Do you ever feel like you’re carrying the weight of your students’ futures on your shoulders?

That tension, between hope and exhaustion, between responsibility and grace, is familiar territory for Dr. José Luis Vilson, Executive Director of EduColor and author of This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education.

In this powerful episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Dr. Vilson joins host Ashanti Branch to talk about the humanity behind teaching, the unseen emotions, the quiet anger, and the relentless faith that change is possible through education. Together, they unpack the “mask” educators wear to stay strong for their students, and what lies beneath: doubt, exhaustion, but also deep love and purpose.

Dr. Vilson shares his journey from computer science to classroom teaching, his struggle with imposter syndrome, and how he channels empathy and community to sustain his work. This is a conversation about purpose, healing, and redefining what it means to teach with heart.

• The mask of the teacher: how educators balance strength with vulnerability

• Imposter syndrome and self-forgiveness in the profession

• The moral and spiritual dimensions of teaching

• Why empathy and “actionable kindness” matter more than ever

• The legacy of teachers of color and building collective power

• How to listen deeply to students, and what they’re really saying

• What AI, democracy, and education all have in common

• Practical advice for teachers navigating burnout, self-doubt, and isolation

Timestamps

• (0:00 ) Welcome & introduction

  (1:00 ) Dr. Vilson on identity and purpose

• (3:45 ) The mission behind becoming a teacher

• (7:20 ) Teaching as spiritual and moral work

• (10:45 ) The mask: what students see vs. what we hide

• (18:15 ) Fear, insecurity, and anger behind the classroom door

• (23:30 ) Carrying loss and responsibility as educators

• (30:00 ) Teaching as spiritual and legacy work

• (33:00 ) Listening to young people, and learning from them

• (42:00 ) Helping students see themselves in the future

• (49:00 ) AI, forgiveness, and the future of teaching

• (53:00 ) Finding community and collective strength

  
  

  
  

  Connect with Dr. José Luis Vilson

  Website – www.thejosevilson.com

  EduColor – a collective for equity and justice in education

  This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education

  
  

  
  

  Connect with Ashanti Branch:

  Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/⁠

  Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks⁠

  Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks⁠

  LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/⁠

  Website:⁠ https://www.branchspeaks.com/⁠

  Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club:⁠ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support⁠

  
  

  
  

  Connect with Ever Forward Club:

  Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub⁠

  Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub⁠

  Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/everforwardclub⁠

  LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/⁠

  
  

  
  

  #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator