Welcome to 'What I Want to Know', one of the most downloaded K-12 education podcasts in the country! Listen in with our host, Kevin P. Chavous, as he connects with innovators and leaders who share practical, transformative solutions to the biggest challenges in education today.
As America rethinks the future of schooling, Kevin explores emerging needs and possibilities, for students and educators alike, through short, stimulating conversations. Subscribe to 'What I Want to Know' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform, and leave a rating and review so we can bring you more of the topics you want to hear about!
Amani Jones on Representation and the Role of Black Male Teachers in Education
In classrooms across America, only about 1% of teachers are Black men. That gap shapes how millions of students see themselves and their futures.
In this episode, Kevin P. Chavous talks with Ahmoni Jones, a seventh-grade math teacher at Soulsville Charter School in Memphis, who’s part of that 1%. Jones grew up in a predominantly Black district, surrounded by teachers who looked like him—but never by a Black man at the front of the room. Now he’s changing that story.
They talk about what drew him to teaching, the influence of his parents—both behavior specialists—and the moment he realized the classroom was where he could make a difference. Jones explains how he keeps math alive for kids who usually hate it, why humor works better than fear, and how programs like Memphis Teacher Residency are helping young teachers of color stay in the profession.
It’s a conversation about identity, purpose, and the quiet power of showing up for the next generation.
Chapters
00:00 — The beauty of showing up
01:00 — Ahmoni’s path to teaching
05:00 — From college gym to classroom
09:00 — Making math make sense
12:00 — Finding balance and support
13:50 — Building a pipeline for Black male teachers
Connect with Ahmoni Jones
Soulsville Charter School: https://soulsvillecharterschool.org/
Memphis Teacher Residency: https://memphistr.org/
Explore K12-Powered Education & Career Pathways
K12’s innovative programs give students a head start on their future.
Enrollment is now open! Join over 3 million students who have chosen K12-powered tuition-free online public schooling for a flexible, personalized learning experience all from the safety of home.
✅ State-certified teachers trained in virtual instruction
✅ Accredited curriculum supporting all learners, including advanced students & those with special needs
✅ Career-focused programs, including healthcare pathways & more
✅ More family time, stronger class connections, and academic success
Apply today to secure your spot and see why families trust K12 for their child’s education.
🔗 Learn more about K12’s career pathways:
https://go.k12.com/mps/national/podcast/?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D11001665815673379801328021772854664479
🔗 Discover K12 Tutoring for personalized academic support:
https://tutoring.k12.com/?utm_source=k12&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=k12-podcast-tutoring-feb-25
Join the Conversation
Got thoughts on virtual learning and special education?
📢 Use #WIWTK to share your perspective.
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🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review—let’s reshape the conversation around education.
8 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
How Community and School Choice Transformed Denisha Merriweather’s Life
In this episode, host Kevin P. Chavous introduces Denisha Merriweather, founder of Black Minds Matter and a leading advocate for education freedom. Her path includes failing third grade twice, growing up amid instability, earning a scholarship, and becoming the first in her family to graduate from college before completing a master’s degree. The theme is second chances in education reform, and the promise is access and dignity for every child, especially those too often left behind.
Key Moments
[00:00] Failing third grade twice and early struggles
[03:00] Poverty, instability, and how it shaped her learning
[06:00] A godmother’s support and the chance of a scholarship
[08:30] Finding a school culture that believed in her
[11:30] First in her family to graduate college and earn a master’s
[13:00] From personal story to national advocacy
[16:00] Founding Black Minds Matter and building a directory of schools
[21:00] Why diverse school leaders matter for real choice
[25:00] Hopes and concerns for the future of education freedom
Guest
Denisha Merriweather — Founder, Black Minds Matter; education reform advocate; former U.S. Dept. of Education staffer
First in her family to earn a college degree; later completed a master’s
Testified before Congress; active national voice on education freedom
Founded Black Minds Matter in 2020 to uplift Black school founders
Led work documenting 500+ Black-founded schools across the U.S.
