Spotlight 4 Success | Breaking Barriers at AIDB | AETC 2025

7/29/2025

Family legacy meets professional mission in this heartfelt conversation with Marian Wilson, MIS Coordinator at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB). Recording from the Alabama Educational Technology Conference in Mobile, we explore the unique intersection of personal connection and educational technology that has shaped Wilson's remarkable 24-year career. Spotlight 4 Success: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

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Spotlight 4 Success | "How Sheberia Wolfe Does It All" | AETC 2025

7/28/2025

What does it take to earn two degrees simultaneously while teaching full-time? Sheberia Wolfe knows exactly what it requires: "late nights and early mornings" and the willingness to "sacrifice for what you love." Website: https://spotlight4success.com

Spotlight 4 Success | Excellence Happens When Schools Find the Right Tools | AETC 2025

7/10/2025

Discovering what truly works in education is invaluable for educators seeking to improve student outcomes. In this enlightening conversation with Tiffany Harris, Title I Coordinator at Scarborough Model Middle School in Mobile County, Alabama, we uncover a remarkable success story of educational transformation through strategic resource implementation. Website: spotlight4success.com

Spotlight 4 Success | Tech Evolution in the Classroom | AETC 2025

7/9/2025

What happens when a teacher transitions from having zero technology to making it their entire curriculum? Nikki Barnickel shares her remarkable 20-year journey through the educational landscape, revealing powerful insights about what truly matters in the classroom. Website: spotlight4success.com

Spotlight 4 Success | Turning Old Tech into New Opportunities | AETC 2025

7/9/2025

Ever wondered what happens to all those outdated iPads and MacBooks stacked in school storage rooms? Shayna Winstead reveals the surprising answer that's putting money back into education. Website: spotlight4success.com

Spotlight 4 Success | Connecting Through Technology | AETC 2025

7/9/2025

Ever wondered how technology bridges the silence for those who cannot speak? Melissa Pouncey takes us on a fascinating journey through the world of communication technology that's transforming lives every day. Recorded at the Alabama Educational Technology Conference, this episode introduces us to Melissa's work with PRC Saltillo, a company developing breakthrough solutions for nonverbal and minimally verbal individuals. With 15 years of experience as a speech therapist, Melissa shares powerful insights into the profound impact these technologies have: "If you spend your life as someone who can't communicate with others, you can't connect, and giving someone that technology develops these really cool connections in someone's life." Website: spotlight4success.com

Spotlight 4 Success | "Fashion Degree to Federal Funds" | AFP

6/4/2025

The unexpected paths that lead us to educational service often reveal themselves in surprising ways. Meet Mia Phillips, whose journey from fashion merchandising and business to becoming the Federal Programs Bookkeeper Director for Florence City Schools demonstrates how diverse backgrounds strengthen our education system. Speaking from the Federal Programs Conference in Montgomery, Mia shares valuable insights into how school districts are adapting to the post-ESSER funding landscape. Spotlight 4 Success: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "The 28-Year Educational Journey" | AFP

6/2/2025

From the bustling retail world to the vibrant classrooms of New Orleans and Alabama, Andre Hodges' 28-year educational journey reveals the remarkable impact of dedicated educators. Speaking from the Federal Programs Conference in Montgomery, this accomplished Educational Content Specialist shares the winding path that led her through roles as diverse as Algebra teacher, basketball coach, FBLA advisor, and ultimately to her current position with Montgomery Public Schools. Spotlight 4 Success: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "Navigating Education Law" | AFP

6/2/2025

Federal education programs exist in a complex regulatory environment that can be challenging to navigate. How do school leaders effectively implement these programs while maintaining focus on what truly matters - student achievement? This question sits at the heart of our illuminating conversation with Erika Clark, Federal Programs Director at Jacksonville City Schools in Alabama. Spotlight 4 Success: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "Federal Program Insights" | AFP

5/30/2025

Have you ever wondered how federal education funding actually reaches classrooms and impacts students? Dr. Molly Killingsworth, Director of Federal Programs for the Alabama State Department of Education, pulls back the curtain on this process in our illuminating conversation recorded at the Alabama Federal Programs Conference. Spotlight 4 Success Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com

Spotlight 4 Success | "Driving Student Growth in Alabama Schools" | AFP

5/29/2025

Ever wondered how schools transform federal funding into real student success? Melissa Scott, Federal Program Supervisor for Decatur City Schools, pulls back the curtain on effective intervention strategies that actually work. Spotlight 4 Success Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "Juggling 10 Title Schools: One Coordinator's Journey" | AFP

5/29/2025

What happens when a passionate classroom teacher discovers new ways to impact education? Casie Barksdale never planned to leave teaching, but a desire to improve her technology skills led to an unexpected career evolution that ultimately brought her to the role of Federal Programs Coordinator at Limestone County Schools in Alabama. Spotlight 4 Success Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "Federal Funding in Education" | AFP

5/28/2025

Ever wondered who ensures federal education dollars make it to classrooms where they can truly impact student learning? Faith Goshay, an Education Specialist with the Alabama State Department of Education, pulls back the curtain on this critical process during our interview at the Alabama Federal Programs Conference. Spotlight 4 Success: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | The Dream Team: How Collaboration Transformed Tuscaloosa City Schools | AFP

5/28/2025

Ever wondered what it takes to transform struggling schools into success stories? Dr. Tonya Cruz reveals the blueprint that's changing education in Alabama. As School Improvement Director for Tuscaloosa City Schools, she's pioneered a system of continuous improvement that's yielded remarkable results—turning around schools that had languished on intervention lists for years. Spotlight 4 Success: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "When Everyone Invests: The Recipe for Educational Excellence" | AFP

5/15/2025

Excellence in education takes center stage as Dr. Wallace Martin reveals the remarkable journey that led Brookwood Elementary to national recognition. Receiving the National Title I School of Distinction award places this Alabama school in rarified air – one of only two schools statewide and among just fifteen elementary schools nationwide in their category to earn this prestigious honor. Spotlight 4 Success Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

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