Voices United in Education
Episodes
Ep 189 | There is a new place for 6th graders!
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textNot all students are ready for middle school. Christine Baker is the Principal of West Pensacola Elementary School, which is trying somethi...
Ep 188 | What if I can’t afford Dr. visits for my child?
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textWhat kinds of services are offered through Healthy Kids Escambia? Even the most basic needs can be critical for growing students, but for m...
Ep 187 | Success Academy: Where students rebound!
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textWhat happens when a student falls behind? Dawn Gibbs is the principal at Success Academy, where her and her team are helping students catch...
Ep 186 | AI – Supporting our Kids to be more human
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textIs your child using a companion bot? How can you help your child navigate the promise and risks of technology? Curiosity is a good place to...
Ep 185 | The REAL trick to get your kids to read
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textDo you ever wish your kid would put their phone down? How do you get them to improve their reading stamina & comprehension? Anne MacDon...
Ep 184 | Myth busting with the PTA
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textDo you have a child or grandchild in our public schools? Are you a member of the PTA? Hear what the President and Vice President of the Esc...
Ep 183 | Where do you turn if your child has cancer?
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDid you know 50 families in the Panhandle face this question every year? Jessica Siderio is the Rally Foundation Development Manager and...
Ep 182 | Vaping: Giving students a second chance
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDoes your child vape? How would being expelled change their educational trajectory? During the 2022-2024 school years, over 450 students...
Ep 181 | From F to Honor Roll: the SOAR Academy story
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textFor students who struggle in school, something and someone special is accelerating them toward their diploma and career opportunities. M...
Ep 180 | Social Media: Holding big tech accountable
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIs social media designed to be addictive? Why are multiple lawsuits seeking damages for the damage it is causing to our kids? Emmie Paul...
Ep 179 | Special Olympics: Passing the torch & uniting us
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDid you know that Pensacola has hosted a Special Olympics event for the last 20 years? Do you know what school continues to pass the tor...
Ep 178 | Public education: Funding the future!
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhy do our public schools need a foundation? Don’t taxes fund our public schools? Jo McArthur, Executive Director of the Escambia Coun...
Ep 177 | FREE hands-on science labs on SATURDAY!
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWho would pair Saturdays with science? Who is using Saturdays to spark young minds in Pensacola? Heath Parr is the STEM teacher at Brown...
Ep 176 | CyberCoast: Want an IT job? (OR IT in Pensacola: What’s possible?)
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhere do you look for IT jobs in Pensacola? What’s the difference between IT education at George Stone vs a four year University?Snyde...
Ep 175 | K-8 together: benefits, concerns & parent feedback
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIs combining elementary & middle school a good idea? What does this look like logistically?Dr. Michael Roberts, Director of Middle S...
Ep 174 | After graduation, what’s next for students with disabilities?
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textHow do you support your child’s transition into adulthood? How early should you start thinking about that?For parents of students with...
Ep 173 | The Latin legacy effect!
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhy Latin club? What does a Latin club competition look like? What unconventional methods are working for students?Dr. Dana Boddy is the...
Ep 172 | Emerald waters = big green careers for boat techs!
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textHow can six different courses be taught within one program? What does computer technology have to do with boats? What benefits are stude...
Ep 171 | AI: Classroom time saver or distraction?
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textHow 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 Walla...
Ep 170 | Pace Girls: Bringing back their spark!
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat are the magic ingredients that make behavior program benefits last? What would cause a 13-year-old girl to give up on life?Laurie R...
Ep 169 | How is orchestra the gift that keeps giving?
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIs music critical to education? What impact does orchestra have on academic performance? What influence have string musicians in pop cul...
Ep 168 | More than YouTube? New Media Academy
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textBryan Dawson is the digital media teacher at Pine Forest High School. In this episode, he shares how the New Media Academy is helping ki...
Ep 167 | KIDS ONLY Blue Angels Air Show?!
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMonica Willis is the District Military Liaison for ECPS and Bruce Cummins is the Pensacola Public Affairs Officer for NAS Pensacola. In ...
Ep 166 | An Art Academy for Autism?
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textCaitlin Rhea, Curator of Education and Public Programs for the Pensacola Museum of Art, shares how this free monthly art program for chi...
Ep 165 | Elementary to Middle School: Making it easier?
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTara Palasciano is the principal of Bailey Middle School and Amy Roby is the principal of Hellen Caro Elementary School. In this episode...
Ep 164 | Aircraft Maintenance: Shortening the learning curve
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textBill Davis is the Aviation Maintenance Technology Coordinator at George Stone Technical College. In this episode, he shares how a specia...
