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Castbox Dr. Teruko Dobashi—Leading a Turnaround School with Success and Rethinking Discipline
Key Takeaways
- Dr. Teruko Dobashi demonstrates how unwavering focus on instructional excellence and equity can successfully turn around a struggling school.
- Effective educational leadership requires rethinking traditional discipline practices to foster a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.
- As an abolitionist educator, Dr. Dobashi roots her leadership in love, light, and liberation to drive equity-driven practices.
- Integrating authenticity and cultural responsiveness allows school leaders to dismantle systemic oppression and empower students.
- Community engagement and creative outlets, such as spoken word artistry, can serve as powerful tools for healing and liberation in education.
Our guest, Dr. Teruko Dobashi, is principal of M. Agnes Jones Elementary School, where, in her first year of leadership, the school improved in all areas of CCRPI—reflecting her unwavering focus on instructional excellence, equity, and student outcomes. Since joining Atlanta Public Schools in 2018, she has served as a 5th grade teacher at Scott Elementary in the Douglass Cluster and as Assistant Principal at Toomer Elementary in the Jackson Cluster. In this episode she shares insights on leading a turnaround school and rethinking discipline.
Throughout her career, Dr. Dobashi has been recognized for her impact, including honors as a Sue Lehmann Regional Finalist, Teacher of the Year, Equity Champion, and Assistant Principal of the Year Finalist. Beyond her professional roles, she is deeply engaged in community work and is an accomplished spoken word artist, performing across the country and using her voice as a tool for liberation and healing.
Grounded in the words of Tupac Shakur—“I’m not saying I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will”—Dr. Dobashi embodies the transformative power of education. As an abolitionist educator, her leadership is rooted in love, light, and liberation, advancing culturally responsive, critically conscious, and equity-driven practices.
Dr. Teruko Dobashi epitomizes the ratchetdemic leader—a dynamic force for change who dismantles oppression through art, authenticity, and an unrelenting commitment to the liberation of all.
Your Host: Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP
Sponsor: National Associate of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals and assistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, andthe newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.
Resources:
Greeting: Dr. Maylén Sullivan
#EDUPXE #EDUCATIONALEXCELLENCE #EDUCATIONALEQUITY#Shchoolleaders #XEListeningTour
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dr. Teruko Dobashi?
Dr. Teruko Dobashi is the principal of M. Agnes Jones Elementary School in Atlanta Public Schools, recognized for her success in leading turnaround schools and her work as an abolitionist educator and spoken word artist.
What is M. Agnes Jones Elementary School known for under Dr. Dobashi's leadership?
In her first year as principal, M. Agnes Jones Elementary School improved in all areas of the CCRPI, reflecting Dr. Dobashi's strong commitment to instructional excellence and student outcomes.
How does Dr. Teruko Dobashi approach school discipline?
Dr. Dobashi advocates for rethinking discipline by moving away from punitive measures and implementing equity-driven, culturally responsive practices that support student liberation.
Author/Principal
Dr. Teruko Dobashi’s journey began in San Francisco, California, where, as a former foster youth, she engaged in social justice and community organizing—laying the foundation for her lifelong commitment to education and equity. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, she joined Teach For America, relocating to the Mississippi Delta where she taught 4th and 5th grade and worked in juvenile detention settings. She went on to earn a Master of Social Work from Jackson State University, a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Doctorate in Education from Georgia State University. Her arts-based phenomenological dissertation, “Black on Black School Discipline: Double Consciousness & the Perspective of Disciplining Your Own,” was recognized as Dissertation of the Year.
Dr. Dobashi currently serves as the principal of M. Agnes Jones Elementary School, where, in her first year of leadership, the school improved in all areas of CCRPI—reflecting her unwavering focus on instructional excellence, equity, and student outcomes. Since joining Atlanta Public Schools in 2018, she has served as a 5th grade teacher at Scott Elementary in the Douglass Cluster and as Assistant Principal at Toomer Elementary in the Jackson Cluster.
Throughout her career, Dr. Dobashi has been recognized for her impact, including honors as a Sue Lehmann Regional Finalist, Teacher of the Year, Equity Champion, and Assistant Principal of the Year Finalist. Beyond her professional roles, she is deeply engaged in community work and is an … Read More