The Scoop with Tanya Flanagan

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This is a k u NBC Studios original program. The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 Jazz and more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

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Good morning, and thank you for joining me for the scoop with Tanya Flanagan. I'm so happy you decided to wake up and start your day with me.

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Here on the scoop, where we talk about life, joy, funny moments, trending topics, and so much more. We promise to keep you in the know and find out what you know. So let's get started.

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Good morning, Las Vegas and welcome to this issue of the scoop with me. Tanya Flanagan here on K u and v 91.5. Public Radio, we are closing out and explosive weekends I want to say thank you for waking up getting a cup of coffee or tea. I am pleased to welcome to the studio to have some time with me this morning a very beautiful young lady that I admire who is also something that you rarely made or may feel you do more often than not, but I feel like it can be rare, a native Las Vegas in born and raised. So I have some really cool questions from time to time. I will do what I kind of have called a man or woman on the street issue of the show. So this morning, we're doing that. And I'm delighted to welcome to the studio, Camila bywaters. Hello. Hi. Thank you for having me this morning. I'm so excited to be here. And one thing about me I love good conversation. Yes, you are a good talker. And so I'm happy to have you here. I'm also delighted that you have such good morning energy some people don't have morning energy they have like, I can't believe I'm when I've had guests I only for you telling you that I'm having a conversation this hour but

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because mentioned your native so before we close, I want to kind of fire some some fun rapid fire, if you will questions or two and get your perspective. But you are a huge education advocate. So when I met you it was because you were in the space of exercising your voice and the fight for children. So we've had numerous conversations over the years about our young people in the community and what's important around education. And that's kind of your baby. Yes, it and you have been on the frontlines fighting for that for I don't know 345 How many years? It's been a while I first got started in 20. Was it 2010? Around 2010? When I first started teaching really so I first started teaching in 2008. So I would say kind of around that time it started developing this advocacy. So what does your team teach him? What What grades what subjects when I first became a teacher, I went through a program called the alternate route to licensing, which is for career changers and individuals who are interested in teaching who have not gone through maybe a traditional teaching program. So I graduated in I entered a program the alternate route to licensing program at UNLV, around 2007, and was licensed in 2008. And I first started working at Canyon Springs High School. So I'm a licensed special education teacher and I prefer to work in high school. Okay, well, that's really nice, because you don't always hear people who want to be I think my population of young people is also high school kind of like that. I think it is so exciting when you see young people preparing to go to college and figure out what their career choices are like there's so much to do in life, like the world is their oyster, and they have this opportunity to shape it, and to whatever they want it to be. And there's all this potential, like you're young, and you have all this time. So I love the energy that surrounds that particular generation of young people. So I can totally relate to why High School is your space. Personally, I never could see myself per se as that type of educator so thank you for, you know, your career choice what you're doing before you became a teacher. Goodness. I was in college.

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Yeah. So I went to Howard University. And I did you know, I did a lot of self advising. So I graduated from Rancho High School in 2001. And, well, I guess I was in master school at that time, but I graduated from Rancho High School in 2001 went to Howard University and because I did self advising, I missed that there was a whole education program that I need to be in to become a licensed teacher. I didn't know that and I didn't have those type of conversations

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off of us and you did not have someone that was actually helping you chart your course in college to figure out what you should do for a second third correct and then I'm not gonna blame my counselor, our university. I think it was just a lot of me just not knowing what it is but you're very independent lady. So you're, you're very much a self starter. Exactly. You can you're the type of person who will

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have tried, of course to figure out what you want to do and then chart the course to achieve what it is you're focused on. So I'm not surprised that you are off on your own doing your own thing. And I'm sure I have this right. And then you get down there later. And you're like, Oops, I'm getting license a few turns. And here's what has to happen. Exactly. Okay. But we need teachers desperately. So we have some solutions to that, you know, to help you still arrive at the dream of being a teacher and working in the space of education. So at this point, are you still a special education teacher, or have you elevated and gone on and gotten some additional degrees in education? So prior to becoming a teacher, I worked in school. So before I came back to Las Vegas, I was still in Washington, DC. So I was working as a paraprofessional, I had my degree at a bachelor's in psychology and a minor in secondary education. So I was basically working in retail, and working at

