Send us a text As a parent, you want the best for your kid. And you worry – is what I’m doing enough? Is this school enough? in this episode, a student and faculty member have unique stories to tell. Kathryn Trohn is the youngest of 15 children and the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants. Dr. Colleen Boyett is the IB Diploma Program Coordinator at PHS and has taught a number of Kathryn’s siblings. Hear how the IB program is academically rigorous and not just accessible to gifted students, but moti...
Oct 10, 2023•38 min•Ep. 62
Send us a text Tristan Harris is the coach for Escambia county’s Allstar Academic Team, a place where kids with drive & book smarts can gain a sense of community & competition. She proudly and passionately nerds out about how Escambia County students are winning by working together and scoring so much more than points as she explains how this trivia style tournament team is making a difference for students in Escambia County. Guest: Tristan Harris Learn more about Escambia County School ...
Oct 03, 2023•22 min•Ep. 61
Send us a text Ever try working all day when you haven't eaten anything? Hunger is one of a number of factors that can make learning difficult for students. In this episode on the ECSD Navigator Program , we discuss how Escambia County Public Schools are working with students and their families to navigate these challenges. Guests: Jennifer Montoya & Lindsay Cannon Children’s Home Society of Florida Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find addit...
Sep 26, 2023•24 min•Ep. 60
Send us a text Avoiding college debt is key to setting up students for a strong start in adulthood, but how do you avoid student loans when you can barely make ends meet? The County Coordinator of Take Stock in Children , Sally Lee, shares the surprisingly simple way Escambia County students can qualify for free college scholarships and guidance from mentors as early as the seventh grade. She shares how a bright future can impact the student, the school and the community. Learn more about Escamb...
Sep 19, 2023•21 min•Ep. 59
Send us a text If you’re a busy working parent, you’re a busy worrying parent, especially when it comes to after school care. Do you give your child a key to the house with instructions to do their chores & finish their homework? Or do you send them to aftercare? Will they be safe? Will they make friends? Robin Heller is the founder & executive director Seastars Aquatics , a USA Swimming Registered team that provides individualized attention as part of a structured competitive swim team ...
Sep 12, 2023•35 min•Ep. 58
Send us a text Are your kids getting too much screen time? Principal Lalla Pierce & Technology Coordinator, Kevin McNally from Global Learning Academy, share how students at Escambia County Public Schools in partnership with Common Sense Media are learning how to vet information, be a good digital citizen and when to walk away from technology. Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podc...
Sep 05, 2023•31 min•Ep. 57
Send us a text Post high school education can be expensive and out of reach for many families. Holly Busse explains how the Bright Futures Scholarship is helping unlock a path to college or vocational education, up to five years after graduation & takes just 15 minutes to apply for. Guest: Holly Busse Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes Host: Meredith Hackwith Edward...
Aug 29, 2023•29 min•Ep. 56
Send us a text Who will be the leaders of tomorrow? Debra Phillips is teaching the seven habits of highly effective people to put our students on the right path. Guest: Debra Phillips, Leader in Me Program Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards...
Aug 22, 2023•21 min•Ep. 55
Send us a text Where do new teachers turn for help and guidance? At Escambia County Public Schools, savvy and seasoned teachers serve as a Sherpa and guide new teachers for the entire year. Learn more about this transformation program, called START, on this week's podcast episode. Guest: Caroline Gray Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards...
Aug 15, 2023•29 min•Ep. 54
Send us a text From rotations to ride-a-longs, this is as real as it gets. Instructor Terry Thomas and graduate Dakota Ward openly discuss the rigors and rewards of the Critical Care & Emergency Medicine Academy at West Florida High School. Guest: Terry Thomas & Dakota Ward Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards...
Aug 08, 2023•26 min•Ep. 53
Send us a text When it comes to the success of every student, we're all in. That means taking every step possible to keep our kids safe at school. Director of Protection Services, Kyle Kinser, covers what all that means. You’ll hear how the new Centegix system & the Aaron Feiss guardian program cover use technology & humanity to keep our kids safe. Guest: Kyle Kinser Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voic...
Aug 01, 2023•33 min•Ep. 52
Send us a text It seems like there’s a new app every week that poses a potential trafficking threat to our digital savvy kids. In this episode, Stacey Kostevicki, the Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Kids House shares practical tips to keep kids safe & how prevention education can unite parents, teachers & community members to safeguard our kids. Guests: Stacey Kostevicki Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https:/...
Jul 25, 2023•31 min•Ep. 51
Send us a text For many students with an IEP, their full potential can only be accessed outside of the traditional school framework. Donna Perry is the program specialist & Dr. Jared Stanly is the administrator on special assignment at Hope Horizon, a center school that works with students & families individually to find holistic solutions. In this episode they share what students are best served at Hope Horizon & the services they provide. Guests: Donna Perry & Dr. Jared Stanley...
Jul 18, 2023•22 min•Ep. 50
Send us a text Getting kids to read is a challenge every parent & teacher can relate to. How do you pry the screen out of their hands & get them to get interested? John Ham of Animal Tales shares how the animals from his live animal presentations has inspired students all over the county to read. Guests: John Ham Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes Host: Meredith...
Jul 11, 2023•17 min•Ep. 49
Send us a text Summer break is a great time to pick up a book and grow as a reader. Michelle White shares how students are turning the page and starting a new chapter by not only preventing the Summer Slide, but gaining skills to lead forward. Guest: Michelle White, Summer Reading Program Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards...
