Shaping Freedom With Lisane Basquiat
How to Shape Legacy Through Education & Empathy With Principal Toria Avila
August 25, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Why listen
A South LA principal explains what schools actually need to help kids feel safe and learn well.
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In this episode
- Why test-driven systems fall short and what better metrics look like
- How to check in with your child about what they are carrying emotionally
- What teachers and school leaders need to sustain the work they do
- Small shifts that can make schools work better for kids and communities
About this episode
Principal Toria Avila joins Lisane to talk honestly about what middle school looks like in South LA today — from the pressure of test-driven systems to the emotional work of keeping kids safe and seen. Toria shares the experiences that shaped her, what teachers and parents really need, and small shifts that could make schools work better for kids and communities.Notable quote
“We could not lower the standard… your struggles were not going to determine the type of education I was going to put in front of you.” — Toria Avila.
Takeaways
Pause: ask your child what they might be carrying emotionally — and actually listen.
Advocate for balanced metrics: push for ways schools recognize creative and social-emotional strengths, not just test scores.
Support teachers and leaders — rest and wellbeing matter for the whole school to thrive.
Learn how to set boundaries without guilt. Join Lisane's next Protect Your Peace Shaping Session today: https://shapingfreedom.com/boundaries-workshop
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About Shaping Freedom With Lisane Basquiat
Shaping Freedom is a podcast about emotional leadership and legacy; examining the inherited patterns shaping how we live, create, relate, and build. I’m Lisane Basquiat - a legacy healing strategist, creator of the Shaping Freedom framework and a steward of a global cultural legacy.
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