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like apartment complexes as like the front desk. And then I also worked in a specialized school. And then a lady at the school was like, Camila, you have a degree, you need to go be a teacher. And it was like a click to me. And that's when I moved on. I went back to Vegas, move back to Vegas, got into the ARL program, which would give me a master's degree in special education. And that's what I did. And then I became a full time licensed teacher. So prior to that I was really just working any job that I could, I was mostly retail, I used to work at Express and working as a teacher, what people do when they're young. Yeah, so they really kind of stumbled upon the moment where you discover this is what I want to do. And we walked through a lot of different changes. Because it wasn't just like a linear path to even my first steps, which as a journalist,

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I was a business major, until I had taken every business class you could take until I discovered, along with political science courses. And then I realized how much I hated business. But I did have a love of political science. And my mom, God rest her soul and her wisdom. When a great report came home, that was crazy, and said, I wasn't quite interested in school. And she said, What are we doing? Yeah, I don't like it. Well, let's do this. And she was like, the light bulb, like do you know, do journalism? Yeah, I need you to write because that's your God given gift. So here we are today, you know, all these years later in a space of communications. But so we find our way that all that to say we do find our way. So it's really neat to for you to share that. But in your spare time, if you even have spare time, which you really don't. But you have also taken on the responsibility of wearing the hat and now you co founder and president or

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of an organization called Las Vegas alliance of black school educators, which is a mouthful, but it's short until a baps B. And you do love ASPI does a lot Las Vegas alliance of black school educators and I wanted to say it twice, because for those who aren't familiar with the organization, you are one of the founders and essentially the president of this organization.

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Tell us what it does and why you, you know, created it. So I'm not the founder. I'm the president. And Tracy Lewis is the vice president.

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The Las Vegas alliance of black school educators, which we'll call evap. C is an affiliate of the National Alliance of black school educators nap C, which is housed in Washington, DC. So Herschel,

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the organization was started by Mr. Herschel in 1989. And you know, some members who have been a part, former trustee, Dr. Linda Young.

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Miss Eva, and there's some other individuals who have been and Dr. Hamilton who were a part of lapsi during that time. So Simmons,

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is yes. And Tracy and I restarted the organization, when we had some challenges that we were experiencing at one of the schools that we were working at in the district, and a group of individuals, we got together and we restarted lapsi in 2010. And then that began, kind of reimagining the organization. And

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really, we restarted because teachers were complaining black teachers were complaining about being discriminated against feeling like they weren't having opportunities to move up within the system. Literally, grown women were coming to me crying in my classroom, like Camila. This is happening to me. And we thought we had support of our principal. One of our principals was like, Yes, this is happening. She was supporting us, and she ended up getting demoted because she was supporting us to handle the discrimination and the retaliation that we were experiencing at the school. So because of that trauma that we asked

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variants really began to

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unravel loveseat again to do the work that they had been doing in our community for so long, not live FC has had ebbs and flows of, you know, being out there and then not being out there. So we were slightly or No, when you have volunteer base, yes, population that's doing the holding, you know, carrying the torch and pushing things forward, it's really hard because people have families, they have kids of their own, they have other dynamics, and an education space, you're pursuing additional degrees, and you're doing, you know, training hours or whatever is required to achieve and attain those additional certification. So, you know, no apologies that you've come and you've gone people, you know, this happens with organizations, the important part is that you recognize the value in what you do. And so you stay the course. Absolutely. So you have been working well of ASPI, since you said 2020 10. Okay, so you're going to and so what are some of the things dealing with, you know, addressing, there was a report that came out and just last week, I had the pleasure of having someone who mentioned you, actually, so that was also what made me want to spend my next week talking with you. Christina Laster,

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the National Association, the National Action Network, I'm sorry, she's grant the the western region,

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Education Director for National Action Network. And we talk a lot about policy, as it pertains to community, and education and impact, and creating a more level playing field for families of color for black families, specifically, in the education arena for teachers in the education arena for schools, and predominantly knit neighborhood, neighborhoods are predominantly neighborhoods of color.

