Podcast: The Counter Narrative Podcast
January 3, 2025
In this episode of the Counter Narrative Podcast, Charles Williams engages in a deep conversation with Jennifer Abrams about the significance of having hard conversations in educational settings. They explore the challenges of professional development, the necessity of adult development in schools, and the importance of emotional hygiene during professional learning. Jennifer shares her insights on how to navigate time constraints in PD sessions and emphasizes the need for intentionality in designing effective professional development experiences. The discussion also highlights the hunger for connection and meaningful learning among educators, and the resources available to support their growth.
About:
The Counter Narrative: Changing the Way We Talk (and think) About Education is a podcast dedicated to changing the way we talk and think about education. We all know that the field isn’t perfect but there is plenty of awesome work happening everyday. Listen in as the host profile educators who are positively impacting their staff, students, and communities.
Listen to the Podcast:
About Jennifer Abrams
Jennifer has been recognized as one of "21 Women All K-12 Educators Need to Know" by Education Week's 'Finding Common Ground' blog. She considers herself a "voice coach," helping others learn how to best use their voices – be it collaborating on a team, facilitating a group, coaching a colleague, supervising an employee and being an all around better human being in all types of interactions.
Work with Jennifer
Praise for Jennifer
“Jennifer’s session was not just a workshop, but an invitation to look inward at how we, as adults, show up in our professional roles. She reminded us that hard conversations are not about winning or avoiding conflict, but about cultivating clarity, empathy, and courage.
One of the most powerful takeaways was this: for dialogue to be truly effective, we must learn to communicate with precision while holding space for humanity. Hard conversations should not shut people down; they should open the door to growth-producing feedback that strengthens trust, relationships, and professional practice. My learning experience with Jennifer was a reminder that our impact as educators is amplified when we are willing to pause, reflect, and engage with one another in ways that foster both accountability and compassion.”
