DCMKE Podcast Episode 9: "Knowledge is Power"
Welcome back to DCMKE, where we connect Milwaukee communities through candid and insightful conversations. In Episode 9, titled "Knowledge is Power," we explore the deep and powerful relationship between education and workforce development with special guest, Dr. Corey L. Thompson.
Family, Foundations, and Finding a Calling
Right from the opening moments, listeners are welcomed into a personal and heartfelt conversation between Speaker A and his older brother, Dr. Corey L. Thompson (Speaker B). Their shared memories set a warm and intimate tone: stories of parent-teacher conferences, their father’s famous legal pad, and their mother’s lifelong commitment to education. Dr. Thompson shares how his mother and father set high expectations and instilled a lifelong respect for learning in their children.
From Business Major to Life-Changing Educator
Dr. Thompson didn’t always know he’d become an educator. He started out as a business major, but it was witnessing his mother’s selfless acts—helping a student escape an abusive relationship, for example—that revealed to him the transformational impact teachers can have. These vivid, real-life experiences shifted his path from business to the classroom.
A Career Dedicated to Student Success
His journey has spanned more than three decades—teaching in elementary, middle, and high schools, serving as a principal, and now working in higher education. Along the way, Dr. Thompson has worn many hats: teacher, coach, mentor, and nonprofit co-founder. One of his proudest accomplishments was co-founding Imagine Action, a nonprofit that provided travel and educational opportunities for Milwaukee’s youth, opening up worlds they never thought possible.
Education and Career Success—Beyond the Classroom
Throughout the episode, Dr. Thompson passionately discusses why education is foundational for career and life success. But he’s quick to remind us that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution: college isn’t the only path. Technical schools, military service, programs like the Peace Corps, and even experiences abroad all count as meaningful education. The key, he says, is having a plan, a backup plan, and the financial literacy to avoid unnecessary debt.
Parent Involvement and Community Partnerships
A recurring theme is the crucial role families play in their children’s education. Parental accountability, collaboration with schools, and community support are essential to student success. Dr. Thompson highlights innovative school models—including Rocketship Schools and Tenor High School’s partnership with MATC—that actively seek creative ways to bring families and the workforce into the educational fold.
Shaping and Supporting the Next Generation
Dr. Thompson’s inspiring stories of mentors, influential teachers like Miss Thelma Bradford, and authors who shaped his thinking (from Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People to Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed) remind us that education’s greatest power is in changing lives and communities.
Now at Carroll University, Dr. Thompson supports first-generation college students, helping to open doors and guide them through challenges he knows firsthand. He lives by the motto: “To whom much is given, much is expected,” committing himself to ensuring every student—regardless of background—has the opportunity and support to succeed.
Final Thoughts
Episode 9 is more than an interview—it’s a call to action for educators, families, and community leaders. It’s a reminder that education changes lives, and when schools, families, and communities come together, the possibilities are endless.
If you’re interested in connecting with Dr. Thompson, he welcomes your questions at cothomps@carroll.edu.
Thanks for listening to the DCMKE podcast. Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with anyone passionate about building stronger communities through education!