Episodes

Send us Fan Mail When it comes to our schools, we may hear ABOUT improvement initiatives, but we rarely get to hear the real account of how they play out. Deputy Superintendent Shena Payne & Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith give a peek inside the schools as they share the real stories of commitment & support from the real people who show up everyday. Guests: Dr. Tim Smith & Shenna Payne Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https:/...

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. Learn more about the Summer Reading Program today. Guest: Michelle White 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 re...

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. Learn more about the Leader in Me Program today. Guest: Debra Phillips 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 Count...

Send us Fan Mail C.A. Weis is proud to be the first elementary level community partnership school in the state of Florida. Learn how this one-stop-shop partnership that includes University of West Florida, Children’s Home Society, Community Health Northwest Florida and Escambia County School District, is unifying and strengthening our community. Guests: Dr Kimberly Thomas & Lisa Coleman Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! http...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Mrs. Jamiliya McBride, the 2023 Teacher of the Year for the Escambia County School District as she shares her heart and love to motivate and teach her students. She shares the unique way she stayed connected to her class during COVID quarantine how she will serve next with Capturing Kid's Hearts. Guest: Jamiliya McBride 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 ...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Escambia County’s Superintendent, Dr. Tim Smith! Learn what led him to Escambia County and how he is leading our public school system into the future. United in the success of every student, he is focused on closing the achievement gap. Guest: Dr. Tim Smith 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 th...

Send us Fan Mail What's the most important thing you can do in an hour this week? How about mentoring a child? Tune into this week's episode to learn how you can impact the life of a student and build a bond that will last a lifetime. Guest: Wanda Kotick 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...

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 ...

Send us Fan Mail How can we set our students up for success? In this episode, hear how Escambia County Public Schools are creating opportunities for middle school and high school students to learn and develop critical job skills, leading to fulfilling careers right here in Escambia County. Guest: Steven Harrell 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...

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. Learn more about Children’s Home Society of Florida or submit a Navigator Support Request. Guests: Jen Montoya & Lindsey Cannon Vote for Voices United in Education a...

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 hel...

Send us Fan Mail Over 17,000 backpacks. Over 500 children. Learn how our community is coming together for every student to be successful in school. Big hearts helping little stomachs with nutritional meals. Volunteers and partners united against food insecurity and hunger that makes learning hard. Learn more about Take Stock In Children by visiting their website. Guest: Tiffany Clark Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotf...

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. To learn more about Cor'Darius Jones, visit Facebook or TikTok. Guest: Cor'Darius Jones Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://form.jotfor...

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. Guests: Lalla Pierce & Kevin McNally Vote for Voices United in Education as "Best Podcast" 2026 in InWeekly's Best on the Coast! https://for...

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. Guest: Sally Lee V...

Send us Fan Mail Hear the positive stories in education that don’t make the news. You’ll hear uplifting stories of student, parent and teacher impact in Escambia County. Meredith Hackwith Edwards—a local and independent podcaster—interviews teachers, staff, parents, students, graduates, community mentors and members, so that we can become more united inside and outside the classroom to support the success of every student in Florida’s Escambia County Public Schools. Vote for Voices United in ...