Send us a text What if the best classroom is just down the road? We sit with Rebecca Barefoot from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to reveal how a million-dollar Field Trip Fund is sending students to museums, aquariums, state parks, historic sites, and the zoo—with an application that’s simple, fast, and designed for real school schedules. Website: spotlight4success.com

Send us a text Middle school isn’t the hallway between “cute” and “chaos”—it’s the proving ground where students decide who they’re becoming. We sit down with Anna Crooke, a veteran educator and board member for the North Carolina Middle Level Educators, to unpack why the middle years carry outsized impact and how a conference like NCMLE fuels real classroom change. From her roots in a family of teachers to roles spanning classroom, coaching, principalship, and district leadership, Anna share...

If you’ve ever wondered how a single moment can reroute a life, Joe Pizzo’s story will stick with you. We caught up in sunny Charlotte at NCMLE, where Joe and his colleague Ken Pasic submitted six session ideas—and were shocked when all six were accepted. That win set the stage for a wide‑ranging talk about what really moves the needle for middle‑level learners: hearing great language, seeing caring adults model curiosity, and feeling safe enough to try. Website: Spotlight 4 Success

A spark in a science lab. A brave ask for help in a lunchroom. A reminder from a keynote to keep planting seeds even when the harvest feels far away. This conversation from NCMLE in Charlotte brings the heartbeat of school to the surface as we sit down with eighth-grade science teacher and AVID educator Erin Burton and assistant principal Michelle Posley Lee from Southeastern Randolph Middle School. Website: spotlight4success.com

What if your classroom AI refused to write the paper—and taught students how to think instead? We sit down with Brittany Ordu from TrekAI at the Gacis conference in Athens, Georgia to unpack a teacher-built, student-centered platform that puts privacy, safety, and authentic learning first. Rather than handing out answers, TrekAI prompts learners to explore themes, gather evidence, and connect new ideas to what they already know, turning quick requests into moments of real understanding. Websi...

Angie Alexander gives her testimonial about her experience with ABC products. Website: spotlight4success.com

Policy shifts don’t raise scores—people and routines do. From a busy hallway in Lexington, we sit down with Principal Angie Alexander of Ferristown Middle School to unpack how Kentucky’s new accountability pathway and the push for “vibrant learning” translate into daily wins for real students. Angie shares a grounded playbook: align resources to standards, make math engagement visible, and build relationships that keep students in the struggle long enough to learn something durable. Website: ...

Leigh Allison shares her testimony about how ABC products have impacted her students. Website: spotlight4success.com

A partly cloudy day in Lexington turned bright when we met Leigh Allison from Garrison Elementary—a teacher facing her first year with an ELL student and embracing the challenge with heart and strategy. Lee opens up about the early spark that led her into teaching (yes, stuffed-animal classrooms), the power of feeling known at school, and why belonging is the foundation for any real academic climb. Website: spotlight4success.com

Miranda Stockton gives her testimonial about ABC Products. Website: spotlight4success.com

Ever wonder what flips the switch from “I don’t get it” to “I can explain it”? We sit down with educator and leader Miranda Stockton in a bustling corridor at the Continuous Improvement Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, to trace how a college love for chemistry became a mission to make learning tangible. Miranda shares the moments that changed her practice—watching students light up during hands-on labs, designing tasks that demand explanation, and leaning into NGSS-style standards that rewa...

What drives someone to leave a successful business career and dive into the challenging world of education? Dr. Karen Phillips, Assistant Principal at Houston County Schools, joins host Devin Pintozzi at the 2025 Gale Conference to share her remarkable journey of transformation and purpose. Website: spotlight4success.com

The specialist, who manages technology and state testing at their school, reveals how ABC resources have transformed their testing outcomes. "I know we've seen great success in our test scores over using the resources and stuff over the last couple of years," they explain, offering a refreshingly candid assessment of what's actually working in the classroom. As educators know, finding resources that deliver measurable improvements rather than just promises is increasingly rare. Website: spotl...

Ever wondered how educational tools and programs are evaluated to ensure they actually work? Dr. Rachel Schechter, founder of UXD Research, pulls back the curtain on this fascinating process during her conversation with Devin Pintozzi on Spotlight for Success. Website: spotlight4success.com

What happens when a teacher returns to their own high school as an educator? Meet Janie Olivarri, who transformed from Pleasanton High School graduate to dedicated instructor with 26 years of experience in the same hallways where she once studied. Website: Spotlight 4 Success

Ever wonder what drives someone to become a teacher in our technology-driven world? Krystin Pavey's story begins with stuffed animals as her first students at age three, and now she's at the forefront of educational technology integration at Dawes Intermediate School in Mobile County. Website: spotlight4success.com

How does a school transform from "satisfactory" to "good" in just four years? Sheldon Thomas, Jamaica's Principal of the Year for 2025, joins us from the ASCD ISTE Conference in San Antonio to share his remarkable leadership journey at Ferncourt High School. Website: spotlight4success.com

Ever wonder what happens when a lifelong educator with 18 years of principal experience decides to tackle the education system's biggest challenges? Dr. Zanthia "Dr. Z" Reddish brings her vibrant personality and practical expertise to this episode, sharing her mission to transform how we support educators across America. Website: spotlight4success.com

A chance encounter on a train to Delhi changed everything for Manpreet Kaur. When a fellow passenger asked why she wasn't pursuing her dream of creating an educational platform for children, she made the bold decision to quit her job and return to her small hometown in Punjab, India. That decisive moment in 2017 sparked the creation of The Learner's Pathway, a comprehensive literacy program that's now thriving in Edmonton with over 30 students. Website: spotlight4success.com

Discovering the heart of education through the eyes of a seasoned teacher turned instructional coach—that's what awaits you in this enlightening conversation with Amber DiSilvio from Northeast Elementary School in Clarksville, Tennessee. Website: spotlight4success.com