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/

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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/

Spotlight 4 Success | "Coffee, Classrooms, and Courage: A Principal's Journey" | NCMLE

5/7/2025

Charles Williams leaps from the page with his powerful insights on educational equity. As an assistant principal in Chicago's Austin neighborhood, Williams bridges theory with everyday practice, offering a framework that transforms abstract equity concepts into concrete actions for educators. Spotlight 4 Success: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "North Carolina's AFT Movement" | NCMLE

5/7/2025

What drives teachers to become advocates? In this revealing conversation from the North Carolina Mid-Level Educators Conference, host Devin Pintozzi speaks with Elizabeth Nelson and Pablo Dela Canal about their transformative journeys from dedicated classroom educators to passionate advocates with the American Federation of Teachers. Spotlight 4 Success: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "Building Passion for STEM" | NCMLE

5/7/2025

Ever wondered how to transform science education from a classroom afterthought to the centerpiece of student engagement? Brad Rhew has the answers. As the Science and STEM Coordinator for Guilford County Schools and president-elect of the North Carolina Science Teachers Association, Brad brings a wealth of experience to this illuminating conversation. Beginning his career as a middle school teacher, Brad's journey through elementary education and eventually to district leadership showcases his commitment to elevating science instruction at every level. Spotlight 4 Success Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "Discovering Family Heritage Through 1950s Japanese Letters" | NCMLE

5/5/2025

Letters have a unique power to transcend time, connecting us to voices from the past in ways that feel surprisingly immediate and personal. Karen Miller, an eighth-grade English language arts teacher at Maiden Middle School in North Carolina, discovered this firsthand when she inherited 250 letters written by family members from Japan to Pennsylvania in the early 1950s. Spotlight 4 Success Website: spotlight4success.com

Spotlight 4 Success | "Preserving the Past Through Technology" | NCMLE

5/2/2025

What happens when students turn their digital skills toward preserving family histories? Something magical, according to veteran educator Wesley Fryer. Speaking from the North Carolina Mid-Level Educators Conference in Charlotte, Fryer shares his 30-year journey in education and his current role teaching STEM subjects at Providence Day School. Spotlight 4 Success Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "How Jennifer McCormick Found Her Calling" | NCMLE

5/2/2025

What happens when teaching finds you, rather than the other way around? Jennifer McCormick from Spring Hill Middle School in Scotland County shares her refreshing perspective on falling into education through tutoring, and how that unexpected path led to a fulfilling career spanning both middle and high school classrooms. Spotlight 4 Success Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

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