Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Education Conversations

In this continuation of our miniseries on education and the economy, Jennifer talks with CareerSource Suncoast President and CEO Josh Matlock about current and future workforce needs and how we’re preparing students to meet the changing demands of tomorrow.

In the continuation of our Education Conversations miniseries on education and the economy, Jennifer talks with Jennifer Johnston, Director of Community Leadership for Gulf Coast Community Foundation. They discuss the connection between students, community, and businesses, and how preparing tomorrow’s workforce starts in our classrooms today.

Launching the first in our mini-series on college education and the economy, Jennifer talks with Kimberly Lent Morales, director of research and evaluation for Helios Education Foundation. Kimberly co-authored a recent report titled “Florida’s Future Billions”, and they discuss several findings from the study, including the question, Is an education beyond high school worth it?

Enjoy a special good cheer episode with this compilation of positive and inspiring clips from our guests over the past two seasons. Happy Holidays, everyone!

Teachers play an important role in education—they are on the front lines in shaping the future through our students—and we are so appreciative of all they do. In this episode, Jennifer talks with the three district Teacher of the Year finalists about what motivates them to teach and what it means to them to be named 2025 Teacher of the Year.

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic that people are both excited and concerned about. While AI has been around for decades, Jennifer talks with Dr. Rebecca Hines, Associate Professor at UCF, about how it is being used in education today, particularly how she is using it in special education, and ways AI can help teachers be more efficient and effective in the classroom.

S2E7 – Since 1955 The Selby Foundation has made a significant impact on thousands of young people and the operations of hundreds of charitable organizations through traditional grants and student scholarships. In this podcast, Jennifer speaks with Susie Bowie, Selby Foundation President and CEO to learn more about the history of the foundation and explore the Regional Scholarship Providers Network, a new initiative to reduce inequities in college attainment rates across Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties.   Our thanks to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for your generous support of this episode.

In this episode, Jennifer talks about “strength in numbers” and how partners in our community come together to work collectively for students. Thomas Williams, Chief Collaboration Officer and Director for PLANit Sarasota, and Lordana Guillaume, Student Success Coach for the Education Foundation and PLANit Program Coordinator discuss how the local college access network collaborates with community partners to help students navigate their education and career planning. The Education Foundation of Sarasota County is proud to serve as the backbone for PLANit Sarasota. We’d like to thank this week’s sponsor, Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Their support helps us bring you the […]

In this episode, Jennifer is joined by Dr. Larry Thompson, President of Ringling College of Art & Design. They discuss Ringling’s application process, how to prepare, what is required, and how their process differs from other college applications. Dr. Thompson talks about shattering the myth of the starving artist through its innovative programs and majors, and the impressive lineup of recruiters who come to campus in hopes of recruiting Ringling College graduates for employment—General Motors, Disney, and Hasbro, to name a just a few. We’d also like to thank Suncoast Credit Union for being the sponsor of this week’s podcast. […]

This special edition explores the Sarasota County Schools Referendum. Superintendent Terry Connor, now in his second year and known for his strategic planning and A-rating streak, discusses the upcoming November 5th election. He will cover the history and impact of the Millage Referendum for 2026-2030, which seeks to continue the 1-mill ad valorem tax. This funding supports teacher salaries, workforce training, school safety, arts programs, and technology upgrades, and is crucial for the future of education in Sarasota County.

In any profession we all strive to stay current and informed. It’s no different with teachers. We know education is evolving so how do we, as educators, keep ourselves not only up to date and knowledgeable, but also engaged in the subjects we teach? Nicole Light, director of educator programs at the Education Foundation, goes in depth with Jennifer on what she has learned about herself and from other teachers as she launches energizing new programs for Sarasota County teachers.

While there is no shortage of career choices for our students today, an area of the workforce is short on workers. Fortunately, there are opportunities for students to gain a technical education in these roles. In this episode, sponsored by Suncoast Credit Union, Dr. Ron DiPillo, Executive Director for Suncoast Technical College, talks about focused academics offered here in Sarasota county and potential jobs for students interested in pursuing a professional or technical career.

In both her work and her research, Es Swihart has discovered and shown that student self-worth and motivation are at the deepest core of the student-teacher relationship. ES has 17 years of experience in education and is a doctoral candidate at Johns Hopkins University, researching student self-worth and learning, and is set to earn her degree this month.

Welcome to the Season 1 finale! We’re ending the season with a two-part series of episode highlights from the past year. You’ll hear some of your favorite guests and catch a few choice excerpts you may have missed.

Episode 23 is focused on Leadership in Education. Guest highlights include:

• Dr. Brandon Johnson, Chief of Middle Schools, Sarasota County Schools.
• Kari Johnson, ELA Program Specialist, Sarasota County Schools and Education Foundation Board Member.
• Terry Connor, Superintendent of Sarasota County Schools.
• Brock Leach, Education Foundation Board Chair.
• Dr. David Moore, President of Moore Strategic Consulting.