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And we talked about just how those numbers and she talked about you, and the good work that you've dedicated yourself to here to fight for marginalized families, and students and really justify for all because it comes to that when the environment improves. And a lot of times we have conversation, and it's centered around color, or race, centered around discrimination. But I think when we're all not excelling, or we're not all given an opportunity to, because within that space of healthy learning, everyone learns, because we each learn from each other, right. And it's important to cultivate that. And I think that when you do the work that you do to try to create balance, it's a benefit to everyone who's involved. Absolutely. And that's a really good point that you make, you know, I am,

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I am here for all children. And, you know, we do understand that

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minoritized students, black and Hispanic students have more severe challenges than their white counterparts. But it's absolutely important to me that whoever you are, your child is my child. And that's how I see our community, I do believe in the village concept. And whoever comes to me with the issue or a problem or a challenge, whoever comes to Live app, see what issues challenges and problems, we're going to help you. And you know, we do our best We don't judge people for what their situations are. And sometimes the topics that people talk about are very, very sensitive. Just recently, we had a family come to us because the school was accusing their child of

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inappropriate, sending inappropriate images like porn, and was going to be expelled for this. So we deal with a lot of sensitive topics. And we respect every child that comes into comes into our space. And we do our best to help and support and to navigate the challenges with the goal of ensuring that number one children stay in school.

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And that's really super important. And I want to say thank you for doing that work, because

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we're in such a different time. It's not like it was when I was growing up.

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I like to joke sometimes and try to sound like I'm still young. But we we say things to hold on to our youth. But in actuality, I have lived a number of years. And so there's a lot that I've seen, witnessed and experienced. And it's just a very different time.

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I was having a conversation with some recently even about money, how the relative value placed on money is so different now than what it was in generations before because of the value we placed on

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the work we had to put into acquiring the resources to have money to to buy these things. Now. It's like it just doesn't exist. I think the value that we need to continue to place on education and how important it is to to read. You know, we have young people recently there was legislation passed that said students had to be enrolled in school by the age of I think, is it six now it was seven. Now it's six. It used to be a little older and you

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You know, there was controversy, I'm sure there was some controversy around

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perspectives on who should decide what age a child should be enrolled in school and learning. But it's just so important that we continue to place value on education the way it needs to be placed, and not lose sight of how important it is to cultivate safe and nurturing learning environments where people feel seen and respected, and heard and understood, because we are really in a different time, I think we used to be in a much more, because maybe things were so suppressed, we were in much more black and white society. And now we're in a much more colorful,

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it's like a bouquet. You know, it used to be a black on my drawing. And now I think it's a bouquet in terms of people perspectives, cultures, race, ethnicities, experiences, and all these things that are coming together.

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Yeah, and you bring up and this is why I fight so hard for education.

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Education is the basic foundation of life. And we may, some of us may not have children who are in school, I hear people say this a lot, oh, I'm not concerned because I don't have children in school. But we have, most of us have gone through some type of K through 12. Education. And there may be some extreme circumstances where a person did not have that experience. But at the end of the day,

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I fight so hard for education, because I understand how valuable it is for citizens to have just the basics, being able to count your money, being able to read, being able to, you know, have a conversation with with somebody that at the basic level is very important to taking care of yourself living being able to understand and just to navigate society, I don't believe that every person you know, should go to college or you don't have to, if you don't want to come to go to college, that's fine. If you want to be entrepreneur, that's fine. If you have a different vocational path, that's fine. But I fight so hard for education, because it is

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just the ground level of just getting started to move forward with education, you're able to build opportunities, not only for yourself, but for your family. And when we and I believe that there is such an attack on education, because the attack keeps people from

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just gaining this little knowledge, and I'm just talking about basic knowledge, if we don't have the basic knowledge of being able to read write, think for ourselves, then someone is going to control you and tell you what to do. Tell you what jobs you should have tell you how to think, and how to live in life. And because of the opportunities that I have had and the you know, I believe education is a right. It is an absolute public education isn't right for every single child and individual in our society. And I fight so hard for it, because I know how it has helped me to be able to be in rooms I never thought that I would be in because first people look at Oh, she's working on her PhD. Now for me. Okay, I'm doing it. But people have judged me based off on just having a degree. And I've given me an opportunity to speak because they believe I'm the smart person. You're right.

