Rebel Educator®

What does it take to implement anti-bias education that goes beyond the surface? 

Our guest, Sahba Rohani, Executive Director of Roots ConnectED, discusses the"dual process for change”—a combining of personal mindset shifts with collective action in classrooms. 

Sahba shares with us how her organization helps educators embed both reflective practices and inclusive approaches into daily routines, creating sustainable cultural shifts far more effective than isolated diversity initiatives. 

Listen now to discover how intentional changes can transform your educational space!

Sahba Rohani serves as the Executive Director of Roots ConnectED (RC), an initiative she co-founded and launched in 2017 that is transforming schools and workplaces. Sahba's passion for her work stems from her foundational belief in the essential oneness of humanity. In her role, Sahba leads RC’s strategy while also supporting the organization in all areas of its programming, growth, and development.  Sahba is committed to collaborative decision making and feels grateful to work alongside a team of brilliant, dedicated, supportive, and collaborative humans.  

Sahba’s vision for Roots ConnectED emerged organically after over a decade of experience and learning at Community Roots Charter School in Brooklyn, NY. The school is a pioneer in the intentionally diverse school movement. Sahba began as a founding teacher at Community Roots in 2006 and went on to serve as its Director of Community Development for nine years. Her work focused on engaging staff, students, and families in the community building processes necessary to create intentionally integrated anti-bias school communities through staff development, curriculum support, and innovative family and community programming. This work is featured in detail in the book, A Smarter Charter.  Sahba has worked with young people and in the field of community development for over 25 years.  

Sahba holds a MA from Teachers College, Columbia University.  She speaks regularly about education and racial justice at national and local conferences across the United States and her work is further described in her TEDx UNYP talk: How I Came to Accept My Name. She serves on the Thirteen/WNET Educational Services Advisory Committee where she advises public television station Thirteen (PBS) on the educational interests and needs of its community.

Sahba's deeply rooted belief in the nobility of each human being is grounded in her upbringing in a supportive Persian-American family and as a member of the Baha’i Faith. She works tirelessly to bring that belief to the forefront of her work each day. Her background and experiences play a large role in her commitment to the work that Roots ConnectED does to create community across lines of difference and ensure that each person sees the humanity in one another.

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In each episode of the Rebel Educator podcast, I deconstruct world-class educators, students, and thought leaders in education to extract the tactics, tools, and routines that you can use as teachers and parents. Join me as we discuss how to shift the classroom, the learning environment, the mindset, and the pedagogy, to resist tradition, reignite wonder, and re-imagine the future of education.

This podcast is dedicated to all of the educators who work thankless hours to make our next generation the best it can be.  It was designed to begin conversations on how we can redesign education for the future of work and the success of our students.  It is meant for teachers, students, administrators, homeschoolers and anyone who interacts with and teaches youth.

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