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The Vestavia Hills City Schools Podcast
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In Vestavia Hills City Schools, one of the key beliefs of our district is that succeeding is an intentional pursuit. For more than fifty years, this belief has challenged our faculty, staff, and community as we work to provide Learning Without Limits for every student. Our podcast features conversations with Vestavia Hills City Schools leaders who are working in an intentional pursuit of excellence.
Listen on Spotify, YouTube, or click below to listen to each episode.
Episodes
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Ignite
January 2023 -- Vestavia Hills Elementary East fifth grade teacher Heather Hurt joins Brooke and Whit to talk about a new professional development opportunity made by and for VHCS teachers called "Ignite."
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Merlin
January 2023 — Vestavia Hills Elementary West recently added a facility dog, Merlin, to its school counseling team. In this episode, Brooke and Whit talk with Merlin’s handlers, school counselors Dawn Norris and Emily Foster, about how a facility dog helps meet the mental health needs of VHEW students and staff. Learn more about Merlin on his Instagram page.
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The Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus
December 2022 -- In the fall of 2020, Vestavia Hills City Schools opened a Freshman Campus to meet the unique needs of ninth graders. In this episode, Whit and Brooke talk with VHHS Freshman Campus principal Bill Mann and assistant principal Jennifer Brown about how the school is preparing students for their high school journey.
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Arts in Focus
November 2022 -- Vestavia Hills City Schools recently named longtime arts teacher Faith Lenhart as the district's first Arts Education Coordinator. In this episode, Faith talks with Brooke and Whit about the many ways students in grades K-12 get to experience the arts in Vestavia Hills City Schools.
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Next Steps
November 2022 -- Vestavia Hills City Schools is rolling out a new way for students and families to learn about academic opportunities for middle and high school students. The initiative, called "Next Steps," will include special nights for families to visit our schools and talk directly with teachers about our academic pathways. In this episode, Brooke and Whit talk with VHCS Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Antonio Cooper, about Next Steps.
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The Healthy Schools Plan
October 2022 -- Vestavia Hills City Schools is partnering with Schneider Electric on a plan to improve the energy efficiency of all of its schools, a plan which should yield a savings of more than $1 million per year to the school system's budget. In this episode, Brooke, Whit, and Dr. Patrick Martin talk with Todd Smith from Schneider Electric about how the plan will improve the comfort of students and staff while also saving the school system millions of dollars.
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The Academy of Craft Training
October 2022 -- Vestavia Hills City Schools partners with a workforce development program called the Academy of Craft Training. At their campus in downtown Birmingham, students have the opportunity to learn industrial crafts including building construction, electrical, welding, HVAC, and interior-exterior finishes. Many students receive high-paying job offers upon graduation and unlock numerous postsecondary opportunities based on their skills and expertise in the construction industry. In this episode, Whit and Brooke talk with Academy of Craft Training Director of Education Russ Cofield, welding instructor Darren Ledbetter, and Vestavia Hills High School senior Emily Salas who is in the Academy's welding program. Follow the Academy of Craft Training on Facebook.
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Supporting Exceptional Students
September 2022 -- Each year, Vestavia Hills City Schools serves more than 3,000 students through the district's Exceptional Education programs which include students with special needs, English language learners, preschoolers, and gifted students. In this episode, Brooke and Whit talk with Dr. Sandy Ritchey, Vestavia Hills City Schools Director of Exceptional Education, about how the school system is working to support its exceptional students.
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A Look at VHCS Operations
September 2022 -- In this episode, Whit and Brooke talk with Dr. Patrick Martin, Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Services, about the school system's facilities and operations team that create a safe and nurturing environment for students and staff.
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Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment
August 2022 -- Whit and Brooke cover Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment programs at Vestavia Hills High School and take a look at how students are doing in those programs. Guests include Vestavia Hills High School assistant principal, Dr. Amy England, and VHCS director of curriculum and instruction, Dr. Antonio Cooper.
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Setting the Stage for 2022-23
August 2022 -- Vestavia Hills City Schools superintendent, Dr. Todd Freeman, joins Whit and Brooke to talk about the start of the 2022-23 school year and a new plan being unveiled called "1Rebel 1Future."
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2021-22 Teacher Appreciation
May 2022 -- In this episode, Brooke and Whit talk with Dr. Todd Freeman, Vestavia Hills City Schools superintendent, in a look back on the 2021-22 school year and the tireless work of the school system's teachers. Professional development is discussed as well as information about how families can learn about the school system's teaching standards.
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Arts in Vestavia Hills City Schools
April 2022 -- In this episode, Brooke and Whit talk with two Vestavia Hills City Schools arts teachers who discuss opportunities for participation in the arts and why it's important for student development. Guests include Vestavia Hills Elementary East art teacher Lee Ellen Sharp and Vestavia Hills High School performing arts chair Faith Lenhart.
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VHHS Football Coach Robert Evans
March 2022 -- In this episode, Brooke and Whit sit down with new Vestavia Hills High School head football coach Robert Evans to discuss the football program, his memories as a VHHS alumnus, and what he learned about leadership from some of the school's legendary coaches. Learn more about football donation opportunities here.
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2021-22 Teachers of the Year
In this episode, Brooke and Whit sit down with Vestavia Hills City Schools' 2021-22 District Teachers of the Year to discuss their background and motivations for teaching. Guests are Elementary Teacher of the Year Cortney McKinney, school counselor at Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights; and Secondary Teacher of the Year Jill Wiggins, English Language Arts teacher at Louis Pizitz Middle School.
