Middie Rising - A City Unites and Defuses a School Culture War (Ep. 3 of 3)

Middletown

Jul 19

Episode Notes

In the final episode of this series, several people reflect on the lessons learned from Middletown’s successful efforts to avoid a costly culture war and to unify around an inclusive vision of education that all of its students. In addition to Middletown’s community leaders who share their takeaways from this story, Amanda Ripley, an internationally recognized expert on conflict, provides powerful insights into the less visible dynamics at play. Trudy Palmer, the Christian Science Monitor’s cover story editor, explains why this story offers “credible” hope for communities looking for tangible ways to unify and discover common ground. Finally, we hear from Dr. Carl Cohn, an experienced urban superintendent who explains why the lessons learned from the Middletown story are vital for school leaders across the country.

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The Middletown Series, a story of a fractured school community that unites on behalf of its students, is a masterclass in transforming a crisis into an opportunity.

~ Ken Futernick, Host & Founder of Courageous Conversations About Our Schools

Key lessons:

Building and maintaining healthy relationships within a community, especially before a crisis occurs, is crucial to preventing and managing conflicts.
Creating ongoing opportunities for authentic dialogue among educators, board members, parents, and students is essential to fostering trust and healthy conflict.
Journalists and media outlets should strive to go beyond reporting exclusively on conflict and outrage and to cover stories, like this one in Middletown, that provide “credible hope” for change.

Key Moments from Episode 3 of the Middletown Series

How Middletown Stopped a Culture War (00:03 - 01:25): Ken Futernick introduces the episode, showcasing Middletown's inspiring triumph over conflict through community dialogue and engagement. Learn how strategic conversations and a community-wide call for unity averted a crisis and allowed school officials to focus on challenges affecting all of its students.

Courtney Martin's Role in Uncovering the Story (01:25 - 05:22): Courtney Martin, the author of the article that inspired this podcast series, discusses her reflections on Middletown's story.

Listening Over Defending in High Conflict (14:11 - 18:18): Amanda Ripley explains why listening in the face of conflict often defuses situations that can escalate into a crisis. Ripley also explains why getting to the “understory” of a conflict is essential to understanding the dynamics at play and, ultimately, to finding a way out.

Middletown's Blueprint for Hope and Unity (27:36 - 40:53): This segment includes reflections from various community members, emphasizing the importance of genuine engagement, open dialogue, and community outreach, especially with faith leaders.

Featured Guests:

Courtney Martin

Trudy Palmer

Amanda Ripley

Holly Snow

Mark Frazer

John Wagner

Carl Cohn

Ken Futernick

Courtney Martin is the author of “Stopping Culture Wars in Their Tracks: How One City Did It,” the article that appeared in the Christian Science Monitor and inspired our three-part podcast series about Middletown. An accomplished writer and thought leader, Courtney brings considerable insight to the Middletown Series. She is the author of four books, including the most recent, Learning in Public, and she writes the popular newsletter, The Examined Family.
Courtney is also a co-founder of the Solutions Journalism Network and FRESH Speakers, organizations dedicated to promoting impactful and solutions-focused storytelling. In her role as the Storyteller-in-Residence at The Holding Co., she continues to champion narratives that foster understanding and drive positive change.
Trudy Palmer is the cover story editor for the Christian Science Monitor and assisted Courtney Martin with her story about Middletown. Palmer has taught American and African American literature at Tufts University and the University of Pittsburgh; edited a scholarly book on the blues; and, worked as a senior staff editor for the Christian Science religious publications.
Amanda Ripley is an internationally acclaimed expert on conflict and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out. Ripley is also a Washington Post contributing columnist, and the co-founder of Good Conflict, a media and training company that helps people reimagine conflict.
Holly Snow is a member of the Middletown City School Board, currently serving her first year. Snow has lived in Middletown for over ten years and has several children who attend the City’s schools.
Mark Frazer: Mark Frazer is a physician in Middletown and served for many years on the Middletown City Schools Board of Education.
John Wagner is the former pastor of First United Methodist Church in Middletown, Ohio, and the first white leader of the integrated Middletown Ministerial Alliance, having served . With a background deeply rooted in the civil rights movement, Wagner has been committed to bridging divides and serving politically diverse congregations.
Carl Cohn is professor emeritus at Claremont Graduate University. His 50-year career in education has included service as a Teacher, School Counselor, Central Office Administrator, and Superintendent at both Long Beach and San Diego. In March, 2024, Dr. Cohn was among fourteen education leaders and scholars elected to the National Academy of Education.
Ken Futernick is the host of "Courageous Conversations about Our Schools," a podcast that explores complex and often controversial issues in education through meaningful dialogue and healthy conflict. With a background in teacher education, school policy, and educational research, Futernick has devoted his career advocating for equitable, high-quality learning opportunities for all students.

Inspire Others

We believe the power of Middletown's story lies not just in listening but in sharing with others. If you were inspired by this story, we hope you will spread the word to friends, colleagues and members of the media who care about the future of education in our country.

You can also download the media kit to share quotable moments, images, audiograms, and more. They are perfect for embedding in a blog post, sharing on social media, or including in an email to friends and colleagues.