Episodes

Send us Fan Mail College is an opportunity to learn and grow. You don't have to have it all figured out before you enroll, but there are things you need to know to prepare for college. Layla Zandi-Karimi, a UWF admissions counselor and Pensacola local, helps create a path for parents and students by sharing 5 mistakes to avoid. Guest: Layla Zandi-Karimi Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/26118575442...

Send us Fan Mail As a parent, you want the best for your kid. And you worry – is what I’m doing enough? Is this school enough? in this episode, a student and faculty member have unique stories to tell. Kathryn Trohn is the youngest of 15 children and the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants. Dr. Colleen Boyett is the IB Diploma Program Coordinator at PHS and has taught a number of Kathryn’s siblings. Hear how the IB program is academically rigorous and not just accessible to gifted students, but...

Send us Fan Mail Tristan Harris is the coach for Escambia county’s Allstar Academic Team, a place where kids with drive & book smarts can gain a sense of community & competition. She proudly and passionately nerds out about how Escambia County students are winning by working together and scoring so much more than points as she explains how this trivia style tournament team is making a difference for students in Escambia County. Guest: Tristan Harris Vote for Voices United in Education...

Send us Fan Mail Ever try working all day when you haven't eaten anything? Hunger is one of a number of factors that can make learning difficult for students. In this episode on the ECSD Navigator Program, we discuss how Escambia County Public Schools are working with students and their families to navigate these challenges. Guests: Jennifer Montoya & Lindsay Cannon Children’s Home Society of Florida Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on th...

Send us Fan Mail Avoiding college debt is key to setting up students for a strong start in adulthood, but how do you avoid student loans when you can barely make ends meet? The County Coordinator of Take Stock in Children, Sally Lee, shares the surprisingly simple way Escambia County students can qualify for free college scholarships and guidance from mentors as early as the seventh grade. She shares how a bright future can impact the student, the school and the community. Vote for Voices Uni...

Send us Fan Mail If you’re a busy working parent, you’re a busy worrying parent, especially when it comes to after school care. Do you give your child a key to the house with instructions to do their chores & finish their homework? Or do you send them to aftercare? Will they be safe? Will they make friends? Robin Heller is the founder & executive director Seastars Aquatics, a USA Swimming Registered team that provides individualized attention as part of a structured competitive swim t...

Send us Fan Mail Are your kids getting too much screen time? Principal Lalla Pierce & Technology Coordinator, Kevin McNally from Global Learning Academy, share how students at Escambia County Public Schools in partnership with Common Sense Media are learning how to vet information, be a good digital citizen and when to walk away from technology. Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/261185754425158 This helps c...

Send us Fan Mail Post high school education can be expensive and out of reach for many families. Holly Busse explains how the Bright Futures Scholarship is helping unlock a path to college or vocational education, up to five years after graduation & takes just 15 minutes to apply for. Guest: Holly Busse Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/261185754425158 ...

Send us Fan Mail Who will be the leaders of tomorrow? Debra Phillips is teaching the seven habits of highly effective people to put our students on the right path. Guest: Debra Phillips, Leader in Me Program 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 get missed. Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://...

Send us Fan Mail Where do new teachers turn for help and guidance? At Escambia County Public Schools, savvy and seasoned teachers serve as a Sherpa and guide new teachers for the entire year. Learn more about this transformation program, called START, on this week's podcast episode. Guest: Caroline Gray 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 n...

Send us Fan Mail From rotations to ride-a-longs, this is as real as it gets. Instructor Terry Thomas and graduate Dakota Ward openly discuss the rigors and rewards of the Critical Care & Emergency Medicine Academy at West Florida High School. Guest: Terry Thomas & Dakota Ward 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 get m...

Send us Fan Mail When it comes to the success of every student, we're all in. That means taking every step possible to keep our kids safe at school. Director of Protection Services, Kyle Kinser, covers what all that means. You’ll hear how the new Centegix system & the Aaron Feiss guardian program cover use technology & humanity to keep our kids safe. Guest: Kyle Kinser Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/...

