The Today Show recently showcased Baltimore Curriculum Project’s (BCP) unique partnership with SNL star and Baltimore native Ego Nwodim, actor, writer, producer, and cast member of Saturday Night Live.
On August 22 and 23, 2024, Ego visited all six BCP neighborhood conversion charter public schools to lead a training session for BCP teachers and staff, which she developed and created in collaboration with Todd Wade, City Springs Elementary / Middle School’s Director of Restorative Practices and Peer Mediation Coordinator (and Ego’s former high school teacher). For two days with sessions at each individual school, Ego and members of the Baltimore Improv Group (BIG) lead faculty and staff in learning and practicing the application of life skills and improvisational theater techniques to enhance teaching strategies, student interpersonal/engagement, and risk-taking skills.
Watch the Today Show segment:
Improv is about active listening and focus and supporting your partner, all critical aspects of restorative practice work and peer mediation. With Ego and BIG, our educators learned practical, improv-inspired skills to enhance these life skills, including safe risk-taking, in our students that we are using in and out of the classroom.
BCP, which works in partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools, pioneered Restorative Practices with City Schools in 2007 at City Springs. Today, Restorative Practices is used throughout Baltimore City and County public schools to handle conflict and teach problem-solving skills. The program includes daily circles for each class and peer mediators who help students (and sometimes parents) focus on active listening and peaceful interactions. “Think of Restorative Practices as a pre-correction, a process of teaching peaceful resolution,” adds Mr. Wade, who created BCP’s Peer Mediator program at the schools..
Read more about Restorative Practices by Mr. Wade.
This was Ego’s second visit to BCP for her one-of-a-kind program. In September 2023, she led a successful improv session with City Springs students and teachers at the school, then a session with City Springs Peer Mediators at Center Stage. For the session last month, ten City Springs students participated in the program at City Springs.
“This was an amazing professional development experience for BCP,” says Laura Doherty, BCP President and CEO. “Having Ego and BIG share their time and expertise to teach our educators improv techniques adds another arrow to our quivers to help every student thrive. To do improv successfully, you need to use empathy and a desire to truly listen to your partner. These are the keys to the research-based Restorative Practices, which we use across our network of schools and with our entire BCP community, including parents. It’s transformed our school cultures from punitive to human-centered strategies for behavior corrections.”
How are BCP educators using their improv training?
Teachers and staff are incorporating the skills and ideas Ego and the BIG team taught in various daily circles and in interactions with students and parents. For example, at a recent parent meeting of about 35 parents at Wolfe Street Academy, staff used one of the introduction techniques taught at the improv workshop in the opening circle. The exercise involves saying your name and pairing it with a gesture; then the group says your name and does the gesture back at you.
What’s next for Ego and BCP?
Throughout the school year, Ego is doing monthly Zooms with teachers to offer ongoing support and inspiration for the improv techniques they have learned. BIG is planning an in-person workshop during the BCP professional development day later in the fall, too.
About Ego Nwodim:
Raised in Baltimore, Ego is an actress and comedian best known for her work on Saturday Night Live (SNL) where she has been a cast member since 2018. Her background includes a mix of improvisational comedy, sketch work, and acting. Prior to SNL, Ego was involved with L.A.’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre known for its strong improvisational and sketch comedy training. Ego also has performed in various theater productions and has appeared in several film and television projects. Her experience in improvisation and comedy inspired her educational outreach. Ego’s connection to BCP is personal through her former high school teacher and current Director of Restorative Practices at City Springs Elementary/Middle, Mr. Todd Wade.
Enjoy the Photo Album from Ego’s BCP visit (session with Govans Elementary School featured).
