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Library

Brad Kohl

Location:

Crosslake, MN

Recorded by

Steven Zetlan

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Summary:

This interview with Brad Kohl took place via Zoom on August 22, 2020, with Brad calling in from Crosslake, MN. Brad has been a math educator for 30 years, and he currently teaches at a private school in Minnesota. In this interview, Brad discusses the work he has been doing to prepare for the upcoming semester, including: how the school has addressed the situation, how the school communicates, what the classroom setup will be, the technology that Brad has purchased, and how the school has accommodated his illness. Brad also reflects on the differences in the home situations and economic class strata of the students at the school, which has become apparent while teaching virtually. Brad shares about how communicating online is a relief compared to some in-person work interactions and the ways that teachers have been collaborating and socializing. He reflects on his feelings about his home-work setup, the school's treatment of instructors, and some of the differences between the approaches of public and private institutions. Finally, Brad shares about what he thinks may go wrong, areas where he may be successful, and advice he would give to students, instructors, and himself as the school year begins.

Themes:
Remote technology
,
Leadership
,
Problem solving
,
Protests
,
Teachers
,
Mental health
,
Interviewer Bio:

Steven Zetlan is a tenured faculty member of Laney College, a community college in Oakland, California, where he teaches English language skills to immigrants. He has had fun teaching his students to interview each other using the studio of the college radio station. In addition, Steve has a personal interest in documenting and celebrating LGBT history, and preserving the memories of holocaust survivors. Originally from New York, he has lived in the Bay Area since 1987. Steven received a master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from San Francisco State University in 2002, after a career in marketing, and has an undergraduate degree in communications with a specialization in broadcasting.

Additional Info:
Interview language(s):
English
Audio quality:
Medium

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