Episode 4: Love and Limits: Re-making Culture for/and Learning at Bailey

Show Notes

In this fourth episode of Chasing Bailey, we turn to the critical issue of culture for learning and growth.  We think about the transformation that supported the Bailey shift from “persistently dangerous” and academically unmoored in 2011 to solidly “Satisfactory” on the district’s School Assessment Measure in 2015.  That movement was spearheaded by Chief of Culture Claire Jasper who, with her “Culture Team,” steered the change based on “Love and Limits.”

00:00  Introduction:  Love and Limits: Re-making Culture for/and Learning at Bailey

04:25   What “Love and Limits” Looks Like  Chief of Culture Dr. Claire Jasper, Narrator Barbara Stengel

22:10   The Socio-political and Educational History of Bailey Middle School  Stengel, Teacher Leader Whitney Bradley Weathers, Principal Christian Sawyer

27:20   Critical, Pragmatic, Idealistic, Progressive Vision  Sawyer

29:50   The Culture Team and How it Operated  Dean Yolanda Porter, Social Worker Keith Ekhator, Communities in Schools Coordinator Kevin Haggard, Stengel

36:43   Love and Limits but not ‘Muscle’:  How to Circumvent the School to Prison Pipeline through Trauma-Informed and Restorative Practices  Porter, Haggard, Ekhator, Stengel, Resident Kenan Kerr, Resident Laura Laufman, Science Teacher Cassie Beasley

44:01   An Intentional Culture of Respect, Shared Beliefs, and Laughter Counselor April Roberts, Dean Art Taylor, Haggard, Stengel

49:15   Resistance?? Math Teacher Leader Karen Dorris Wolfson, Math Teacher Kristin Petrony, Stengel

54:25   Next Episode: Sparking Responsibility and Re-imaging Curriculum, Stengel

In this fourth episode, there are references to a variety of social, educational and historical news and commentary. You can find sources to find out more about these at our website:  www.chasingbaileypod.com.

Our Host is Barb Stengel, a retired professor of educational practice at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. She is a self-described fan of the Bailey experiment.

Between 2012 and 2016, Barb spent one day a week at Bailey, coordinating the school’s collaboration with Peabody, and serving as an informal cheerleader while also learning from this remarkable effort. She knew early on it was a story worth telling. So over the past year, Barb has spent time with dozens of staff, students, parents, and district administrators who were eager to talk about their experiences.

Chasing Bailey is hosted and narrated by Dr. Barbara Stengel, Vanderbilt University.

This episode was edited and co-produced by Brenna Fallon.   The executive producer is Dr. Lowery Woodall, Millersville University of Pennsylvania.

Our theme music is Midnight Blues by lemonmusicstudio.  Occasional music for this episode includes Good Friends by Caffeine Creek Band and Soul Food by Chris Haugen.

New episodes will drop on the last day of the month.  You can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, and Stitcher, and nearly anywhere else you find your podcasts.

If you appreciate what you hear, please subscribe to Chasing Bailey, leave us a review, share with your friends by word of mouth, and post on social media.   Follow us on

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/chasing_bailey/

Twitter:       https://twitter.com/chasing_bailey

Tiktok:        https://www.tiktok.com/@chasing_bailey

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/Chasing-Bailey-107279178665337/

More information will be available at www.chasingbaileypod.com/home. We look forward to your comments and questions at Chasingbaileypod@gmail.com.