Episode 27: Other Technologies, Part 2

This is Part 2 of a 2-Part Episode. Akbar
Cooke is a vice principal at West Side High School in Newark NJ,
he's one in nearly 1mm K12 administrators in the country, but at
West Side he's a giant. Kids call him "coach" or "Cooke" and
straighten up when they see him. Not out of fear, but respect -
the kind that if you've ever worked with teens, you know only
comes when things are reciprocal, mutual - it's clear that his
heart is as intimidating, in a way, as his physical presence.
Everyone should walk the halls with Akbar, if you don't ask
yourself "do I have the courage to love this much - to work this
hard for the people around me?" then you're not human.


Matt Greenfield is an venture capitalist. If you ask anyone who
invests in technology for education, they know his name, and his
company Rethink Education. Proper disclosure, Matt is a board
member at Mouse, and he's a writer - he's one of the only people
I know who's worked as a publishing poet who now manages
investments. His intellect is enormous, and among the things he
shares with Akbar, is heart. When a national EdTech publication,
EdSurge asked Matt to write an editorial about the exciting
prospects for EdTech in 2018 from an Investors Perspective, Matt
too the opportunity to write about other technologies. He wrote
"I find myself without strong enthusiasm for the task of writing
a conventional set of predictions about education technology in
2018. The most urgent needs of the most vulnerable children in
this nation involve other technologies. M: This nation is failing
its most fundamental duty to children."


A lot is covered in these two episodes, but all of the topics
revolve around one single truth: that the prospects for how tech
innovation in the US illuminates a path to meaning, and success
and wealth is not the same for everyone.


Marc is also joined by Tywan Jones - a senior at West Side and
one of the wise-beyond-their-years and courageous teens who gives
me hope for our future. We get into the failures of our current
system, and the successes of a local leader, who along with an
amazing team at West Side, is battling for every strategic
position on the chess board. In episode two we get into the
national walkout and gun violence, and whether kids in Newark NJ
can safely "walk out" even if they chose to.


A quick disclaimer, there are some disturbing images that come up
in our conversation in these two episodes - so if there are
sensitive ears nearby - you might save this one for your
headphones.


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