Welcome to the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast. Each week we bring you discussions with educators on how they use blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning to better serve their learners. In this episode, Toni Rose Deanon is joined by Mark Aquino, an experienced ethnic studies teacher, to discuss his approach to teaching and the importance of ethnic studies in education.

This blog post is presented in loving memory of Mark Aquino, who passed away in December 2024, shortly after this episode aired. We are grateful for the wisdom he shared with our teacher community and the impact he had on education and the lives of his students. He will be deeply missed.

Mark defines “ethnic studies” as an academic field that examines the experiences of marginalized communities through a critical lens, incorporating history, sociology, and anthropology.

Mark emphasizes the significance of building relationships with students and creating a safe space for open dialogue. He highlights the benefits of ethnic studies, including increased student engagement, critical thinking, and social awareness. He shares his personal journey of developing emotional intelligence, stating, "I've had to develop that capacity where if I'm truly trying to model what humanization looks like, how do I do that in the moment?"

Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:

• Ethnic Studies as a Tool for Social Justice: Mark shares how ethnic studies as a subject area can be a powerful tool for understanding systemic inequalities and promoting social justice, as well as connecting with and supporting his diverse student population.

• The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Teaching: Teachers who possess emotional intelligence can create more inclusive and supportive learning environments. Mark states, "I think I have to model that for my students, too. No matter how difficult a teaching day gets, I do need to remind myself.” The energy and attitudes teachers bring to teaching, regardless of what is happening in their lives and in their day, can impact students beyond the classroom.

• Student-Centered Learning: By centering student experiences and voices, educators can foster deeper learning and critical thinking. Mark finds it easy to center the experience of his students as they dive into ethnic studies because as a discipline, it is deeply ties to student identity, but students can identify with a wide array of subject areas in a variety of ways. Placing students at the center of their learning allows educators to support students where they are in their learning journey.

Discussion questions for PLC and PD: 

• How can we create more inclusive and culturally relevant learning environments in our classrooms, particularly in the context of ethnic studies?

• What lessons can you draw from Mark’s ethnic studies classroom, regardless of your individual teaching discipline?

• How can teachers develop their emotional intelligence to better support students' social and emotional needs?

Our Host

Toni Rose taught MS English for 10 years and will forever identify as a teacher. Toni Rose strives to be the teacher that they never had growing up, so they focus on anti-bias, anti-racist work and wants to create a brave space for everyone around them. As a queer Filipinx, they understand just how important it is to be represented, be valued, and belong. They especially love being a thought partner for and celebrating teachers.

Our Guests

Mark Aquino

Mark Aquino has been a dedicated educator and activist since 2010, utilizing his broad expertise in English, social science, and computer science to enrich his teaching. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Asian American Studies from San Francisco State University (SF State) and a Master of Arts in Teaching, specializing in Urban Education and Social Justice from the University of San Francisco (USF).

Mark's early career was shaped by his role as a teacher apprentice at Pin@y Educational Partnerships and his time teaching at middle school and high school in San Francisco Unified School District. He's a former lecturer in Instructional Technology. Currently, he teaches modern world history and ethnic studies, where he is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students. In his spare time, he is an avid outdoorsman and runs a YouTube channel called, Outdoor School of Thought, where he takes his friends, family, and colleagues on adventures.

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