We’re ending Season 1 of our podcast with a two-part series of episode highlights from the past year. You’ll hear some of your favorite guests and catch a few choice excerpts you may have missed.

Episode 22 centers on the theme of Relationships and Resiliency. You’ll hear highlights from these guests:

• Ronnique Major, the 2024 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year.
• Josh Grant, Teacher at Venice Hight School.
• Carolina Pauliss, Riverview High School recent graduate.
• Deb Giacalone, Executive Director of Student Services for Sarasota County Schools.
• Jessiah Straw, former beneficiary of Education Foundation programs, now Associate Vice President at Merit Holdings in Seattle, WA.
• Mandy O’Malley, Director of Outreach and Training at Resilient Retreat.

Students across the country are experiencing a mental health crisis, and many students are struggling. But what happens when teachers are struggling too? Listen as host Jennifer Vigne talks with Mandy O’Malley, Director of Community Outreach at Resilient Retreat and a mental healthcare professional for over 20 years, about how we can support students and teachers so they can become more resilient and find well-being.

The world is rapidly changing and so too, must education. Many teachers are leading that charge, continuing to adapt, bringing innovative, creative approaches to the classroom so that they can best meet the unique needs of every student in their classroom and inspire a lifelong love of learning. In this episode, Jennifer Vigne talks with two Innovation Teachers of the Year, Josette Ortega and Amber Rylak.

Listen as Jennifer Vigne sits down with Matt Smith and Dr. Brittany Nielson, two key contributors in a regional initiative to support students who have stopped attending college or who were admitted but never enrolled. Learn about this great project, why the work of supporting students to help them complete their postsecondary education matters, and how relationships can make such a difference in helping students get back on track to reach their goal of a degree or certificate.

In this episode, Jennifer Vigne talks with Ronnique Major, the 2024 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year. Ronnique discusses how she was inspired to teach and how her many amazing mentors and teachers helped her develop into the educator she is today. Jennifer and Ronnique explore key qualities of exceptional educators and how relationships can make such a difference in the lives of young and veteran learners alike.

Listen as Jennifer Vigne talks with Braulio Colon, the Executive Director of the Florida College Access Network (FCAN), about the role of college access networks on the state and the local level. They explore how this community-focused model works and why college access networks are so important. Braulio shares his insight on the research that led to the creation of the Florida College Access Network, what he’s seeing in the Florida education landscape today, and how organizations can work to lift all students and open new pathways to postsecondary education.

Listen as Jennifer Vigne talks with Jessiah Straw, a 2013 graduate of Sarasota Military Academy whose remarkable journey to becoming the vice president of a Seattle-based holding company serves as a poignant story of the power of relationships, resources, and resiliency. Jessiah talks about how he navigated a complex world to succeed and the ways that scholarships helped him achieve his dreams, but not without some snags.

Get the 411 on FAFSA and financial aid! In this informative episode, Jennifer Vigne talks with Andrea Lachapelle, the Director of Financial Aid at State College of Florida. Andrea provides a practical overview of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and discusses recent changes to the FAFSA process and what they mean. Along with the FAFSA, Jennifer and Andrea discuss other forms of financial aid and why it’s so important to start the process early. They also talk about ways that community partners collaborate to help students and families access financial aid resources.

Listen as Jennifer Vigne talks with Holly Bullard, the Chief Strategy and Development Officer for the Florida Policy Institute. Jennifer and Holly discuss funding for public schools in Florida, comparing funding levels today to previous years and looking at why funding levels vary across the state. They explore ways to ensure all districts can provide the high-quality education found in Sarasota County. Along with discussing the importance of planning to keep education strong and the implications of the expansion of school choice, Holly highlights some of the upcoming Florida legislation around education.

In this episode, Jennifer Vigne talks with Dr. Nate von der Embse about mental health and its connection to academic achievement. They explore the idea of resiliency, what it really means, and why it is so important that students today develop skills such as self-management, relationship-building, and persistence. Nate explains his work with the School Mental Health Collaborative and the materials they provide to educators to help them meet their students’ unique needs. He also discusses his collaboration with the Florida Department of Education to identify and develop skills and how they can be applied in instruction.

Listen to this overview of school choice as Jennifer Vigne talks with Millie Wheeler, the Supervisor of the Office of School Choice and Student Assignment for Sarasota County Schools. Jennifer and Millie explore what school choice means and how students and parents can find the right school to meet their unique needs. They discuss the limitations of school choice, the scholarship programs available to students, and more. This episode provides practical guidance for those getting started with school choice.