Hilerbrand Pelzer III, Lois Letchford & Lisa McCarty 'When Learning is Trauma'

3 Aug 2021 · 42 min
41:36

In this livestream episode of the series “When Learning Is Trauma,” host Lois Letchford interviews educator and former prison administrator Hildebrand Pelzer III, joined by co‑host Lisa McCarty. Pelzer shares his personal journey from a sports‑management student to a health‑and‑physical‑education teacher, principal, and district leader working in both traditional schools and the Pennsylvania juvenile correctional system. He describes how trauma, stress, and undiagnosed dyslexia create a cycle where struggling readers fall out of love with school, leading to behavioral issues and the school‑to‑prison pipeline. The conversation highlights the lack of dyslexia training for teachers, the need for early screening, culturally relevant texts, and high‑expectation, rigorous instruction rather than “dumbing down.” Pelzer stresses the importance of relationships, restorative discipline, and using the lived experiences of incarcerated youth to inform teacher preparation programs. He references his TEDx talk “What Incarcerated Youth Can Teach Teachers,” his book Unlocking Potential, and provides contact information for further engagement. The episode concludes with a call to improve equity, teacher education, and to bring the voices of marginalized learners into the classroom.

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