Resources Mentioned
Black Minds Matter — National initiative uplifting Black school founders — https://blackmindsmatter.net
Step Up For Students — Florida scholarship granting organization — https://www.stepupforstudents.org
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — U.S. education data — https://www.nationsreportcard.gov
Connect with Denisha
Company: https://blackmindsmatter.net
Socials:
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisha-merriweather-a0521820b
X / Twitter — https://x.com/DenishaMweather
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/deni_mweather/
Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/denisha.b.merriweather/
Explore K12-Powered Education & Career Pathways
K12’s innovative programs give students a head start on their future.
Enrollment is now open! Join over 3 million students who have chosen K12-powered tuition-free online public schooling for a flexible, personalized learning experience—all from the safety of home.
✅ State-certified teachers trained in virtual instruction
✅ Accredited curriculum supporting all learners, including advanced students & those with special needs
✅ Career-focused programs, including healthcare pathways & more
✅ More family time, stronger class connections, and academic success
Apply today to secure your spot and see why families trust K12 for their child’s education.
🔗 Learn more about K12’s career pathways:
https://go.k12.com/mps/national/podcast/?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D11001665815673379801328021772854664479
🔗 Discover K12 Tutoring for personalized academic support:
https://tutoring.k12.com/?utm_source=k12&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=k12-podcast-tutoring-feb-25
Join the Conversation
Got thoughts on virtual learning and special education?
📢 Use #WIWTK to share your perspective.
📱 Follow us:
🔹 Twitter/X – https://x.com/wiwtkpodcast
🔹 Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/wiwtkpodcast
🔹 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wiwtkpodcast/
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review—let’s reshape the conversation around education.
24 Sept 2025TRANSCRIPT
Shaka Mitchell on How Federal Legislation Could Transform Education
In this episode of What I Want to Know, host Kevin P. Chavous sits down with Shaka Mitchell, Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children and a national leader in education reform. From classrooms to courtrooms, Shaka has been at the center of the fight for school choice, charter schools, and equitable education policy. Together, they explore whether choice truly expands opportunity, how legislation is reshaping access, and what the future of education innovation might look like.
Chapters
[00:00] Introduction & framing the debate
[01:10] Shaka Mitchell’s personal education story
[03:50] How inequities sparked the school choice movement
[05:31] Is choice enough to ensure quality?
[06:36] Why choice can be catalytic for students
[09:34] Ensuring access for underserved families
[12:50] School choice across rural and urban America
[15:22] Regulation, charter schools, and innovation
[18:26] What true innovation in schools could look like
[24:30] Finding common ground in a divided system
[27:51] What’s next for school choice and federal programs
Useful Links
Learn more about Shaka Mitchell and the American Federation for Children: https://www.federationforchildren.org
Explore K12-powered schools: https://www.k12.com/podcast
Learn more about Stride, Inc. and online education: https://www.stridelearning.com
Follow Kevin P. Chavous on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinpchavous
Join the Conversation
Got thoughts on virtual learning and special education?
📢 Use #WIWTK to share your perspective.
📱 Follow us:
🔹 Twitter/X – https://x.com/wiwtkpodcast
🔹 Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/wiwtkpodcast
🔹 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wiwtkpodcast/
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review—let’s reshape the conversation around education.
Inside a recent episode
Amani Jones on Representation and the Role of Black Male Teachers in Education
Published 22 Oct 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] But you actually were doing some really cool stuff for kids while in college. Yeah. So my basketball team at Wabash, we have this thing called Books Basketball and Beyond. And we moved to other elementary schools within the city of Crawfordsville. And we just read books to them. Literacy is something that is struggling in this country. So we really just really tried to push towards we're going to practice reading. What does that look like? What does reading books look like? Just finding joy and learning how to read. So that's something that we did about at least once a month. But I also found an internship with Memphis teacher residency while at Wabash. […]
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