Water for Teachers: The World and Us with guest Tara Benitez

Welcome to Water for Teachers, A Heinemann podcast focused on engaging with the hearts and humanity of those who teach. One thing we know for sure is that teachers are human. They have fears. They've experienced tragedy. They struggle. They are affected by crises and pandemics. And like everyone else, they deserve to lead lives full of peace, joy, and love. Join host Shamari Reid and other educators as they move from logic to emotion, from the head to the heart, from thinking to feeling, and from the ego to love.

This week, Shamari is joined by Tara Benitez, a 2nd Grade Special Education ICT Teacher in Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn. They talk about our complicated identities as humans -how they inform how we interact with the world and how the world interacts with us- all framed in education and with a discussion on the oft-misunderstood and overused term "intersectionality". They ask, how do we build resilience to keep our focus and energy on the kids without letting stress affect our well-being? How do teachers deal with trauma?