Episodes
166
Oct. 7, 2025
Ep 166 | An Art Academy for Autism?
Send us Fan Mail Caitlin Rhea, Curator of Education and Public Programs for the Pensacola Museum of Art, shares how this free monthly art program for children on the autism spectrum is benefiting everyone. Guest: Caitlin Rhea https://pensacolamuseum.org/learn-engage/publicprograms/ Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/261185754425158 This helps connect local families with the resources they need & the stories that ...
165
Sept. 30, 2025
Ep 165 | Elementary to Middle School: Making it easier?
Send us Fan Mail Tara Palasciano is the principal of Bailey Middle School and Amy Roby is the principal of Hellen Caro Elementary School. In this episode, they talk about working together to turn the age-old apprehension with moving to middle school into an opportunity, sharing what this new collaboration looks like and how it could benefit the entire community. Guests: Tara Palasciano & Amy Roby https://www.escambiaschools.org/jbms | https://www.escambiaschools.org/hces Vote for Vo...
164
Sept. 23, 2025
Ep 164 | Aircraft Maintenance: Shortening the learning curve
Send us Fan Mail Bill Davis is the Aviation Maintenance Technology Coordinator at George Stone Technical College. In this episode, he shares how a special collaboration with King Aero has delivered a cutaway version of a real turbine engine into the classroom for hands-on learning, streamlining instruction and changing lives. Guest: Bill Davis https://www.escambiaschools.org/Page/6125 Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://for...
163
Sept. 16, 2025
Ep 163 | Careers in Health: Find your calling
Send us Fan Mail Nancy Barger is the Pre-Nursing Instructor in the Health Science Academy at Booker T Washington and the 2025-2026 High School Career Academy Teacher of the Year. In this episode, she shares her journey of nursing to education and how the Health Science Academy may be a set up for success for both students and the community. Guests: Nancy Barger Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/2611857544...
162
Sept. 9, 2025
Ep 162 | Is Pensacola a premier dive location?
Send us Fan Mail Matt MacGregor, Marine Science Teacher at West Florida High School, shares how a group of his students are designing Pensacola’s latest reef through the new Artificial Reefs Curriculum. You’ll hear how this not only gives student education a boost, but our local economy as well. Guests: Matt MacGregor https://ccaflorida.org/ | http://alturl.com/6qf8q Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/2611...
161
Sept. 2, 2025
Ep 161 | What’s the 411 on 911 jobs?
Send us Fan Mail Lee Gilreath is the Criminal Justice Academy Instructor at West Florida High School. In this episode, he brags on his students, tells stories from his experience as a Miami cop and shares how this academy is facilitating excellence for future 911 dispatchers and beyond. Guest: Lee Gilreath Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/261185754425158 This helps connect local families with the resourc...
160
Aug. 26, 2025
Ep 160 | Canvas: Updates, implementation & incoming features
Send us Fan Mail Jenn Montoya is the Learning Management Coordinator for Escambia County Public Schools. In this episode, she shares how one learning management app has officially replaced all the others, making keeping up with your child’s classroom assignments & deadlines seamless. Guest: Jen Montoya canvas@ecsdfl.us | https://escambia.instructure.com/courses/63591/pages/ecps-canvas-login-portal | https://www.khanacademy.org/ Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2...
159
Aug. 19, 2025
Ep 159 | What's your child's learning style?
Send us Fan Mail Gloria Cane is the Owner and Executive Director of Sylvan Learning Center for Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach. In this episode, she shares how discovering your child’s learning style can activate and accelerate their academic performance, right now, and build confidence for life. She also deals out practical hacks for parents and scholarship opportunities. Guest: Gloria Cane https://www.sylvanlearning.com/locations/us/fl/pensacola-tutoring/pensacola/ | http://alturl.com/p2k8i...
158
Aug. 12, 2025
Ep 158 | Back to school blues? Feelings, friends & communication
Send us Fan Mail Phedra Smith is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and owner of Greenhouse Counseling in Pensacola, specializing in children and families. In this episode, she shares insights in the areas of feelings, friends and communication to make the back-to-school transition smoother. Guest: Phedra Smith https://www.ghcpensacola.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/greenhouse_counseling/ | https://www.facebook.com/ghousecounseling | Thumb Ball https://a.co/d/4uocdcj | Wheel of Feelings htt...
157
Aug. 5, 2025
Ep 157 | Enabling disabled students in our community
Send us Fan Mail Lisa Bloodworth, Director at Global Connections to Employment, and Pam Cebula, Escambia County Public Schools Program Specialist, share how Project Search is changing the employment landscape for young adults with disabilities in the areas of availability, access and perception. They are taking hard topics and making them easy through open and direct conversations, like the one we had in this episode. Guests: Lisa Bloodworth https://gce.org/ | Pam Cebula https://www.escambias...
156
July 29, 2025
Ep 156 | The future of media: Meet the interns!
Send us Fan Mail Class of 2025 graduates, Bethany Gurley from Pine Forest High School New Media Academy and Mekayla Leonard from West Florida High School Multimedia Academy were the first videographer and graphic design interns for a newly formed workforce education program with Escambia County Public Schools Office of Communications. In this episode, they share what this internship taught them that the classroom couldn’t, their proudest moments and what’s next. Guests: Bethany Gurley & M...
155
July 22, 2025
Ep 155 | Current students, future leaders? FBLA
Send us Fan Mail Jacob Hill, IB Business Management teacher at Pensacola High School, is not only seeing the future, he’s helping build it. In this episode, he shares how Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is giving high school students real experiences that translate into confidence, connections and leadership. Learn how students in middle school are getting the same opportunities. Guest: Jacob Hill https://www.instagram.com/pensacolahigh.fbla/ | https://www.facebook.com/pensacolaib&n...
