Sin Cuenta

A Teacher, Leader, Mentor and Friend In this second part of a two-part episode, Dr. Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana, leads off with a brief discussion on her experience in the United States Department of Education as former Assistant Secretary For Elementary and Secondary Education. Then two of her long-time and dear friends, Ofelia Lariviere and Richard Martinez, share not only what it was like to have worked with Thelma, but to know her as an "hermanita," a mentor and a friend. You will not...

This first of a two part episode, is a wonderful conversation with one of our more influential Latina educators, Dr. Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana, a student, teacher, principal, leader, mentor and former Assistant Secretary For Elementary and Secondary Education under the Obama Administration. For our #sincuentalisteners planning to retire soon or who have retired unsuccessfully and continue to work, Thelma shares her personal pillars for retirement. For those who are leading schools and...

As a young child, Richard Tauer’s family, and particularly his widowed mother, faced one of our society’s continuing inequities; unequal gender-based pay. Richard’s strong sense for righteousness and social justice was forged by his mother’s tireless work to keep the family café open while attaining her teaching credential, and eventually accepting a teaching job despite discriminatory terms and work conditions. Now a retired superintendent, education consultant and lecturer, Richard assures...

In this, La Tamalada: The 2020 Wrap-up Episode, the Sin Cuenta team mixes up a different "masa" for your enjoyment. A roundtable style format seemed best to get a broad, cross-age perspective about 2020. It was such a strange, divisive and often depressing year, but 2020 also happened to bring so many people together in new and unconventional ways. We hope this special episode lifts our #sincuentalisteners’ collective spirits as we move into 2021. Sin Cuenta is joined by three special...

From Crops to Counselling: Building Bridges For Brighter Futures (Part 2 of 2) In this second part of a two-part episode, Mr. Jack Wright bears his corazon and details how his counseling success began with respect for students and their families. Jack tells of his students, many who are educators, professionals, elected and appointed public servants as well as highly recognized individuals. Jack explains the vision that established the Franklin Educational Foundation’s and what he sees for...

JACK WRIGHT - From Crops to Counselling (Part 1 of 2) In this first of a two part episode, we meet Jack, a Kansas farm boy who grew up on his family homestead and becomes Mr. Jack Wright, an inspirational educator and both a literal and figurative bridge builder. Mr. Wright is a retired high school college and financial aid counselor from Franklin High School, in Los Angeles, CA. Our Co-host Sal Holguin was a member of Mr. Wright’s last graduating class of Panthers in 1992. No introduction...

Michele Broadnax “La Cultivator” As an avid gardener, Michele Broadnax loves getting her hands in soil; it provides for much needed “self-care.” But she also cultivates funds, human resources and dedicated professional leaders in her more than 25 years experience in public relations and program development initiatives. This work has earned Michele the position of Chief Executive Officer for Los Angeles Educational Partnership (LAEP). She is now only one of a handful of black female...

A CLEAR Leader, Dr. Ken Magdaleno - “El Winner” (Pt. 2 of 2) In Part 1 of his interview, Dr. Ken Magdaleno gives us an orientation into informed action through leadership. and about growing up in a small Ventura County town with angry emotions, as he opens up about losing his mother and being subjected to emotional abuse and a brief but positive foster family experience, that was difficult for him to process. His leadership journey takes him from the military to civil service, from walk-on...

A CLEAR Leader, Dr. Ken Magdaleno - “El Winner” The first Sin Cuenta Podcast guest is Dr. Ken Magdaleno, whose name has become synonymous with the word “Praxis,” which the great educator Paulo Freire described as “reflection and action upon the world in order to transform it.” In Part 1 of a 2-part interview, Ken gives us an orientation into informed action through leadership. He tells of growing up in a small Ventura County town with angry emotions, as he opens up about losing his mother...

Sin Cuenta episode one with Laura and Sal

The Sin Cuenta Podcast has been in development for well over a year and a half. We conceived it as a podcast to share countless stories of sacrifice, struggles, inspiration and success. The podcast is a tribute to the cultural experience of passing down “countless” family stories and cultural lore through oral history. We hope to reach across age, professions, and experiences and invite you to share and like our podcast with your family and friends. Sin Cuenta’s countless stories will...