Hoops of Steel
A space where English teachers in Queensland and beyond can connect about the joy and point of learning, language, and literature.
Hoops of Steel
English, Culture and High Expectations with Dr Chris Sarra
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Chris talks with Mel about how high expectations and genuine relationships can transform lives and classrooms. The founder of the Stronger Smarter Institute shares the power of storytelling, challenging low expectations, and helping students see themselves in English. From Shakespeare and Animal Farm to community connection and cultural identity, this conversation is a powerful reminder of why teaching matters.
Dr Chris Sarra is a Gurang Gurang and Taribelang Bunda man, founder and CEO of the Stronger Smarter Institute, and a nationally respected education reformer. For more than 30 years, he has championed high-expectations leadership, Indigenous education, and positive change across schools, communities, and government.
Show notes:
Stronger Smarter – Educational Institution
Good Morning, Mr Sarra – Dr Chris Sarra (memoir)
Julius Caesar – William Shakespeare
Animal Farm – George Orwell
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) – George Orwell
From Little Things Big Things Grow – Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody
In this episode, Dr Chris Sarra acknowledges the powerful influences of his parents and teachers; Dr Gary MacLennan (teacher educator and mentor to Chris); and the work of artists Deborah Mailman, Wesley Enoch, and Tara June Winch.
Connect with us:
Join our community at:
🔗 ETAQ Website
Enter the conversation at:
🔗 ETAQ Facebook
🔗ETAQ Instagram