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As a black woman, black woman for black woman, I 100% have to say I can relate to that experience. I served on a board capacity one time. And every time the introduction was made of me when the board with me, they listed my advanced degree.

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But how many times do you but it was a qualifier, right? It's it changes the narrative.

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Education is just a key, it's a tool. It is right.

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It should not be forfeited. Right. It should not be taken for granted. Absolutely. And it's important that

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people have access to it. I agree with you. And I think for kids, when we talk when you talk about background kids and we talk we look at everything, you know, not having breakfast, not having a safe place to live food, insecurities, housing, crime, all the things and it's not just black, brown kids, it's kids in general, a lot of times it's just across the country. It's here in Las Vegas, it's everywhere.

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Kids should feel safe, and you have to look at everything and that plays into what allows a child to excel in an academic environment. I remember growing up as a kid and my mother made sure we had a hot breakfast or breakfast every day and my father's position on that was if you were hungry, you can think he was very adamant if you were hungry. You cannot think you cannot do your work.

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I cannot imagine the number of kids who are hungry, so they really can't do their work. Right.

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You know? So you're right. And I just want to say, I will always say thank you, because it's a huge sacrifice. I know you are pursuing a community service and in a in a way that others are not you are, you know, I in a school board space for district II, so

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to kudos to you for the courage to do that. And

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follow your passion and what you do.

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What is the one thing?

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Was it I should I say you because you mentioned it earlier, when the teacher came to the classroom, and she was crying, and she was saying, I'm going through this was that the moment like the catalyst aha moment for you that said, I can't sit on the sidelines. This is how you became the warrior that you are, what is the moment for you? Yeah, I would definitely say that was a defining moment. For me. Nothing was working for me, when I advocated for my my students with disabilities. I was the one who was the worst person at the school. And, you know, they tried everything to ruin my career, because they thought I wanted to be a principal. So I was getting written up for frivolous matters. And seeing this teacher, a licensed professional crying really was a breaking point for me. I did not stay, I taught my three years because there was a three year responsibility going through the ARL program. So I did my three years. And I was like, I have to educate myself, and learn more so that I can be in a better position to support so I've always been interested in like, Oh, what is it to write policy? What does that allow us? I've always been interested in, you know, I always had this desire, I want to be an activist, I want to be an advocate. And I would say those things like, Oh, I'm going to be a motivational speaker, I would say these things during that time, and we would have conversations and your question to me would be, Tanya, how do I go about doing this? And we would be on the phone for 30 to 45 minutes, I wouldn't be anywhere in a parking lot. pull the car over stop? Yes, you would. And I will talk to you for 20 or 30 minutes, giving you steps. This is how you do these are things to consider. And we did our relationships to develop these are pathways because

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my biggest conversation or point to you was, it can't just be about you. Absolutely. It's got to be a global mission. In order for you to propel that and push it has largely and you took that. And one of the things I'd say to you is what I love about you is because some people call me, but you actually listen,

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take good notes and everything. Listen, I'm telling you, if you don't work out, something's happening in my world, too. I like to make sure when we're cruising towards the last five minutes of the show, we're not quite there yet. But I want to make sure any social handles and websites, I like to make sure people get that information in case they want to learn more about what the Las Vegas alliance of black school educators is doing. Just learn more about what you're doing in the space of education and community advocacy. So how do people follow you? How do they find the website? Yes, so if you would like to follow my pages, I'm on all of social media, Facebook, Instagram, x now, Camila bywaters. Those are all my handles, if you would like to follow lavash. See, our social media handles are the Las Vegas alliance of black school educators. And then our website for live FC is l vabse.org. And if you would like to follow more of my work that I'm doing in public service, you can look me up at Camila, the number four nevadans.com. So you're able if you would like to you can follow me on all of those avenues.

