Mastery For All with Mr. James O'Neal

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In this episode of our engaging series, I am joined by Zack Stoutimore for a deep exploration into the complex question: "Is Math a Racist Subject?" Zack, with over 15 years of experience in math education, shares his insights, focusing on how the teaching and learning of mathematics intersect with societal and cultural factors. Our discussion delves into the heart of educational practices, scrutinizing how ...

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In Episode 9, join me for a dynamic and insightful discussion with Dr. Kristopher Childs, focusing on the provocative question: "Is Math a Racist Subject?" Dr. Childs, an educator, professor, and leadership consultant, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. We explore the essence of mathematics, its historical context, and how its teaching methodologies can reflect and perpetuate societal ...

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Join me in Episode 8 for a stimulating discussion with Richard Bobinchuck, a K-12 Educational Consultant. We dive into the challenging question: "Is Math a Racist Subject?" Richard, with his extensive experience in mathematics education, offers a unique perspective, examining the historical contributions of black and brown mathematicians and the role of systemic factors in math instruction. Our conversation ...

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In Episode 7 of our podcast series, I engage with Antwan Allen in a stimulating dialogue on the intricate question: "Is Math a Racist Subject?" Antwan, with his deep experience in education, brings a nuanced perspective on how mathematical education intersects with societal issues. Our conversation explores the nature of mathematics as an objective discipline and how its teaching practices can have implicit ...

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In Episode 6, I delve into a thought-provoking conversation with Jen Arberg, exploring the nuanced question: "Is Math a Racist Subject?" Jen, with her 24 years of experience in math education, offers a unique perspective on this complex topic. Our discussion navigates through the aspects of math instruction, the impact of teacher biases, and the importance of fostering positive math identities in students, p...

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In Episode 5, I am joined by Adrienne Baytops-Paul for a compelling exploration of the query: "Is Math a Racist Subject?" Adrienne, with her extensive background in math pedagogy, brings forth an enlightening perspective on the accessibility and representation in math education. The episode navigates through the importance of culturally responsive teaching and the significant role of educators in shaping stu...

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Join me, James O'Neal, in an illuminating Episode 4, as we delve into the heart of a critical question with our esteemed guest, Rolanda Baldwin: "Is Math a Racist Subject?" Rolanda, with her unique journey from an engineer to an educator, offers profound insights into the nuanced layers of racism in math education.

In this episode, we explore the challenges of a procedural approach to math teaching in th...

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Dive into a groundbreaking exploration with me, James O'Neal, as we delve into an eye-opening conversation with Christopher Roblesz in our third episode. This episode is a profound journey examining the question, "Is Math a Racist Subject?" Through Christopher's expertise, we unravel the nuanced layers of racial biases in math education access and the transformative power of relational teaching.

Dis...

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Welcome to a captivating episode of our series, where I, James O'Neal, engage in a riveting dialogue with Dr. Kimberly Melgar. Together, we delve into the heart of a crucial question that resonates across classrooms and communities: "Is Math a Racist Subject?" This episode promises a deep dive into the nuances of math education, examining the intersection of teaching practices, accessibility, and their ...

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Welcome to a thought-provoking journey with me, James O'Neal, as we dive deep into a critical question: "Is Math a Racist Subject?" In this eye-opening episode, we're joined by the remarkable Joe Loftstedt, a luminary in the field of math education.

Joe brings to light the systemic challenges and biases within our educational structures, especially as they pertain to mathematics. We explore the powe...

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People always ask people who do great things, how do they stay balanced?

I was in a service one day and I heard a preacher say that life is not about balance it's about rhythm.  When he said that, a light bulb went off.  No one asked Jordan how balanced he was when he won all 6 rings.  No one asked Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, TD Jakes, Nadal, Federer, Usain Bolt, about balance!  These people are NOT...

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From 2012 to 2019 I went to every McKeesport graduation except for one because of my brother's 30th birthday trip 😂.  However, I went to every graduation because it was the culmination of my time with my students!  They walked across the stage and I walked with them becasue I was a part of them getting this place.

I took pride in knowing that.  I take pride in knowing that my class was a door for them t...

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I did not know anything about honors classes until my 8th-grade year when I was invited to take Algebra 1 as an accelerated class by Mrs. Simmons. I knew the gifted kids always left our classes and did other things; I just never knew why I was never invited.

After teaching for the last 15 years, I have realized several truths about students who end up in honors classes.

1. They have a larger amount of parental involvem...

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In 2019, McKeesport, PA, was named the 4th most dangerous city in America of cities with more that 10,000 people, according to Alarms.org. I taught in this district for 7 years until 2015. Yes, this district had its challenges; however, the school, Founders' Hall, became an oasis for those kids and for us teachers because we were family!

Teaching here taught me a lot. It showed me that...

• Until you get to ...

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For seven years, I taught in a school district where I was the only black male teacher of the district.  This was out of 2 elementary schools, one large middle school, and one high school.  The previous black male teachers retired the year before I joined the district and I stayed the only one for the next 7 years.  Though I was the only black male teacher, 45% of the school identified as black.  That district served ...

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I remember the time when I had a lesson that was a total disaster, even though I had hoped to impress some important folks from the State. Needless to say, it didn't go as planned, and I felt like I let everyone down, including my principal, who reminded me that my job was at stake. I was really down on myself because I knew I could do better.

But instead of giving up, I picked myself up and decided to plan a less...

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Happy new season to all of you! I am thrilled to announce that Season 2 is finally here, and I couldn't be more excited. During the past few months, I've taken some time away to reflect and learn, and now I'm ready to share some amazing content with you.

In this podcast episode, I'll be discussing an important topic that's been on my mind lately: the connection between education and adult life....

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Aftermath: a club after math class that focuses on the aftermath of black boys pursing after math.  Yeah, it's a pun and it's intentional.

My school is made up of 60% Black students.  Out of that 60%, 50% are males.  In 8th grade, Math 1-2 is the highest math class offered at my school.  It is split into semesters.  The first semester is Math 1 and the second semester is Math 2.  Given our demograph...