The Game Orchestrator Podcast: Recent Episodes
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On this episode of TGO, Ernani and Dr. Ij take a trip down memory lane, with Dr. Ij spending the day with Ernani at work. The two recap their day together, beginning with a new segment called Game or Game Goofy (5:30). In this segment, Ernani presents a couple real life work scenarios and gives his perspective on whether the action taken in those scenarios represents game or game goofy. Ernani then presents his 3 sides rule of thumb for making sound decisions as the leader of his school (20:00). In this, he discusses the difference between truth and absolute truth, going through various student scenarios where he implemented this approach before making a decision.
On this episode of GRG, Ernani is joined once again by “Coach,” aka Dr. Edison Kelly, as they recap day 2 at the CAAASA Conference. The two start the episode by reviewing Nicole Anderson’s session on Equity Beyond the Talk (3:00) and their participation within the session. Ernani and “Coach” are then joined by “Chauncey Billups” aka Mr. Harris, “JB” aka Jessica Brown, and Dr. Nikki Pitcher. They recap the conference, starting with a review of the financial Literacy (20:00). Other topics include the value of authentic Black leaders (36:00) running schools.
On this episode of GRG, Ernani sits down with “Coach” aka Dr. Edison Kelly, to recap their first day at the California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA) Conference. To start, Ernani and Dr. Kelly reminisce on their time coaching together (1:30). They then talk about the importance and value for them as educators to attend the conference (6:30). Other topics covered include financial literacy (11:00), Equity (15:00), and working in alternative education schools (19:00).
For the inaugural episode of GRG, the Game Orchestrator interviews Dr. Ij. They get into Dr. Ij’s upbringing and what it means to him to be from Vallejo (6:25), the value of having a Black teacher as well as how Dr. Ij has modeled his philosophy of education on the Black teachers he’s had (15:00). Additional topics covered include what its like to be a college professor, why teachers need to be familiar with the communities they teach in, having a purpose v. Profession, and coming back to Vallejo to work in the school district. Ernani and Dr. Ij also do a little trash talking as alums of Hogan and Vallejo.
On this episode of the Game Orchestrator, Ernani is tired, but pushes through to finish the organ story of the Game Orchestrator. To start, Ernani gives up game on giving kids a second chance (7:00), and how he gets the most out of his staff. He then discusses how he came up with the Game Orchestrator (24:00) by first answering the question “what is game?” After he answers the question, he then talks about the marriage between “game” and “orchestrator.” The episode also provides a preview of what “game” will be covered, the wins and losses, and the intended value for listeners (38:00). The episode ends with Ernani paying homage to some of the Game Orchestrators that have had an impact on his life (47:00).
On this episode, Ernani picks up where he left off in episode 1. But first, Ernani discusses his ethnicity and how this led to him participating in the Black Grad ceremony at St. Mary’s College (5:00). Black grad becomes a place of seasoning, which would carry him through his introduction as an educator. He then talks about the events the led up to him falling in love with teaching (11:00), what it meant to go back to his alma matter and teach (19:10) and the role that working at the Boys and Girls club played in his seasoning. The show ends with Ernani trekking his transition into administration (31:50).
One this first episode of the Game Orchestrator, Principal Ernani Santos walks us through his upbringing as a kid and introduces us to the origins of his philosophy as an educator. We get a chance to hear about some of the experiences that imbued him with game, from his parents addiction, to the responsibilities he took on as the oldest, all the way to his experiences in college.