Do students think that YOU have their back? - The Critical First Step for Every Educator episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 1, 2025 · 56 MIN

Do students think that YOU have their back? - The Critical First Step for Every Educator

from unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students · host Ashanti Branch - Taking Off The Mask

Original Air Date: May 16, 2023“What keeps me hopeful is our students. Our students and our youth, they’re fearless; they’re committed; they’re open-minded. They have always been the anchor to the work that I do. When they realize that they’ve got adults that care for them and that believe in them, they give it right back. That’s something that I’m really grateful for.”Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jerome Hunter. Jerome is the co-founder and Chief Academic Officer at Seattle School for Boys. A proponent of healthy masculinity and its importance in an equitable society, Jerome is passionate about supporting young people to dismantle systems of oppression in education and build equitable futures. This conversation is about how we achieve these goals; specifically, it’s about the things we may take for granted when trying to achieve them. A teacher may believe in this mission, but do they know themselves well enough to carry it out and lead a classroom effectively? That’s where the mask comes in…(3:55) Jerome introduces himself and his work in schools and with boys.(5:45) Jerome shares the front of his mask - driven, funny, kind.(8:05) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - dedicated, serious, funny.(12:25) Ashanti finds the through-line in all of the masks he’s made over the years. Then, he and Jerome discuss what behaviors they are seeing in young boys in 2023.(23:50) Jerome shares the back of his mask - imposter syndrome, anxious, sad.(31:45) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - sadness, worry, self-doubt - and he remembers his grandmother.(37:05) Then, Jerome and Ashanti discuss how teachers, students, and administrators can bring their full selves to school and coexist in a supportive, loving manner.(51:45) Jerome shares why he got into the field of education and how you can get in touch with him.---Connect with Jerome Hunter:Website: seattleschoolforboys.orgWebsite: jeromeleehunter.comInstagram: instagram.com/seattleschoolforboysInstagram: instagram.com/hunterj33---Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Email us questions and comments at [email protected] Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ ---Connect with Ashanti Branch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/---Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support ---Connect with Ever Forward Club:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclubTwitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclubLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/---#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement  #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

Original Air Date: May 16, 2023“What keeps me hopeful is our students. Our students and our youth, they’re fearless; they’re committed; they’re open-minded. They have always been the anchor to the work that I do. When they realize that they’ve got adults that care for them and that believe in them, they give it right back. That’s something that I’m really grateful for.”Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jerome Hunter. Jerome is the co-founder and Chief Academic Officer at Seattle School for Boys. A proponent of healthy masculinity and its importance in an equitable society, Jerome is passionate about supporting young people to dismantle systems of oppression in education and build equitable futures. This conversation is about how we achieve these goals; specifically, it’s about the things we may take for granted when trying to achieve them. A teacher may believe in this mission, but do they know themselves well enough to carry it out and lead a classroom effectively? That’s where the mask comes in…(3:55) Jerome introduces himself and his work in schools and with boys.(5:45) Jerome shares the front of his mask - driven, funny, kind.(8:05) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - dedicated, serious, funny.(12:25) Ashanti finds the through-line in all of the masks he’s made over the years. Then, he and Jerome discuss what behaviors they are seeing in young boys in 2023.(23:50) Jerome shares the back of his mask - imposter syndrome, anxious, sad.(31:45) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - sadness, worry, self-doubt - and he remembers his grandmother.(37:05) Then, Jerome and Ashanti discuss how teachers, students, and administrators can bring their full selves to school and coexist in a supportive, loving manner.(51:45) Jerome shares why he got into the field of education and how you can get in touch with him.---Connect with Jerome Hunter:Website: seattleschoolforboys.orgWebsite: jeromeleehunter.comInstagram: instagram.com/seattleschoolforboysInstagram: instagram.com/hunterj33---Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Email us questions and comments at [email protected] Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ ---Connect with Ashanti Branch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/---Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support ---Connect with Ever Forward Club:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclubTwitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclubLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/---#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement  #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

NOW PLAYING

Do students think that YOU have their back? - The Critical First Step for Every Educator

0:00 56:59

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students?

This episode is 56 minutes long.

When was this unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students episode published?

This episode was published on July 1, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Original Air Date: May 16, 2023“What keeps me hopeful is our students. Our students and our youth, they’re fearless; they’re committed; they’re open-minded. They have always been the anchor to the work that I do. When they realize that they’ve got...

Can I download this unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!