Sticky Note Conversations

In this episode of Sticky Note Conversations, host Erika Washington sits down with Kamilah Bywaters, a Las Vegas native, educator, and community leader running for Nevada Assembly District 2. Kamilah shares her journey from special education teacher to political candidate, discussing the systemic challenges plaguing the Clark County School District, the workplace politics that drive good teachers out of the profession, and why she decided to run for office again after a painful loss in her 2024 school board campaign. The conversation covers education equity, the state of democracy, voter priorities in District 2, and Kamilah's vision for representing her community in Carson City.

Show Notes

Episode Title: Sticky Note Conversations — Kamilah Byrates on Education, Equity, and Running for Assembly District 2

Host: Erika Washington Guest: Kamilah Bywaters — Candidate for Nevada Assembly District 2; licensed special education teacher, PhD candidate at UNLV, co-chair of the Las Vegas Alliance of Black School Educators

Duration: ~60 minutes

  • (00:00) - Show Cold Open
  • (00:43) - Welcome and Midterms
  • (01:20) - Meet Kamilah Bywaters
  • (02:42) - Conversations Not Interviews
  • (03:29) - Who Is Kamilah
  • (05:30) - Why Education and Special Ed
  • (07:33) - New Teacher Hazing
  • (10:20) - Workplace Politics Explained
  • (17:27) - Tattle Phone Break
  • (18:20) - CCSD Problems and Equity
  • (20:20) - Power Blocks School Reform
  • (24:53) - Why Keep People Down
  • (29:58) - Lessons From Campaigning
  • (31:05) - Words And Censorship
  • (31:51) - Campaign Loss Lessons
  • (33:35) - Thick Skin Strategy
  • (35:38) - Why Run Again
  • (39:28) - District Two Map
  • (40:55) - Voter Priorities Issues
  • (43:15) - Costs Economy Pressure
  • (44:41) - Governing Approach Limits
  • (47:09) - Bills Caucus Reality
  • (52:08) - Democracy And Dream
  • (56:05) - Pitch To District Two
  • (58:10) - Closing Thanks Credits

Creators and Guests

Producer
Erika Washington
Composer
Wil Black

What is Sticky Note Conversations?

To keep my thoughts in order and my to-do lists remotely manageable I create arrays of sticky notes on my desk and wall. New idea? Stick note! Someone I want to meet with? Sticky Note! Need to remember to pay a parking ticket? Write it on a sticky note. Over the course of the last year, I have wanted to create a podcast that allowed me to dive deep into conversations with interesting people.. I wanted to have real conversations that were more than sound bites or regurgitated talking points about fluffy topics. My hope is that each episode feels like old friends catching up. Revealing great information but also humanity, struggle, victory, joy, grief, and possibly, a flicker of transcendence.

I hope you will enjoy these as much as I do creating them.
Join me here every Saturday as I pull a new sticky note off my desk.