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/

Previous Podcasts

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/

Spotlight 4 Success | "Teaching as a Gift" | TCSS

4/11/2025

The spark of curiosity that ignites a teaching career can transform countless young minds. Sarah Webb from David Crockett High School in Washington County, Tennessee shares how discovering an unknown fact about her hometown – that Jonesboro was one of the first cities in Tennessee – launched her mission to "pique children's interest in our past" and "cultivate the love of learning." Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "Middle School is My Passion" | TCSS

4/9/2025

What happens when middle schoolers become historical investigators instead of passive fact-memorizers? Rosa Heintz reveals the powerful transformation occurring in social studies classrooms across Tennessee's Hamilton County Schools. Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "Why Teachers Keep Learning" | TCSS

4/9/2025

What drives a teacher to stay passionate after more than two decades in the classroom? Patrick Harry, a veteran educator from South Lincoln Pre-K-8 School, reveals the inspiration behind his 22-year journey teaching history and his recent venture into teaching science. Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "Songs From The Heart" | TCSS

4/8/2025

The power of music to preserve family history takes center stage as we sit down with Nancy Brennan-Strange, a talented singer and balladist performing at the Tennessee Council of Social Studies conference in Gatlinburg. Nancy's musical journey reveals how deeply personal connections can transform into artistic expression that resonates across generations. Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "The Sweet Dilemma of an Education Leader" | TCSS

4/7/2025

From field trips to federal policy, Dr. Mark Finchum offers a masterclass in Social Studies education leadership during this illuminating conversation from Gatlinburg, Tennessee. As Executive Director of the Tennessee Council of Social Studies (TCSS), Fincham draws on three decades of experience to share valuable insights about the organization's mission to serve educators across all social studies disciplines. Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

Spotlight 4 Success | "Interactive Notebooks in Middle School Education" | TCSS

4/7/2025

Ever wondered how to help students keep track of their learning throughout the school year? Two innovative educators from Hamilton County Schools have the answer: interactive notebooks. Katie Mara and Maureen Bergren joined us at the Tennessee Council of Social Studies conference in Gatlinburg to share their expertise on implementing interactive notebooks in middle school classrooms. What started as a presentation they were "bullied into" by their director has become a passion project that's transforming how students engage with social studies content. Website: https://www.spotlight4success.com/

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