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You're doing some great work. You're a native. So I want to have a little fun in the last five minutes as we approach it, because you've you're young, but I don't know how young you are. So my question to you would be if you had to choose one thing, and as we just wrap up the Fourth of July because Fourth of July is my favorite holiday here. It really is like I sometimes travel what other times of the year but I always love to be in Las Vegas on the fourth. Is this the sort of spirit of community? Yeah, that I think that I love about the city.

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The way the communities come together and have community barbecues and all the fireworks go and people are just together and it's just the sense of family and I just have always loved that about Fourth of July here.

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What is one thing that you miss from Oh Las Vegas that

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you know as you've lived now, what's the thought what's something that you just really used to love about Las Vegas? That is

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but it may your childhood or your young years, your teen years or your early years, just grade or even a place you used to go foods to eat, activity, something used to miss. Okay. So when I was in, big shout out to one of my friends who I lost recently, Rhonda, we went to high school together at Rancho High School and we used to literally get in the car and just drive down the strip. The strip used to be so fun, just drive it down that strip when we were in high school. We love doing that. Sometimes the strip is crowded, but I don't see like natives doing that. So I don't know what that was. But that was so fun for us. And I'm rest in peace to my my best friend, one of my best friends. And another thing Oh, I remember my dad used to take us to Uncle Ben's. I remember that right there. What is that? st it's on? Like, ah, yeah, and banana? I think so it's right and right off. It's like just as you're hitting up overpass. Right? Okay, I remember that. And you know, my dad recently passed away in 2020. But I remember, you know, being a teacher, you don't, we didn't have the biggest salary. You know, my mom was a homemaker for time. And then she worked in schools in the food service department. So we didn't have like a nurse four of us. So we didn't have like all the money in the world. Very modest living. But when my dad would get paid, we would go to Uncle beds. And I remember Uncle vans and it was like the best barbecue. Yes, I wish we still had Uncle Ben's, I remember people talking about Uncle was I never had the pleasure. I think it was still here when I came 29 years ago.

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But I remember hearing so

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that was a thing you'd love to do for you love to eat.

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What makes Vegas because at this point, you grown up, you went to school and Howard came back? What makes it the place to you that is better than being anywhere else?

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That's a great question.

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I actually was not coming back to Vegas. I thought Washington DC was going to be my my home. But I got an epiphany one day. And it was there was no way you're going to do all this work that you want to do in Washington DC before doing it in the place that has raised you and that was Las Vegas. And it was literally like

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epiphany. I called my dad I was like Dad, I'm coming home. And have you worked on getting me home like as soon as possible. So what I love about Vegas is I love our community.

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I love historic West Las Vegas, my grandmother lived right there off of off of Holland Street, in Berkeley Square. So I grew up with her, you know, I went to Rancho High School. My friends are here, people that I've grown up with, I played soccer here. And I really just love our community. And I believe

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goodness, Washington DC was not like Vegas in the sense that you can really get to know the people here who are

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writing laws, who are developing laws. And I think that is absolutely important. And I think we as a community we need to do we need to step up, and really hold these individuals accountable to ensuring that

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Nevadans are respected, that everyone has a piece of the pie that everyone can win. And that's what I really love about our community is that

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we're able to touch the people who can make a difference. And I want to be a part of that. Washington DC. It's a little bit harder. You know, I didn't, I didn't get to meet one elected official in Washington, DC. I think I love most about that. And as we close.

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Thank you for painting that picture of community. We talked about a little bit about it earlier. And you're right. It's a community that is large and small, but mighty, and you can't be a part of the process and you can touch so I think the most important thing is we close out this morning that to leave you with this is the ability of knowing that your voices can be heard. They can't be included, and they can contribute Camila bywaters. Thank you for spending some time with me this morning. You're welcome Las Vegas. Thank you for tuning in and listening. Have a wonderful week everyone. And we will see you next time on the scoop right here on K u and v 91.5. Jazz and more

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I want to thank you for tuning into the scoop with me Tony Flanagan and I want to invite you to get social with me I'm on Facebook and Twitter. My name is my handle TA in YAFL a na GA N You can also find me on Instagram at Tanya almond eyes Flanagan and if you have a thought and opinion or a suggestion, don't hesitate to shoot me an email to tanya.flanagan@unlv.edu Thanks again for joining in. Stay safe and have a great week.

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