Skip to content Skip to search

The 19th Represents

Public Ed in the Pandemic

Originally aired on Oct. 21, 2020
Presented by

No issue is more critical to children and families right now than public education, with a global pandemic that’s keeping many kids home from school, forcing many women out of the workplace, and exposing — and worsening — massive disparities in educational advancement and opportunity.

Join us for an afternoon of free virtual programming, where The 19th will elevate diverse voices, hear from national leaders, and explore creative solutions to help parents and educators help kids.

Watch the livestream

Speakers

Amanda Becker
Amanda Becker
Washington correspondent, The 19th
Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile
Singer-songwriter
Chabeli Carrazana
Chabeli Carrazana
Economy Reporter, The 19th
Dr. Sharon L. Contreras
Dr. Sharon L. Contreras
Superintendent of Guilford County Schools, NC
Joyce Dorado
Dr. Joyce Dorado
Director and Co-Founder of the Healthy Environments and Response to Trauma in Schools program at the University of California San Francisco
Cara Fitzpatrick
Cara Fitzpatrick
Story Editor, Chalkbeat
Rep. Jahana Hayes
U.S. Representative, D-Connecticut
Emperatriz Magy Hernandez
Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles
Luz Chaparro Hernandez
Teacher, Milwaukee Public Schools, WI
Rachelle Hernandez
Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles
Susan Hudson
Susan Hudson
Teacher, Thornton Township HS District 205, IL
Natalie Portman
Actor
Barbara Rodriguez
Barbara Rodriguez
Statehouses Reporter, The 19th
Jackelinne Rodríguez
Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles
Margaret Spellings
Margaret Spellings
Former U.S. Secretary of Education
Tanya Suydam
Principal, Baboquivari Secondary Campus
Andrea Valdez
Editor in chief, The 19th
Elizabeth Warren
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
U.S. Senator, D-Massachusetts
Loni Watson
High School Counselor, Chadron Public Schools, NE
Randi Weingarten
Randi Weingarten
President, American Federation of Teachers

Schedule

Keynote conversation

  • U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts
  • Moderator: Amanda Becker, Washington correspondent, The 19th

Keynote conversation

  • Former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
  • Moderator: Andrea Valdez, editor in chief, The 19th 

Performance

Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile and student musicians from the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles: “The Joke”

Panel discussion

The COVID generation

How underserved children are being left behind in the at-home era — and what we can do about it 

  • Dr. Sharon L. Contreras, Superintendent of Guilford County Schools, NC 
  • U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes of Connecticut 
  • Luz Chaparro Hernandez, Teacher, Milwaukee Public Schools, WI
  • Susan Hudson, Teacher, Thornton Township HS District 205, IL
  • Moderator: Barbara Rodriguez, Statehouses Reporter, The 19th

Performance

Actor Natalie Portman: Selected readings from her new children’s book “Natalie Portman’s Fables”  

Panel discussion

Teachers on the frontline

How educators and administrators are risking their health — and sanity — to keep kids on course 

  • Dr. Ryan Daniel, Elementary School Principal, Prince George’s County Public Schools, MD
  • Tanya Suydam, Principal, Baboquivari Secondary Campus
  • Loni Watson, High School Counselor, Chadron Public Schools, NE
  • Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers
  • Moderator: Chabeli Carrazana, Economy Reporter, The 19th

Conversation

Helping parents and teachers help kids

  • Dr. Joyce Dorado, Director and Co-Founder of the Healthy Environments and Response to Trauma in Schools program at the University of California San Francisco
  • Moderator: Cara Fitzpatrick, Story Editor, Chalkbeat

Special thanks to our sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Supporting Sponsors

Media Partner