Lillian LaSalle, 2019, 98min
First time director, Lillian LaSalle's award-winning, powerful documentary, MY NAME IS PEDRO, explores what public education meant to South Bronx Latino maverick educator, Pedro Santana, and what he, in turn, meant to public education. The film is also especially timely in this moment of national reckoning since the murder of George Floyd, subsequent protests and high attention being paid to public school parity.
Infectious in his optimism, Santana becomes one of the most influential public-school teachers and then administrators in the New York public school system after turning his troubled Bronx middle school, MS 391, around. He is unapologetic in his commitment to create change for kids, no matter the odds. When a glowing front-page New York Times article catapults him into the spotlight, he is recruited and then accepts a promotion to use his famed 'out of the box' and transformative practices to save a corrupt and divided suburban school district. But the political challenges there may simply be too great, even for the infallible Santana.
In order to continue his life's mission that 'every kid can learn', (he himself was labeled 'special ed' as a child), he realizes that he must venture beyond not only the restrictive 'four walls' of the public education system, but also his own neighborhood, city and even his own country.
MY NAME IS PEDRO is a profound story of how one person actualizes learning and positive change in children, adults, environments and communities through an 'impact' ripple effect strategy that he has effortlessly perfected. The film is also an essential and timely reminder of the importance of great educators that exist within the infrastructure of our country's public education system.
Panel discussion: Building A Better School System: Reimagining Education in the Wake of COVID-19
Panel discussion in collaboration with New American Economy will be held on September 24th featuring: Lillian LaSalle, Director, “My Name is Pedro” Aasaf Mandvi, Actor, Writer & Comedian Eric Santana, Brother of Pedro Santana Debra Mashek, Ph.D., Executive Advisor and Past Executive Director, Heterodox Academy; Founder, Myco Consulting
Moderated by Leani Garcia Torres, Associate Director, State & Local Initiatives, New American Economy
The panel will be available to stream internationally, and the film is available for streaming within the United States of America.
All donations received through this screening at ticket purchase will be sent directly to Dreamyard whose programs develop an artistic voice, nurture young peoples’ desire to make change and cultivate the skills necessary to reach positive goals. Dreamyard believes that young people in the Bronx need a continuous set of supports to help them toward positive outcomes as they navigate their educational pathways, in Dreamyard’s 50 collaborating Bronx schools K-12th Grade, at the DreamYard Prep High School, the DreamYard Art Center and in their Work Based Learning programs. They have every expectation that through offering sustained and meaningful support their youth will develop the necessary tools to become creative and engaged citizens, life-long learners and the leaders and innovators of the 21st century.