Ep 163 | Careers in Health: Find your calling
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textNancy Barger is the Pre-Nursing Instructor in the Health Science Academy at Booker T Washington and the 2025-2026 High School Career Aca...
Ep 162 | Is Pensacola a premier dive location?
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMatt MacGregor, Marine Science Teacher at West Florida High School, shares how a group of his students are designing Pensacola’s lates...
Ep 161 | What’s the 411 on 911 jobs?
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textLee Gilreath is the Criminal Justice Academy Instructor at West Florida High School. In this episode, he brags on his students, tells st...
Ep 160 | Canvas: Updates, implementation & incoming features
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJenn Montoya is the Learning Management Coordinator for Escambia County Public Schools. In this episode, she shares how one learning man...
Ep 159 | What's your child's learning style?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textGloria Cane is the Owner and Executive Director of Sylvan Learning Center for Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach. In this episode, she shar...
Ep 158 | Back to school blues? Feelings, friends & communication
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textPhedra Smith is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and owner of Greenhouse Counseling in Pensacola, specializing in children and familie...
Ep 157 | Enabling disabled students in our community
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textLisa Bloodworth, Director at Global Connections to Employment, and Pam Cebula, Escambia County Public Schools Program Specialist, share ...
Ep 156 | The future of media: Meet the interns!
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textClass of 2025 graduates, Bethany Gurley from Pine Forest High School New Media Academy and Mekayla Leonard from West Florida High School...
Ep 155 | Current students, future leaders? FBLA
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJacob Hill, IB Business Management teacher at Pensacola High School, is not only seeing the future, he’s helping build it. In this epi...
Ep 154 | Love Nuggets: Insights from a top teacher
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, you'll quickly understand why Kelly Reed is the Escambia County Public Schools 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year. A ki...
Ep 153 | Welding: Sparking young minds
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJoseph Moss is the Welding Instructor at Pensacola High School. In this episode, he shares his journey out of generational poverty and i...
Ep 152 | Auto Shop is Back?! New & improved
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textSteve Harrell, Workforce Education Director at Escambia County Public Schools, shares how the new Automotive Technology Academy is openi...
Ep 151 | Dual Enrollment: Is it college and career hacking?
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textHolly Busse, Escambia County Public Schools Counselor Specialist, and Lesa Morgan, Director of High Schools, talk about dual enrollment,...
Ep 150 | Workforce Ed: What if a student hosted our podcast?
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMeet Bethany Gurley, a senior in the New Media Academy at Pine Forest High School and outstanding student intern with ECPS’s Communica...
Ep 149 | Driver's Ed: More than hands at ten & two
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDr. Charmain Sutherland, Escambia County Public Schools Specialist for PE, Health, Wellness and Driver Education and Mark Humphreys, Dri...
Ep 148 | Affordable aftercare & meaningful connections
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textAngela Stephens, Youth and Family Services Director for the YMCA of Northwest Florida, shares how a unique partnership with the Vickery ...
Ep 147 | What is skateboarding teaching kids?
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textSean Fell, owner of Waterboyz Surf & Skate Shop, shares what kids are learn from skateboarding & why he chose collaboration over...
Ep 146 | Is mentorship the best legacy?
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode, Sally Lee rejoins our podcast to celebrate the final chapter of her 25-year career in student mentorship and shares how...
Ep 145 | Girl's weightlifting: Building strong bodies & confidence
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textAlicia Gifford is the girls weightlifting coach at Escambia High School, helping students build strength of mind, body & character. ...
Ep 144 | Aviation Academy: The sky is the limit
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMark Raab is the Aviation Academy Instructor at Booker T Washington High School, providing students with hands-on experience in an actua...
Ep 143 | Inspiring kids to eat their veggies
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textGreg Miller is the Farm Garden Playground Consultant at Picked at Perfection Urban Farm, working with our local schools to provide not j...
Ep 142 | Introducing: Accelerate your performance, a Studer Education Podcast
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIt's swap week! Join us as we cross-promote another local podcast: Accelerate Your Performance is hosted by Dr. Janet Pilcher, Foun...
Ep 141 | 4H: It's not what you think
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textHaylee Linam is the 4H Youth Development Agent for Escambia County. In this episode, Haylee does some myth busting about 4H and shares h...
Ep 140 | Mock Trial: More than a trial run at a law career
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textLisette Guttery, Instructional Coach at Pensacola High School and Stephanie White, attorney and Mock Trial coach, share how the communit...