Send us Fan Mail It seems like there’s a new app every week that poses a potential trafficking threat to our digital savvy kids. In this episode, Stacey Kostevicki, the Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Kids House shares practical tips to keep kids safe & how prevention education can unite parents, teachers & community members to safeguard our kids. Guests: Stacey Kostevicki Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://fo...

Send us Fan Mail For many students with an IEP, their full potential can only be accessed outside of the traditional school framework. Donna Perry is the program specialist & Dr. Jared Stanly is the administrator on special assignment at Hope Horizon, a center school that works with students & families individually to find holistic solutions. In this episode they share what students are best served at Hope Horizon & the services they provide. Guests: Donna Perry & Dr. Jared St...

Send us Fan Mail Getting kids to read is a challenge every parent & teacher can relate to. How do you pry the screen out of their hands & get them to get interested? John Ham of Animal Tales shares how the animals from his live animal presentations has inspired students all over the county to read. Guests: John Ham 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 ...

Send us Fan Mail Summer break is a great time to pick up a book and grow as a reader. Michelle White shares how students are turning the page and starting a new chapter by not only preventing the Summer Slide, but gaining skills to lead forward. Guest: Michelle White, Summer Reading Program 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...

Send us Fan Mail Meet the Pensacola TikTok star who makes the wheels on the bus go round, Cor’Darius Jones. The kids are big fans of Escambia County School District's Mr. Bus Driver for good reasons. He shares his strategy on public school bus safety, how he saved a woman’s life and what’s next. Learn more on Facebook or TikTok. 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 fa...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wish you had a manual on how to be a parent? Tune into this week's episode on Parent University Pensacola to learn how parents, grandparents and others are getting the training they need to help traverse the public school system in Escambia County and their student's homework including subjects like new math. Guest: Michael O’Neal Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/261185754425158 This help...

Send us Fan Mail Jena Melancon, Founder and Executive Director of Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council is ushering in new perspectives for Escambia County students. In this episode she shares how the non-profit is facilitating communication & connection. Guest: Jena Melancon 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 get missed. L...

Send us Fan Mail Ever considered becoming a mentor to a child? Karen Kellams, a full-time executive and mom, and Natalie Stipkovich, a full-time college student, share why they did and the joy it has brought to them. Hear how being there for one hour every week has changed their lives and their mentees lives forever. Guests: Karen Kellams & Natalie Stipkovich, Big Brothers Big Sisters Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! ...

Send us Fan Mail Life is full of teaching moments and too often missed milestones as a result of poverty. Jennifer Collins, Principal at Sherwood Elementary talks about how the All Kid's Bike program teaches kindergarteners lasting life lessons—independence, balance, safety, compassion, resilience and success. You’ll also hear what it was like for Sherwood to be one of the two schools in Escambia county chosen by the foundation to receive a donation funded by the local branch of HDR Engineeri...

Send us Fan Mail West Florida High School graduates & twin brothers, Jamal & Jamari sharp are entrepreneurs, authors and philanthropists. But it wasn’t always this way. Jamal shares how the two went from problem students to success stories, why they decided to call their snoball business BAM & what it means for them to be Pensacola business owners. For these two, it's truly a snowball effect. Purchase Unleash your Inner Hero today. Guest: Jamal Sharp Vote for Voices United in Ed...

Send us Fan Mail Principal, Dr. Kimberly Thomas and Barbara Hayes, a Pensacola High School graduate and pediatrics nurse with Community Health Northwest Florida, share how the Health Ambassadors program in the community clinic at CA Weiss is empowering 3-5 graders. Outfitted in scrubs and lab coats, the program is inspiring a new generation of leaders and professions in the field of healthcare. Guests: Dr. Kimberly Thomas & Barbara Hayes Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcas...

Send us Fan Mail Escambia Children’s Trust is one of 13 unique government agencies that assign a portion of property taxes to local non-profits that support the needs of the community based on what the community says they need. In this episode, Executive Director, Tammy Greer shares results of the most recent needs assessment & how you can be heard. Guest: Tammy Greer Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotform.com/26118...