June 4, 2025
Fashion Degree to Federal Funds
The unexpected paths that lead us to educational service often reveal themselves in surprising ways. Meet Mia Phillips, whose journey from fashion merchandising and business to becoming the Federal Programs Bookkeeper Director for Florence City Schools demonstrates how diverse backgrounds strengthen our education system. Speaking from the Federal Programs Conference in Montgomery, Mia shares valuable insights into how school districts are adapting to the post-ESSER funding landscape.
Spotlight 4 Success: Spotlight 4 Success
00:06 - Welcome and Guest Introduction
00:35 - Conference Purpose and Goals
01:19 - Mia's Career Journey
02:10 - American Book Company Spotlight
03:03 - Equal Opportunities in Education
WEBVTT
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Welcome to Spotlight for Success by American Book Company.
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I'm Devin Pintosa, your host.
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We are here in sunny Montgomery at the Federal Programs Conference and we are so excited today to have our special guest here today, mia Phillips.
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Mia Phillips is with Florence City Schools.
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She is the bookkeeper director for federal programs and it's so wonderful to have you here on the show today.
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Thank you, mia.
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Can you tell me a little bit about what brings you here to the Federal Programs Conference?
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Okay, so this year, for this spring conference, I am here just to gather more updated information about our federal programs.
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Just to gather more updated information about our federal programs.
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We have gotten updated information from several of our associates that are located here in Montgomery and gathering information helps us take it back to our schools to help better serve.
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Of course, the reason why we're here is our kids.
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Oh wonderful, and can you tell me a bit about your journey, what brought you into this role of being the federal program's bookkeeper secretary, and the things that you've done previously?
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along the way.
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Wow, oddly enough, I really came from a total different background.
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I really have my degree in fashion, merchandising, slash, business, um and so on this journal.
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I've worked in the mental health um spectrum before and then I came into the school district about three years ago.
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Um started at the business office, um central office, where I worked, where I worked as a bookkeeper for the Florence High School, and a position came open in federal programs and I was so excited.
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I've been there in federal programs for a little bit over two years now, and so it's been a great journey.
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I've learned a lot.
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Well, that's great, great.
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Do you have any special moments?
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Maybe you shared with students or faculty where you're like?
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This is why I got into all of this.
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Thank you for watching Spotlight for Success.
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I am Devin Pintozzi, Chief Operating Officer of American Book Company.
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We are located here in our headquarters in Woodstock, Georgia.
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All of our materials are printed in USA.
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We have course books, e-books and online testing in grades K through 12 in mathematics, ELA, science and social studies.
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These materials are all designed to help students achieve higher scores on their state-specific high-stakes assessments.
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We guarantee score improvement.
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You can get free samples of our materials either in print or in electronic formats at abck12.com.
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We look forward to hearing from you.
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I don't see as many students.
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I see more of the faculty, especially from our EL teachers to our retired teachers.
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We do a lot more with the retired teachers and we've got four Title I schools.
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Now that the ESSER money is gone, we focus more with the Title I schools.
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Now that the ESSER money is gone, we focus more with the Title I schools.
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So I have enjoyed just the interaction with those teachers and just the staff.
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That's wonderful.
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And do you have anything else you'd like to share with the federal programs community here in Alabama?
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Yes, I'd just like to say just continue to support the federal programs, anything that you can do as far as the community is concerned and our kids and that's one reason why we are here is to make sure that our kids excel and excel to a level that everyone has the same opportunity.
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Oh, that's wonderful, Mia Phillips.
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Once again.
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Thank, that's wonderful, Mia Phillips Once again.
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Thank you so much, mia.
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Phillips.
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Thank you for inviting me.
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Mia Phillips is a federal education content specialist and bookkeeper secretary associated with Montgomery Public Schools.
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Thank you so much for joining us today.
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Thank you.
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