Episodes

The 28-Year Educational Journey
June 2, 2025

The 28-Year Educational Journey

From the bustling retail world to the vibrant classrooms of New Orleans and Alabama, Andre Hodges' 28-year educational journey reveals the remarkable impact of dedicated educators. Speaking from the Federal Programs Conferenc...
Federal Program Insights
May 30, 2025

Federal Program Insights

Have you ever wondered how federal education funding actually reaches classrooms and impacts students? Dr. Molly Killingsworth, Director of Federal Programs for the Alabama State Department of Education, pulls back the curtai...
Juggling 10 Title Schools: One Coordinator's Journey
May 29, 2025

Juggling 10 Title Schools: One Coordinator's Journey

What happens when a passionate classroom teacher discovers new ways to impact education? Casie Barksdale never planned to leave teaching, but a desire to improve her technology skills led to an unexpected career evolution tha...
Driving Student Growth in Alabama Schools
May 29, 2025

Driving Student Growth in Alabama Schools

Ever wondered how schools transform federal funding into real student success? Melissa Scott, Federal Program Supervisor for Decatur City Schools, pulls back the curtain on effective intervention strategies that actually work...
Federal Funding in Education
May 28, 2025

Federal Funding in Education

Ever wondered who ensures federal education dollars make it to classrooms where they can truly impact student learning? Faith Goshay, an Education Specialist with the Alabama State Department of Education, pulls back the curt...
The Dream Team: How Collaboration Transformed Tuscaloosa City Schools
May 28, 2025

The Dream Team: How Collaboration Transformed Tuscaloosa City Schools

Ever wondered what it takes to transform struggling schools into success stories? Dr. Tonya Cruz reveals the blueprint that's changing education in Alabama. As School Improvement Director for Tuscaloosa City Schools, she's pi...
When Everyone Invests: The Recipe for Educational Excellence
May 15, 2025

When Everyone Invests: The Recipe for Educational Excellence

Excellence in education takes center stage as Dr. Wallace Martin reveals the remarkable journey that led Brookwood Elementary to national recognition. Receiving the National Title I School of Distinction award places this Ala...
Coffee, Classrooms, and Courage: A Principal's Journey
May 7, 2025

Coffee, Classrooms, and Courage: A Principal's Journey

Charles Williams leaps from the page with his powerful insights on educational equity. As an assistant principal in Chicago's Austin neighborhood, Williams bridges theory with everyday practice, offering a framework that transforms abstract equity concepts into concrete actions for educators. Spotl…
Building Passion for STEM
May 7, 2025

Building Passion for STEM

Ever wondered how to transform science education from a classroom afterthought to the centerpiece of student engagement? Brad Rhew has the answers. As the Science and STEM Coordinator for Guilford County Schools and president-elect of the North Carolina Science Teachers Association, Brad brings a w…
North Carolina's AFT Movement
May 7, 2025

North Carolina's AFT Movement

What drives teachers to become advocates? In this revealing conversation from the North Carolina Mid-Level Educators Conference, host Devin Pintozzi speaks with Elizabeth Nelson and Pablo Dela Canal about their transformative journeys from dedicated classroom educators to passionate advocates with …
Discovering Family Heritage Through 1950s Japanese Letters
May 5, 2025

Discovering Family Heritage Through 1950s Japanese Letters

Letters have a unique power to transcend time, connecting us to voices from the past in ways that feel surprisingly immediate and personal. Karen Miller, an eighth-grade English language arts teacher at Maiden Middle School i...
Preserving the Past Through Technology
May 2, 2025

Preserving the Past Through Technology

What happens when students turn their digital skills toward preserving family histories? Something magical, according to veteran educator Wesley Fryer. Speaking from the North Carolina Mid-Level Educators Conference in Charlo...
How Jennifer McCormick Found Her Calling
May 2, 2025

How Jennifer McCormick Found Her Calling

What happens when teaching finds you, rather than the other way around? Jennifer McCormick from Spring Hill Middle School in Scotland County shares her refreshing perspective on falling into education through tutoring, and ho...
ABC Testimonial | Ben Fuhs
April 15, 2025

ABC Testimonial | Ben Fuhs

Ben Fuhs gives a testimonial about his experience with ABC Books. Website: Spotlight 4 Success
ABC Testimonial | Jamie Fowler-White
April 15, 2025

ABC Testimonial | Jamie Fowler-White

Jamie Fowler-White gives a brief testimony about her experience with ABC materials. Website: Spotlight 4 Success
ABC Testimonial | Patrick Harry
April 14, 2025

ABC Testimonial | Patrick Harry

Patrick Harry gives a powerful testimony about how ABC books have helped him in his profession. Website: Spotlight 4 Success
ABC Testimonial | Rosa Heintz
April 14, 2025

ABC Testimonial | Rosa Heintz

Educational materials reflect the changing landscape of how we teach, and few resources showcase this evolution as clearly as the ABC book. In this brief but insightful conversation, a veteran educator with 24 years of classr...
ABC Testimonial | Sarah Webb
April 14, 2025

ABC Testimonial | Sarah Webb

Sarah Webb gives a testimonial about how ABC how had an impact in her classroom. Website: Spotlight 4 Success
Teaching as a Gift
April 11, 2025

Teaching as a Gift

The spark of curiosity that ignites a teaching career can transform countless young minds. Sarah Webb from David Crockett High School in Washington County, Tennessee shares how discovering an unknown fact about her hometown –...
Middle School is My Passion
April 9, 2025

Middle School is My Passion

What happens when middle schoolers become historical investigators instead of passive fact-memorizers? Rosa Heintz reveals the powerful transformation occurring in social studies classrooms across Tennessee's Hamilton County ...
Why Teachers Keep Learning
April 9, 2025

Why Teachers Keep Learning

What drives a teacher to stay passionate after more than two decades in the classroom? Patrick Harry, a veteran educator from South Lincoln Pre-K-8 School, reveals the inspiration behind his 22-year journey teaching history a...
Songs From The Heart
April 8, 2025

Songs From The Heart

The power of music to preserve family history takes center stage as we sit down with Nancy Brennan-Strange, a talented singer and balladist performing at the Tennessee Council of Social Studies conference in Gatlinburg. Nancy...
The Sweet Dilemma of an Education Leader
April 7, 2025

The Sweet Dilemma of an Education Leader

From field trips to federal policy, Dr. Mark Finchum offers a masterclass in Social Studies education leadership during this illuminating conversation from Gatlinburg, Tennessee. As Executive Director of the Tennessee Council...
Interactive Notebooks in Middle School Education
April 7, 2025

Interactive Notebooks in Middle School Education

Ever wondered how to help students keep track of their learning throughout the school year? Two innovative educators from Hamilton County Schools have the answer: interactive notebooks. Katie Mara and Maureen Bergren joined u...