Episode 39: In AWE of Huda Essa-Teacher Series
Huda Essa is a TEDx Speaker and the author of the motivational children’s book, Teach Us Your Name, focused on empowering children to take pride in their many identities while showing respect for themselves and others. Another culturally authentic and responsive book that she has written is “Common Threads: Adam’s Day at the Market”. She is also currently writing for education professionals focusing on overcoming limitations of unconscious bias in order to best serve their school communities so that staff, students and families can reach their greatest potential for success in our ever-changing world. Additionally, she is the producer of a series of short films focused on matters of social justice.
Huda has positively influenced countless communities around the nation through her engaging and thought-provoking learning opportunities. She utilizes her extensive experience as a Cultural Competency Consultant, former Teacher and English Language Development Specialist to support organizations in successfully meeting their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. In her Keynote presentations and interactive learning opportunities, she works closely with teachers, school site leaders, school district officials and higher education professionals to help them develop practices and cultures that promote cultural competence, engagement, unity, and academic achievement. Huda also works with students, parents and community members in order to engage the entire village so as to reach maximum current and future growth and success. Furthermore, her work extends to supporting professionals in businesses, corporations and non-profit organizations. Her belief is that the learning needed to work towards social justice is a lifelong education that can be applied to virtually all ages, social identities, and careers. Her explorations include international travel to gain insight from communities around the globe in order to share and apply the learning with U.S. audiences.
In today’s episode we learn more about Huda’s story of embracing her own identities and her work to help others overcome their own challenges with that as well. Huda provides such gracefilled wisdom and insight. A bit of a disclaimer before you dive into learning from this incredible teacher: we had to schedule our recording session after tech issues foiled us the first time around, and this interview included several stops and starts as well. The sound quality is not perfect throughout, but I am choosing to move forward because I cannot imagine being able to captivate the message in the same light as we were somehow able to with a great amount of perseverance. If you can grant us the patience to listen through some of the glitches in sound, I promise you a strong mission in Huda’s message today. I feel blessed and so excited and honored to amplify for you Huda Essa’s Teacher Story.
Connect with Huda:
Huda’s Website: You can find her Tedx Talk and partner with her there.
Teach Us Your Name on Amazon
Common Threads: Adam’s Day at the Market on Amazon
