Voices United in Education – Details, episodes & analysis

Michael Johnston, Associate Vice President of Institutional Research and Enterprise, and Angelica Coonts, Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Pensacola State College share tips about completing FASFA (Free Application for Student Financial Aid). They cover common misconceptions, who is eligible, what kind of money it can bring in and one BIG tip that will save you tons of time!

Guests: Michael Johnston & Angelica Coonts https://financialaid.pensacolastate.edu/ | 850-484-1680 | fava@pensacolastate.edu | FSA Account https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch | Complete FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa 

Want to interact with the resources and guests featured here in real life?! Join us at the 2nd annual FREE Podcastapalooza! There will be a live animal presentation by animal tales and food trucks like BAM snowballs, Kip's Hotdogs & MELT Pensacola.

One lucky guest will win a $250 Amazon gift card! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 1, 2025 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Booker T Washington High School. 

Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/
Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes

Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards

Lalla Pierce is the principal at Global Learning Academy and Lauren Green is the social services navigator at Children's Home Society. In this episode, they share what makes this elementary school in the heart of downtown Pensacola, a hidden treasure. You'll hear about the unique culture they've cultivated as well as outside-the-box ways both parents and staff are meeting the needs of the students for a better tomorrow.

Guests: Lalla Pierce & Lauren Green https://www.escambiaschools.org/gla 

Want to interact with the resources and guests featured here in real life?! Join us at the 2nd annual FREE Podcastapalooza! There will be a live animal presentation by animal tales and food trucks like BAM snowballs, Kip's Hotdogs & MELT Pensacola.

One lucky guest will win a $250 Amazon gift card! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 1, 2025 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Booker T Washington High School. 

Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/
Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes

Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards

Kerri Coots, Director of Alternative Education, answers real parent questions about bullying in schools. You'll hear her share stories to encourage change, tips to help parents of both the bully and the bullied, and why she believes promoting acts of kindness is path to sustainable harmony.

Guest: Kerri Coots https://www.escambiaschools.org/Page/2852 | School violence reporting index https://tinyurl.com/8ru9yry9 | Report bullying https://tinyurl.com/5n92cv26

Want to interact with the resources and guests featured here in real life?! Join us at the 2nd annual FREE Podcastapalooza! There will be a live animal presentation by animal tales and food trucks like BAM snowballs, Kip's Hotdogs & MELT Pensacola.

One lucky guest will win a $250 Amazon gift card! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 1, 2025 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Booker T Washington High School. 

Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/
Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes

Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards

Reading and writing go together like chips and salsa. For Alexander Fitzgerald, teaching creative writing is equally delicious, but goes deeper than a playful food metaphor. In this episode, he shares how he transformed from a slow reading student who hated reading, to becoming a creative writing teacher who reads philosophy for fun as well has the three problems creative writing solves: apathy to learn, lack of follow through & relationship disconnect.

Guest: Alexander Fitzgerald

Want to interact with the resources and guests featured here in real life?! Join us at the 2nd annual FREE Podcastapalooza! There will be a live animal presentation by animal tales and food trucks like BAM snowballs, Kip's Hotdogs & MELT Pensacola.

One lucky guest will win a $250 Amazon gift card! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 1, 2025 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Booker T Washington High School. 

Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/
Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes

Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards

Many performance-based scholarships revolve around sports, which can often take a toll on academic performance. Christina Frierdich is the orchestra director at Washington, Pine Forest & Escambia High schools. In this episode she shares how music scholarships can provide college scholarships AND improve student performance on standardized testing. She also shares her family tie with Pensacola string music history & its lasting impact on kids.

Guest: Christina Frierdich

Want to interact with the resources and guests featured here in real life?! Join us at the 2nd annual FREE Podcastapalooza! There will be a live animal presentation by animal tales and food trucks like BAM snowballs, Kip's Hotdogs & MELT Pensacola.

One lucky guest will win a $250 Amazon gift card! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 1, 2025 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Booker T Washington High School. 

Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/
Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes

Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards

Claire Frear, military spouse and teacher, shares her perspective on the unique needs of students with active duty family members & what specific resources are in place for them at Escambia High. 

Guest: Claire Frear

Want to interact with the resources and guests featured here in real life?! Join us at the 2nd annual FREE Podcastapalooza! There will be a live animal presentation by animal tales and food trucks like BAM snowballs, Kip's Hotdogs & MELT Pensacola.

One lucky guest will win a $250 Amazon gift card! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 1, 2025 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Booker T Washington High School. 

Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/
Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes

Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards

For many students with an IEP, their full potential can only be accessed outside of the traditional school framework. Donna Perry is the program specialist & Dr. Jared Stanley is the administrator on special assignment at Hope Horizon, a center school that works with students & families individually to find holistic solutions. In this episode they share what students are best served at Hope Horizon & the services they provide.

Guests: Donna Perry & Dr. Jared Stanley

Want to interact with the resources and guests featured here in real life?! Join us at the 2nd annual FREE Podcastapalooza! There will be a live animal presentation by animal tales and food trucks like BAM snowballs, Kip's Hotdogs & MELT Pensacola.

One lucky guest will win a $250 Amazon gift card! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 1, 2025 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Booker T Washington High School. 

Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/
Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes

Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards

Tristan Harris is the coach for Escambia county’s Allstar Academic Team, a place where kids with drive & book smarts can gain a sense of community & competition. She proudly and passionately nerds out about how Escambia County students are winning by working together and scoring so much more than points as she explains how this trivia style tournament team is making a difference for students in Escambia County.

Guest:    Tristan Harris    

Want to interact with the resources and guests featured here in real life?! Join us at the 2nd annual FREE Podcastapalooza! There will be a live animal presentation by animal tales and food trucks like BAM snowballs, Kip's Hotdogs & MELT Pensacola.

One lucky guest will win a $250 Amazon gift card! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 1, 2025 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Booker T Washington High School. 

Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/
Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes

Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards

Zac Stefanko is the welding instructor at Pensacola High School, where they were recently awarded a grant for the program that is giving students a way to cut through and seal together a career in welding and other trades.

Guest: Zac Stefanko

Want to interact with the resources and guests featured here in real life?! Join us at the 2nd annual FREE Podcastapalooza! There will be a live animal presentation by animal tales and food trucks like BAM snowballs, Kip's Hotdogs & MELT Pensacola.

One lucky guest will win a $250 Amazon gift card! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 1, 2025 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Booker T Washington High School. 

Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/
Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes

Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards

This isn't your dad's shop class. Learn how boys and girls at Ernest Ward Middle School are certified in engineering and equipped with the skills and knowledge to thrive in industry and emerging technologies.   

Guests: Tyvanna Boulanger & Ray Sellers

Want to interact with the resources and guests featured here in real life?! Join us at the 2nd annual FREE Podcastapalooza! There will be a live animal presentation by animal tales and food trucks like BAM snowballs, Kip's Hotdogs & MELT Pensacola.

One lucky guest will win a $250 Amazon gift card! Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 1, 2025 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Booker T Washington High School. 

Learn more about Escambia County School District: https://www.escambiaschools.org/
Find additional links: https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com/podcast-episodes

Host: Meredith Hackwith Edwards