Episodes

174
Dec. 2, 2025

Ep 174 | After graduation, what’s next for students with disabilities?

Send us Fan Mail How do you support your child’s transition into adulthood? How early should you start thinking about that? For parents of students with disabilities, these are tough questions. Pam Cebula is the ECPS Program Specialist, supporting parents through their child’s education and development into the early years of adulthood. Stacey Shelnut is the ECPS Resource Teacher for pre-K through adults and a parent of a child with a disability. In this episode, these educators share details...
173
Nov. 25, 2025

Ep 173 | The Latin legacy effect!

Send us Fan Mail Why Latin club? What does a Latin club competition look like? What unconventional methods are working for students? Dr. Dana Boddy is the Principal of Escambia High School and Amy Hornick is the Latin teacher as well as the record holder for longest time taught at the school – 36 years! In this episode, they share how Latin club is not just a competitive outlet, but gives students a competitive & social edge. Guests: Amy Hornick & Dana Boddy, EdD Vote for Voices Unite...
172
Nov. 18, 2025

Ep 172 | Emerald waters = big green careers for boat techs!

Send us Fan Mail How can six different courses be taught within one program? What does computer technology have to do with boats? What benefits are students graduating with? Stefan Schmitt is the marine service technology instructor at George Stone Technical College, recognized by Yamaha as the top US school for student job placement. He is also the host of BoatSmart on NewRadio Pensacola. In this episode, he gives us an insider look into the program, students and industry. Guest: Stefan Schm...
171
Nov. 11, 2025

Ep 171 | AI: Classroom time saver or distraction?

Send us Fan Mail How are teachers using AI to save time in and out of the classroom? How do they mitigate cheating? Can AI make us MORE human? Sarah Wallace is a World History, AP Human Geography and AP World History teacher and Gary Moore is a Geometry & Statistics teacher at West Florida High School. Two very different subjects, but two very similar teachers in the ways they use AI tools to innovate lesson plans and instructional time. In this episode, they share how AI is impacting the...
170
Nov. 4, 2025

Ep 170 | Pace Girls: Bringing back their spark!

Send us Fan Mail What are the magic ingredients that make behavior program benefits last? What would cause a 13-year-old girl to give up on life? Laurie Rodgers is the Executive Director of the Pace Center for Girls. In this episode, she shares the stories of the girls who got their spark back & how this holistic program for girls works when other interventions haven’t. Guest: Laurie Rodgers https://www.pacecenter.org/ Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in In...
169
Oct. 28, 2025

Ep 169 | How is orchestra the gift that keeps giving?

Send us Fan Mail Is music critical to education? What impact does orchestra have on academic performance? What influence have string musicians in pop culture had on student engagement? Cathy McConnell is the Director of Orchestras for Ransom Middle School and Tate High School. In this episode, she shares stories from her 29 years in music education including recent participation at Stringfest 2025 and explains how orchestra is a path to higher academic performance, scholarships and life skill...
168
Oct. 21, 2025

Ep 168 | More than YouTube? New Media Academy

Send us Fan Mail Bryan Dawson is the digital media teacher at Pine Forest High School. In this episode, he shares how the New Media Academy is helping kids develop skills deeper than internet fame and opening them up to a range of careers options with good income potential. Guest: Bryan Dawson https://www.bls.gov/ 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...
167
Oct. 14, 2025

Ep 167 | KIDS ONLY Blue Angels Air Show?!

Send us Fan Mail Monica Willis is the District Military Liaison for ECPS and Bruce Cummins is the Pensacola Public Affairs Officer for NAS Pensacola. In this episode, they are going to share why they have added a third day, STEAM Day, to the annual Blue Angels Homecoming Show, why it’s just for kids, how it’s different from the public shows & how it connects with classroom learning standards to not just educate, but inspire. Guests: Monica Willis & Bruce Cummins https://www.face...
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...