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Dr. "Philly Jo"
We in the ABSApundit community, principally my wife and I, call her Dr. Phyllie J. R., or simply "Philly Jo." It's a great deal of her work and achievements that we promote throughout the site. As to the nickname, she chose that for herself, drawing inspiration from Tom Waits’ track Heartattack and Vine, where the awesome Mr. W. growls about someone named "Philly Joe Remarkable," standing bemused amidst the chaos. The unique spelling also nods to Phyllida Erskine-Brown from Rumpole of the Bailey, a character that’s shaped some of her work. Philly Jo—a little homage, a lot of personality.
Phyllie Jo’s teaching methods weren’t just unconventional—they were disruptive (see ABSAdomain Over more than a decade, she built a loyal following among students and parents alike by challenging the stale norms of traditional pedagogy. She rejected the "banking model" of education (as Paolo Freire called it) that treats students as passive recipients of knowledge, instead championing a more dynamic, reflective, and empowering approach.
Now, with her signature style of reinvention, Professor Philly has entrusted my wife and me with her legacy as she moves on to create something entirely new and totally unrelated to ABSApundit. Classic Phyllie Jo—always ahead of the curve.
Her handle here is “ABSAprime,” and that’s got some punch. But she’s quick to point out it’s not about flexing. The name’s all about mindset: (a) she’s the first of what she, and we, expect will be many, and (b) the ABSA philosophy is about training yourself to operate at peak awareness, whichever domain or domains you happen to traverse. Think of it as a call to action—she’s here to kickstart a crew of “ABSAprimes”-in-training who’ll inspire each other to level up.
"As Below, So Above"
[Graphics by Descript's Overlord and Microsoft's Powerpoint. Background videos by Wix.com].
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