Episodes

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 Alabama school in rarified air – one of only two schools statewide and among just fifteen elementary schools nationwide in their category to earn this prestigious honor. Spotlight 4 Success Website: Spotlight 4 Success

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. Spotlight 4 Success: Spotlight 4 Success

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 wealth of experience to this illuminating conversation. Beginning his career as a middle school teacher, Brad's journey through elementary education and eventually to district leadership showcases hi...

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 the American Federation of Teachers. Spotlight 4 Success: Spotlight 4 Success

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 in North Carolina, discovered this firsthand when she inherited 250 letters written by family members from Japan to Pennsylvania in the early 1950s. Spotlight 4 Success Website: spotlight4success.com

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 Charlotte, Fryer shares his 30-year journey in education and his current role teaching STEM subjects at Providence Day School. Spotlight 4 Success Website: Spotlight 4 Success

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 how that unexpected path led to a fulfilling career spanning both middle and high school classrooms. Spotlight 4 Success Website: Spotlight 4 Success

Ben Fuhs gives a testimonial about his experience with ABC Books. Website: Spotlight 4 Success

Jamie Fowler-White gives a brief testimony about her experience with ABC materials. Website: Spotlight 4 Success

Patrick Harry gives a powerful testimony about how ABC books have helped him in his profession. Website: Spotlight 4 Success

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 classroom experience takes us through the remarkable transformation of these fundamental teaching tools. Website: Spotlight 4 Success

Sarah Webb gives a testimonial about how ABC how had an impact in her classroom. Website: Spotlight 4 Success

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 – that Jonesboro was one of the first cities in Tennessee – launched her mission to "pique children's interest in our past" and "cultivate the love of learning." Website: Spotlight 4 Success

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 Schools. Website: Spotlight 4 Success

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 and his recent venture into teaching science. Website: Spotlight 4 Success

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's musical journey reveals how deeply personal connections can transform into artistic expression that resonates across generations. Website: Spotlight 4 Success

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 of Social Studies (TCSS), Fincham draws on three decades of experience to share valuable insights about the organization's mission to serve educators across all social studies disciplines. Website: Spotlight 4 Success

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 us at the Tennessee Council of Social Studies conference in Gatlinburg to share their expertise on implementing interactive notebooks in middle school classrooms. What started as a presentation they were "bullied into" by their director has become a passion project that's tra...

The conversation reveals how Simmons rose from an interested elementary social studies teacher to becoming the president who oversaw Tennessee's hosting of the National Council for Social Studies conference in Nashville—what she calls "one of the highlights of my career." With her background in event planning, she successfully showcased Tennessee's rich historical landscape from Civil War to Civil Rights history to educators from across the nation. Spotlight 4 Success: Spotlight 4 Success

As a first-generation college graduate, Jordan's personal journey fuels his passionate approach to teaching history. His story illustrates the transformative power of education—not just as academic instruction, but as a gateway to previously unimagined possibilities. "It's given me a lot of opportunities that otherwise I may not have had," Jordan reflects, explaining his mission to show students paths they might not consider. From celebrating a student's acceptance to a rival university to coach...

What happens when a nursing student discovers her true calling through an unexpected substitute teaching gig? Jami Fowler-White, Principal of Scenic Hills Elementary in Shelby County Schools, shares the fascinating detour that launched her 28-year career in education on this episode of Spotlight for Success. From teaching at her childhood elementary school to coaching teachers across Memphis to her current administrative role, Jami's professional evolution exemplifies dedication to student succ...

What happens when a struggling first-year teacher discovers the transformative power of professional learning communities? Dr. Joshua Kenna's educational journey takes us from his humble beginnings as an alternatively certified social studies teacher in Florida to his current role as a teacher educator and conference coordinator for the Tennessee Council of Social Studies. Spotlight 4 Success Website: Spotlight 4 Success

David Doan of the Overmountain Victory Trail Association takes us back to 1780, when the Revolutionary War had reached a stalemate and the British implemented their Southern Strategy. What followed was an extraordinary grassroots military campaign as the previously neutral Overmountain Men mustered at Fort Watauga and marched to confront Ferguson's forces. The resulting Battle of Kings Mountain lasted just 65 minutes but eliminated one-third of British forces in the South—a devastating blow that...

Journey back to America's fight for independence as we sit down with David Carr from the Sons of the American Revolution at the Tennessee Council of Social Studies conference in Gatlinburg. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of a revolution far more complex—and personal—than most history books suggest. David reveals how the Revolutionary War in the South functioned essentially as a Civil War, with Patriot and Loyalist neighbors literally taking up arms against each other. One haunting accou...