all students, particularly those who identify as African American boys. He sees educators as the keepers of what he often calls “the eternal flame of optimism,” and often reminds his professional peers that, “We don’t get paid to have bad days.” You’ll hear his unfailingly positive energy permeate every conversation he has with guests on the pod. You’ll also hear it in the annual “This is our year!” proclamation he makes on behalf of his beloved Lakers at the start of each NBA season.

Amani Reed

Amani has worked at and led schools in nearly every region of the country—Pacific Northwest, Midwest, East, and South. His many roles in those institutions and his service as a trustee for multiple education-focused nonprofit organizations have allowed him to deeply explore the relationships our schools foster with one another and with the communities they serve. On the pod, his voice is one of thoughtfulness, steadiness, and reason, and he has taken on the challenging responsibility of keeping the rest of the crew focused while on the mic. His under-the-radar talents include baking traditional Hungarian pastries and assembling bicycles from the ground up.

Abe Wehmiller

Abe has spent the last three decades in a variety of teaching, coaching, and administrative roles across five different independent schools, and has used that time to develop a broad and deep understanding of how schools function. A trained facilitator and executive coach, his professional mission is to inspire and guide individuals, teams, institutions, and communities to discover, live, and tell their unique and authentic stories. He approaches his work on the podcast with that mission in mind, holding space for guests to explore and share their journeys to and through our schools. His shoe closet includes an eclectic collection of Nike Dunks and Air Max 1’s, all of which, he’s quick to point out, he copped at below retail cost.

André Withers

André spent a total of 27 years working as a teacher and administrator in independent schools before shifting recently into the world of consulting. His current work focuses on leadership searches, executive coaching, and school assessments, all of which allow him to guide schools on a journey of continual improvement. His growing list of clients benefit from his lived experience, his systemic thinking, and an approach that he characterizes as “school anthropologist.” On the podcast, Dré is the inquisitive diagnostician, doggedly pursuing answers to big “Why are we here?” type questions. He’s also a regular wearer of the group’s coveted “bougie hat,” a nod to his appreciation for the finer things in life.
 

2024 Season

Episode 1: Welcome to Denver!

Available November 19, 2024

In the first episode of our official relaunch under the NAIS podcast umbrella, André Withers sits down with the PoCC 2024 local committee co-chairs to learn a bit about what to expect from this year’s conference. Give a listen as two Denver school leaders share their own deep histories with PoCC, their hopes for next month’s gathering, and some tips on exploring the Mile High City. Embedded in their stories, you’ll hear the larger story of how PoCC has evolved over the years, and the many meanings it has for educators and students today.  

Marti Champion (left) has been the head of middle school at Graland Country Day School in Denver’s Hilltop neighborhood since 2017. She previously worked at Graland as an English teacher and a dean of students. Sumant Bhat (right) joined Denver’s Stanley British Primary School as head of school in 2020. Immediately prior to that, he served as the head of middle school at St. Anne’s Episcopal School in Denver. On behalf of their entire local planning committee, they are excited to welcome PoCC and SDLC attendees to their city.

Episode 2: Looking Forward by Throwing it Back

Available December 3, 2024

Get ready for PoCC 2024 in Denver by throwin’ it back to PoCC 2023 in St. Louis. Amani Reed and Abe Wehmiller sit down for a conversation with educator, activist, artist, and author Christopher Emdin, recorded immediately prior to his closing keynote address at last year’s conference. He shares thoughts on what keeps him up at night in the world of education, how we can make serendipitous moments less accidental, and why he considers science “the most poppin’ discipline.”
 
Emdin is the Maxine Greene Chair for Distinguished Contributions to Education and professor of science education at Teachers College, Columbia University; the director of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship at the STEAM DREAM and Ideal Lab; an alumni fellow at the Hip-Hop Archive and Hutchins Center at Harvard University; and a scholar in residence at Lincoln Center. He is the author of The New York Times bestseller For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood… and the Rest of Y’all Too, as well as numerous other education-focused works. His belief in hip-hop as a voice for the voiceless led him to create #HipHopEd, a multiplatform and cross-curricular initiative that explores the intersections of hip-hop and education.