154
July 15, 2025
Ep 154 | Love Nuggets: Insights from a top teacher
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, you'll quickly understand why Kelly Reed is the Escambia County Public Schools 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year. A kindergarten teacher at Global Learning Academy, she shares her journey to becoming a teacher, some special stories about her little “love nuggets,” as she calls her students, and surprising tips for parents. Guest: Kelly Reed Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/2...
153
July 8, 2025
Ep 153 | Welding: Sparking young minds
Send us Fan Mail Joseph Moss is the Welding Instructor at Pensacola High School. In this episode, he shares his journey out of generational poverty and into welding & how that led him to becoming the cornerstone of the PHS welding program. Hear how one arc and one weld are building multiple opportunities for his students. Guest: Joseph Moss https://www.escambiaschools.org/Page/4274 Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://f...
152
July 1, 2025
Ep 152 | Auto Shop is Back?! New & improved
Send us Fan Mail Steve Harrell, Workforce Education Director at Escambia County Public Schools, shares how the new Automotive Technology Academy is opening the door to more career opportunities for our students and is bringing needed ASC certified technicians to our community. Guest: Steve Harrell https://www.escambiaschools.org/career Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/261185754425158 This helps con...
151
June 24, 2025
Ep 151 | Dual Enrollment: Is it college and career hacking?
Send us Fan Mail Holly Busse, Escambia County Public Schools Counselor Specialist, and Lesa Morgan, Director of High Schools, talk about dual enrollment, student and parent readiness, what to expect and how the free class credits for both college and workforce, focus kids. Guests: Holly Busse & Lesa Morgan https://www.escambiaschools.org/Page/4437 Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/261185754425158 This...
150
June 17, 2025
Ep 150 | Workforce Ed: What if a student hosted our podcast?
Send us Fan Mail Meet Bethany Gurley, a senior in the New Media Academy at Pine Forest High School and outstanding student intern with ECPS’s Communications Office. In this special episode, Meredith Hackwith Edwards becomes the guest, sharing insights into her world and our podcast while Ms. Bethany gets hand-on, real-world experience in podcasting—not only as a host—but through interviewing a professional podcaster and the host of our Voices United in Education podcast. Guest host: Bethany G...
149
June 10, 2025
Ep 149 | Driver's Ed: More than hands at ten & two
Send us Fan Mail Dr. Charmain Sutherland, Escambia County Public Schools Specialist for PE, Health, Wellness and Driver Education and Mark Humphreys, Driver Education Instructor at Escambia County Public Schools, share what parents need to know about the free Driver’s Ed program and how the program builds confidence and teaches kids to be better decision makers behind the wheel. Guests: Charmain Sutherland & Mark Humphreys https://www.escambiaschools.org/drivereducation Vote for Voi...
148
June 3, 2025
Ep 148 | Affordable aftercare & meaningful connections
Send us Fan Mail Angela Stephens, Youth and Family Services Director for the YMCA of Northwest Florida, shares how a unique partnership with the Vickery Community Center in Pensacola is not only giving parents After School Care options at significantly reduced costs, but truly uniting for the success of children and families in Escambia County. Guest: Angela Stephens https://www.ymcanwfl.org/afterschool-care Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's ...
147
May 27, 2025
Ep 147 | What is skateboarding teaching kids?
Send us Fan Mail Sean Fell, owner of Waterboyz Surf & Skate Shop, shares what kids are learn from skateboarding & why he chose collaboration over competition when the downtown skate park was built. You’ll also hear how his skate park, nonprofit & summer camps bring together kids and community all year long. Guest: Sean Fell https://waterboyz.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/waterboyzsurfandskate | https://www.instagram.com/waterboyz/ Vote for Voices United in Education ...
146
May 20, 2025
Ep 146 | Is mentorship the best legacy?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Sally Lee rejoins our podcast to celebrate the final chapter of her 25-year career in student mentorship and shares how it’s not what you know, but what you can show. As the Student Services Coordinator for Take Stock in Children, she reflects on her life, stories of impact from the mentorship program and a legacy filled with Escambia County children who attended and graduated from college through the support of local mentors and free 4-year scholarships. Gue...
145
May 13, 2025
Ep 145 | Girl's weightlifting: Building strong bodies & confidence
Send us Fan Mail Alicia Gifford is the girls weightlifting coach at Escambia High School, helping students build strength of mind, body & character. In this episode, she debunks weightlifting myths, talks about the value of being a female coach, and shares how the students are building confidence. Guest: Alicia Gifford Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/261185754425158 This helps connect local families...
144
May 6, 2025
Ep 144 | Aviation Academy: The sky is the limit
Send us Fan Mail Mark Raab is the Aviation Academy Instructor at Booker T Washington High School, providing students with hands-on experience in an actual hangar with an aircraft and a wide range of future possibilities. In this episode, he shares what parents need to know about this 4 year academy and how it guides students toward a diploma, career certification, college scholarships and a strong sense of direction. Guest: Mark Raab https://www.escambiaschools.org/Page/4351 Vote for Vo...
143
April 29, 2025
Ep 143 | Inspiring kids to eat their veggies
Send us Fan Mail Greg Miller is the Farm Garden Playground Consultant at Picked at Perfection Urban Farm, working with our local schools to provide not just on-site pocket gardens or mini farms, but immersive teaching experiences to help kids reconnect with their food. In this episode, Greg shares how this unique partnership is reinforcing their learning and inspiring kids to eat what they plant, grow, harvest and prepare. Guest: Greg Miller https://www.pickedatperfection.com/ | https://www.f...