Season 4, Episode 1: Sarah Bailey and Danielle Lewis-Egonu

Conversations Over a Brew

For this episode of Conversations Over A Brew, we spotlight Textbook; a project which reimagines the future of schools, by giving us the space to dream of alternative approaches to learning together. Artist Sarah Bailey developed Textbook in collaboration with teachers and for this conversation is joined by Danielle Lewis-Egonu, one of the teachers who helped develop Textbook.

“It’s easy to forget that we were children” - Danielle Lewis-Egonu, Educator

At the time of recording Danielle was the deputy CEO of the Golden Thread Alliance, a Multi Academy Trust based in Kent. In July 2023, Sarah was invited by Danielle to facilitate a workshop based on Textbook for a group of Early Career Teachers from the Golden Thread Alliance schools. The following conversation reflects upon this workshop, the experience of creating Textbook, and the discourse it enables.

Danielle is a thought leader with over two decades of experience in education. She is known for her commitment to creating supportive and inclusive school environments, where all students are valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. Danielle believes in the value of education as a tool for empowering individuals and promoting social justice. At the time of recording Danielle was the deputy CEO of the Golden Thread Alliance, and has since become the CEO for the Cygnus Academies Trust.

Sarah is an artist, educator and consultant. Her practice sits at the point where learning, community, childhood and art meet. She is a long term collaborator with Heart of Glass. In 2021 Sarah began working with a group of 10 teachers on a project that would become known as Textbook. The first stage of the project produced a pamphlet that playfully and poetically took the traditional idea of an educational text to question the values we want to place at the centre of education. It places a red pen in the hands of learners to write back.

Read more about:

• Textbook
• The Talk Learning Resource
• Sarah Bailey
• Danielle Lewis-Egonu

Access the transcript for this episode on the Heart of Glass website.