Host Jonathan Santos Silva speaks with Dr. Wenimo Okoya, Founder of Healing Schools Project. Based in Newark, NJ, the non-profit intentionally centers the experience of BIPOC educators, believing that when interventions are built around those furthest away from systemic privilege, educators, and students of all backgrounds benefit. Healed teachers heal students. 

Healing Schools Project helps educators from around the country collectively address toxic school cultures that cause burnout and steer them out of the classroom. By creating school cultures that value community care over self-care, Healing Schools Project helps teachers and students thrive by building healthy and sustainable school environments.

About the Show

Changing Course is a podcast from Teach For America’s One Day Studio that explores what’s possible when schools empower students in their own educational paths. Every episode, host Jonathan Santos Silva shares stories from students, teachers, and administrators about how they’ve reinvented traditional approaches to traditional education.

Meet The Host

Jonathan Santos Silva

Jonathan Santos Silva (South Dakota ‘10) is the Founding Executive Director of The Liber Institute and creator and host of The Bored of Ed, a podcast that amplifies the voices of inspiring BIPOC educators who are changing the face of education. He has provided technical support to South Dakota’s Native American Achievement Schools and has served as a school founder and principal, instructional coach, and education consultant.

Featured In This Episode

Wenimo Okoya (she/her) (New Jersey ‘09), EdD, MPH, Founder and Executive Director of Healing Schools Project 

Dr. Okoya is an advocate for building bridges between the health and education sectors. Her career began as a classroom teacher in Newark, NJ and it was through her students that she learned that upward mobility for people of color can only be achieved by changing the way systems operate. She has linked research and practice to build programs that promote well-being in school systems and holds affiliations with NYU Steinhardt, Teachers College Columbia University, and Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. While her experiences since leaving the classroom run wide and deep, her sweet spot is working with schools, organizations, and individuals to enhance their adoption of anti-racist, healing-centered practices.

Sharmaine Lewis (New Jersey ‘08), Principal

After attending high school in a small town in New Jersey & graduating 3rd in her class, Sharmaine was admitted into the Honors Program in college. She majored in Statistics & Mathematics and discovered that she was indeed unprepared for college. She pushed through to earn her bachelor’s degree and this struggle propelled her into doing her part to close the opportunity/achievement gap. Sharmaine joined Teach For America, earned a Master’s in Secondary Math Education and a second master’s degree in Educational Leadership.