Ep 139 | Are you ready for summer camp?
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textBrittany Hughes is the Marketing and Outreach Coordinator for Play Pensacola Parks & Recreation. In this episode, she debunks what y...
Ep 138 | The Muskogee people: bringing oral history to the classroom
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textChief Dan Sky-Horse Helms of the Santa Rosa Creek Muskogee Tribe illuminates the oral history of the Native First People of the Panhandl...
Ep 137 | Classrooms & military: mutual support?
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMonica Willis, Escambia County Public Schools Military Liaison, and Command Master Chief Jim Wallace at Naval Air Station Pensacola, sha...
Ep 136 | Vaping: Are our kids at risk?
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDr. Okan Elidemir is the Chief of Pulmonology at Nemours Children’s Health. In this episode, he shares cases of vaping injury, how add...
Ep 135 | Snowball Effect: Student success story (RECAST)
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThis is one of our most popular episodes, so we wanted to recast it! West Florida High School graduates and twin brothers, Jamal and Jam...
Ep 134 | Are museums really for everyone?
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWendi Davis, Visitor Experience Manager at the UWF Historic Trust, shares how the downtown Children's Museum acts as a keeper of co...
Ep 133 | Pensacola has an archery park?
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTyler Newton is the President of the Panhandle Bowhunters and Archery Association. In this episode, Tyler talks about the Klondike Arche...
Ep 132 | Leadership & data: an unlikely power couple
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textRobin Largue served as a coach and consultant for Studer Education, coaching superintendents, school boards & educational executive ...
Ep 131 | Pensacola Mess Hall: What happens IF?
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDr. Megan Pratt is the Executive Director and Nicole Dickson is the Program Presenter at the Pensacola MESS Hall. In this episode, they ...
Ep 130 | How to avoid FASFA paperwork pitfalls
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMichael Johnston, Associate Vice President of Institutional Research and Enterprise, and Angelica Coonts, Assistant Director of Financia...
Ep 129 | What makes Global Learning Academy SO special?
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textLalla Pierce is the principal at Global Learning Academy and Lauren Green is the social services navigator at Children's Home Socie...
Ep 128 | Foreign Exchange Teachers?
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textCaroline Gray is the ECPS employee services coordinator with the TPG Cultural Exchange. Johndel Aduka is one of the TPG charter members ...
Ep 127 | What’s the impact of social media on kids’ brains?
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDr. Ben Renfroe is a neurologist at the Child Neurology Center of Northwest Florida who is passionate about setting kids up for successf...
Ep 126 | Is art more than an elective?
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textAlicia Gifford is 1 of 13 people in the world selected for the prestigious Art 21 Educator Program and the first from Florida. She share...
Ep 125 | Kids are worrying more! Now what?
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMelanie Fryou is the pediatric medical social worker at Nemours Children's Health and Erica Mack is a registered clinical social wo...
Ep 124 | Do clothes make the student?
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textCoach Marquette Oliver is the SOAR academy director and an assistant football coach at Pine Forest High School where he also played and ...
Ep 123 | NJROTC in 8th grade?
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDr. Heather Schultz, the assistant principal at Workman Middle School and Master Chief John Spaulding, the Naval Science instructor at B...
Ep 122 | Achieve Escambia: The resource concierge?
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textRuthie Noel is the Executive Director of Achieve Escambia. In this episode she explains the unique role this organization plays in the c...
Ep 121 | School Board: A calling to serve
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textPatty Hightower is the longest serving school board member in Escambia County history, representing District 4 for 20 years. She will al...
Ep 120 | Bullying: How are schools handling it?
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textKerri Coots, Director of Alternative Education, answers real parent questions about bullying in schools. You'll hear her share stor...
Ep 119 | Sensory spaces: More than a playground?
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textCathy Rudd is the Principal and Lindsay Sullivan is the Occupational Therapist at Westgate, an Escambia County Public School for student...
Ep 118 | Got a teacher's heart?
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWant to know why education is a great career path? Bill Slayton shares his teacher's heart and incredible perspective after a caree...
Ep 117 | Is my child's development delayed?
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIt’s hard to know the important milestones your child might be missing. Teresa Zwierzchowski, the Marketing and Communications Special...
Ep 116 | What does the half-cent sales tax pay for?
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textKeith Leonard, Escambia County Public Schools Superintendent, talks about the history behind the half-cent sales, how it's been spe...
Ep 115 | NIL: What's in it for the students?
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textEscambia County Public Schools Athletic Director Casey Thiele shares why the change in the Name Image Likeness (NIL) rules are important...
