Episode 4: Dr. Bilal Polson on Music, Mentorship & Leading with Purpose | The Breakthrough Collective
Episode Summary
What do hip-hop, movement therapy, and educational leadership have in common? For Dr. Bilal Polson, they’ve all been chapters in a powerful journey of service, creativity, and leadership.
In this episode of The Breakthrough Collective, host Traci Swain sits down with Dr. Polson to explore how music became the throughline of his life — from studying movement at NYU and working in hip-hop during its activist roots, to leading as principal of Northern Parkway Elementary.
You’ll hear how he sees teachers as artists, creates breakthrough moments for students who don’t always see themselves as champions, and why receiving the 2024 NCTE Advancement of People of Color Leadership Award marked a personal turning point.
This conversation will leave you inspired to see leadership not as a title — but as a practice of creativity, care, and purpose.
About Dr. Bilal Polson
Dr. Bilal Polson is the principal of Northern Parkway Elementary School in Uniondale, NY. A graduate of LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts and UCLA, he has worn many hats: movement therapist, hip-hop activist, managing editor of Rap Pages magazine, A&R executive with MCA/Universal, and educational leader.
Today, Dr. Polson blends his artistic and academic experiences to champion culturally sustaining teaching practices and spotlight the creativity of both teachers and students.
He is the co-editor of Toward Culturally Sustaining Teaching (NCTE/Routledge, 2020) and recipient of the 2024 NCTE Advancement of People of Color Leadership Award.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode
✨How hip-hop and movement therapy shaped his leadership philosophy
✨The career pivot that helped him redefine his identity and purpose
✨Why he calls teachers “artists” — and how that mindset transforms classrooms
✨The story behind his “students as scholars” mantra
✨How international experiences, from Ghana to Broadway, connect his work to
culture and creativity
✨What leadership looks like when it’s rooted in service, not ego
Breakthrough Lessons
Dr. Bilal Polson reminds us that leadership isn’t about perfection — it’s about possibility. His story shows how creativity and cultural connection can transform classrooms, communities, and even the way we define success.
Here are three takeaways to apply in your own journey:
- Lead from your art.
Whatever your craft — teaching, storytelling, or strategy — your artistry is the gateway to impact. Leadership is creative work. - Reframe your role.
When you see others as artists, students become scholars, and classrooms become stages for discovery. Language shapes belief. - Transform through connection.
The best mentors bridge culture and care. Whether you’re leading a team or raising a family, growth starts when we meet people where they are — and believe in what they can become.
Episode Chapters
0:00 — Intro
2:16 — High School of Performing Arts: Where joy became the blueprint for leadership
4:41 — The tap audition that changed everything
6:06 — Teachers who saw the individual, not just the student
7:23 — Embracing the name Bilal: A spiritual awakening in high school
11:30 — From memorizing Rakim lyrics to sonic lineage: How music shapes education
18:03 — Ghana connection: Building bridges through quilts and clean water
20:45 — A&R to principal: Why children are the music and teachers are the artists
24:25 — Why he calls his students “scholars”
25:58 — NCTE Leadership Award: Recognition as a non-traditional educator
30:05 — Creating breakthrough moments for students who don’t see themselves as champions yet
37:49 — Taking 5th graders to Buena Vista Social Club: Cultural sophistication meets transformation
45:54 — The kindergarten “troublemaker” who became Dr. Bilal
55:00 — 17 years at one school: What keeps him coming back
58:46 — Your home is a library: Teaching through record collections, recipes, and stories
1:00:45 — The “hits” no one knows about: Multilingual learners defying expectations
1:04:08 — What would teenage Bilal think of Dr. Bilal now?
1:07:05 — Advice for principals: Lead with your passion, embrace your miscues
1:10:52 — Quote that guides him: “There is an amazing power getting to know your inner self…”
1:12:32 — Outro
Resources & Links
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Connect with Dr. Polson:
📱Instagram, X, and LinkedIn: @BilalPolson
📱School Instagram: @NorthernParkwaySchool
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Sources: Bio and photo provided by Dr. Bilal Polson; episode content from The Breakthrough Collective Episode 4.