Jul 04, 2023•16 min•Ep. 48
Send us a text Meet the Pensacola TikTok star who makes the wheels on the bus go round, Cor’Darius Jones. The kids are big fans of Escambia County School District's Mr. Bus Driver for good reasons. He shares his strategy on public school bus safety, how he saved a woman’s life and what’s next. Learn more on Facebook or TikTok . Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes Host: M...
Jun 27, 2023•24 min•Ep. 47
Send us a text Ever wish you had a manual on how to be a parent? Tune into this week's episode on Parent University Pensacola to learn how parents, grandparents and others are getting the training they need to help traverse the public school system in Escambia County and their student's homework including subjects like new math. Guest: Michael O’Neal Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/p...
Jun 20, 2023•24 min•Ep. 46
Send us a text Jena Melancon, Founder and Executive Director of Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council is ushering in new perspectives for Escambia County students. In this episode she shares how the non-profit is facilitating communication & connection. Guest: Jena Melancon Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards...
Jun 13, 2023•33 min•Ep. 45
Send us a text Ever considered becoming a mentor to a child? Karen Kellams, a full-time executive and mom, and Natalie Stipkovich, a full-time college student, share why they did and the joy it has brought to them. Hear how being there for one hour every week has changed their lives and their mentees lives forever. Guests: Karen Kellams & Natalie Stipkovich, Big Brothers Big Sisters Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: http...
Jun 06, 2023•20 min•Ep. 44
Send us a text Life is full of teaching moments and too often missed milestones as a result of poverty. Jennifer Collins, Principal at Sherwood Elementary talks about how the All Kid's Bike program teaches kindergarteners lasting life lessons—independence, balance, safety, compassion, resilience and success. You’ll also hear what it was like for Sherwood to be one of the two schools in Escambia county chosen by the foundation to receive a donation funded by the local branch of HDR Engineering. G...
May 30, 2023•30 min•Ep. 43
Send us a text West Florida High School graduates & twin brothers, Jamal & Jamari sharp are entrepreneurs, authors and philanthropists. But it wasn’t always this way. Jamal shares how the two went from problem students to success stories, why they decided to call their snoball business BAM & what it means for them to be Pensacola business owners. For these two, it's truly a snowball effect. Purchase Unleash your Inner Hero today. Guest: Jamal Sharp Learn more about Escambia County Sc...
May 23, 2023•23 min•Ep. 42
Send us a text Principal, Dr. Kimberly Thomas and Barbara Hayes, a Pensacola High School graduate and pediatrics nurse with Community Health Northwest Florida, share how the Health Ambassadors program in the community clinic at CA Weiss is empowering 3-5 graders. Outfitted in scrubs and lab coats, the program is inspiring a new generation of leaders and professions in the field of healthcare. Guests: Dr. Kimberly Thomas & Barbara Hayes Learn more about Escambia County School District: https:...
May 16, 2023•19 min•Ep. 41
Send us a text Escambia Children’s Trust is one of 13 unique government agencies that assign a portion of property taxes to local non-profits that support the needs of the community based on what the community says they need. In this episode, Executive Director, Tammy Greer shares results of the most recent needs assessment & how you can be heard. Guest: Tammy Greer Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesuni...
May 09, 2023•32 min•Ep. 40
Send us a text Pensacola Code Ninjas owner JoDawn Brown noticed a huge change in her child’s academic performance after learning to code. In this episode, she talks about why learning to code isn’t just for gamers, how coding could set your kid up for employment & how their summer camp or after school programs could be a haven for technologically creative and curious kids. Guest: JoDawn Brown Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional l...
May 02, 2023•25 min•Ep. 39
Send us a text District Data Scientist, James Bobbitt, breaks down what the new state grading scales will mean for Escambia County Public Schools. Guest: James Bobbitt Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards
Apr 25, 2023•19 min•Ep. 38
Send us a text Arelia Laster is a former quality nurse at Sacred Heart & the current Director at Next Step Distribution , a non-profit providing emergency support supplies within 24 hours of crisis. In this episode, she shares the origin of this grass roots effort, how she collaborates with Escambia County Public Schools & how you can help or be helped. Guest: Arelia Laster Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://w...
Apr 18, 2023•30 min•Ep. 37
Send us a text Angela McFarland is a business & multimedia teacher at West Florida High School & the 2024 Teacher of Year for Escambia County Public Schools! Learn how she inspires her students, what students inspire her & what makes this 26-year career educator such a deserving person for this award. Guest: Angela McFarland Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episode...
Apr 11, 2023•22 min•Ep. 36
Send us a text Dr. KK Owen with the Huron Studer Group explains one way Escambia County Public Schools reaches out to give parents a voice in their child's education by rating how we're doing. Guest: Dr. KK Owen Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards...
Apr 04, 2023•29 min•Ep. 35
Send us a text From rotations to ride-a-longs, this is as real as it gets. Instructor Terry Thomas and graduate Dakota Ward openly discuss the riggers and rewards of the Critical Care & Emergency Medicine Academy at West Florida High School. Guest: Terry Thomas & Dakota Ward Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards...
Mar 28, 2023•26 min•Ep. 34
Send us a text When it comes to the success of every student, we're all in. That means taking every step possible to keep our kids safe at school. Director of Protection Services, Kyle Kinser, covers what all that means. You’ll hear how the new Centegix system & the Aaron Feiss guardian program cover use technology & humanity to keep our kids safe. Guest: Kyle Kinser Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ Find additional links: https://www.voic...
Mar 21, 2023•33 min•Ep. 33