Ep 114 | What schools are good here?
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDenny Wilson is the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for Escambia County Public Schools and he isn't afraid t...
Ep 113 | From Tate High to Officer of the Year
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTate High graduate, Adam Norre, who knew from a young age that he wanted to be in law enforcement. What he didn’t know is that just 3 ...
Ep 112 | Financial literacy: Setting up kids for stable futures
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJennifer Causey is a social studies teacher at Pine Forest High School whose econ class includes a mock investing challenge. She is work...
Ep 111 | Coming together with Sue Straughn
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textSue Straughn may be the most recognizable news anchor in Pensacola, but she has also been an outstanding advocate for children and educa...
Ep 110 | From inmate to outreach: Building up at-risk youth
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textHassan Hills is the founder and Director of Youths Left Behind, a nonprofit working to build up at-risk kids in Escambia County. In this...
Ep 109 | What's the best way to talk with your kids about vaping?
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textJasmine Simms is a Tobacco Prevention Specialist for Tobacco Free Florida. In this episode, she shares vaping myths, why you may not rec...
Ep 108 | Learning to fail: Critical skill for success?
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThis trio of guests are leveraging a school elective that turns creative problem solving into a competition. Melissa Hughes, Cheri Stoke...
Ep 107 | How is one couple changing our schools?
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textDr. Kimberly Thomas and Mr. Derrick Thomas are both principals at Escambia County Public Schools on the rise—C.A Weis Elementary Schoo...
Ep 106 | Pilots in training: Landing the job
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textAccording to Boeing, the pilot shortage means that over the next 20 years, we will need 200K new pilots in the US alone. Escambia High S...
Ep 105 | Should we train kids to save lives?
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA House Bill passed in 2021 requires all public school students receive basic first aid training, including CPR. Although simply watchin...
Ep 104 | Can art inspire learning?
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textKenneth Jordan II is an award-winning artist, graduate of WFHS and alumni of McArthur Elementary School who is lending his brilliance ba...
Ep 103 | Critical thinking: Can it be taught?
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTheory of knowledge asks International Baccalaureate students, "How do you know what you know?" Dylan Patterson and Audrey Fos...
Ep 102 | How do you fix that? Not Your Grandfather’s Shop Class
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textChad Cherry is the Building Construction teacher at Northview High School. In this episode, he shares how the building technologies acad...
Ep 101 | Why Stuff the Bus?
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a text45% of Escambia County households are below the ALICE threshold - ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income, Constrained, Employed. This sq...
Ep 100 | Teachers Rock (LITERALLY)!
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWest Florida High’s Juniors went from shock to awe when they found out their AP English teacher is in a band! Joey Truncale is the lea...
Ep 99 | Costello’s: Serving Up Sandwiches & Setting Up for Success
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textChristie Costello owns Costello’s Butcher Shop & Deli in Pensacola. In this episode she shares not about what she’s selling, but...
Ep 98 | Are Your Girls Prepared?
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textScottlin Williams is a meteorologist and the program manager for HERicane Escambia, a free summer camp that is a positive force for girl...
Ep 97 | Who is the 2025 Principal of the Year?
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textEsi Shannon never expected to be Principal of the Year, but she always expected to be a teacher. In this episode, she shares the story o...
Ep 96 | Smart & Safe Internet Use
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textInformation is moving at the speed of technology and our kids are learning it all, but how do we keep them safe? Brian Johnson is the In...
Ep 95 | Should Every Parent Worry About Fentanyl?
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn 2022, Stephanie Shepard’s son died from a fentanyl overdose. Unfortunately, this is not unusual, as Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa ...
Ep 94 | Can Kids Learn to Be Leaders?
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIf kids could learn leadership skills, why would it matter? Amy McCrory and Shonna Gilmore have firsthand experience with student leader...
Ep 93 | Is Cheerleading a Sport?
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMorgan White is the special needs teacher & cheer coach at Tate Highschool. In this episode she shares how she has taken the Aggies ...
Ep 92 | Who is the 2025 Teacher of the Year?
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe all fondly remember that teacher who made a positive impact on us during our formative years. For many at Pine Meadow, I’ts 4th gra...
Ep 91 | Wheelchair Accessible Gym?
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhere can kids with physical disabilities go to exercise both their mindset and their bodies? Tara Blackwell was a softball superstar at...
Ep 90 | An Apprenticeship that Pays?
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIt’s safe to say there are two things everyone likes: options and money. So how do you help your kid have both after they graduate fro...