- Vestavia Hills City Schools
- Podcast
Communication & Public Relations
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 to all episodes on Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Anchor.fm.
Episodes
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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.
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Teaching and Learning Updates
(January 2022) -- In this episode, Brooke and Whit talk with Dr. Aimee Rainey, Vestavia Hills City Schools' Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. Dr. Rainey discusses some of the school system's recent work to enhance value and meaning in the work provided to students and provides a preview of future growth objectives.
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VHCS Gives Back
To Vestavia Hills City Schools students, unparalleled community support means more than just receiving; it is a reciprocal relationship where they see greater value in giving, serving, and loving others. They demonstrate gratitude by paying it forward. In this month's episode, Brooke and Whit talk with Vestavia Hills High School senior Nathaniel Bass about some of the ways he and his peers support the community through philanthropy.
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VHCS Athletics Update
In this episode, Brooke and Whit talk with new Vestavia Hills City Schools Director of Athletics, Myra Miles. She brings more than 30 years of athletics experience to VHCS and is working on several new initiatives as part of the school system's athletics strategic plan. Learn more about VHCS athletics by visiting 1rebelathletics.com!
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Core Values and Character Development
Goal 2 of Vestavia Hills City Schools’ strategic plan pushes the school system to “embrace our leadership role in developing common understandings and shared community support for confronting the problems and challenges that impact the system, youth, and families.” Much of this goal is focused on work related to development of core values and character education in schools. In this episode, Brooke and Whit talk with Dr. Antonio Cooper, VHCS Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Blair Inabinet, principal of Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park, about how core values are making a real-world impact on student learning and development.
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Elementary STEM Learning
In this episode, Martha Martin, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park joins Brooke and Whit to discuss the school's new pilot program which provides STEM learning for all students.
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Strategic Plan Update
In this episode, Brooke and Whit talk with Dr. Todd Freeman, superintendent of Vestavia Hills City Schools. Dr. Freeman reviews the highlights of the school system's strategic goals and Annual Report while also looking ahead to the 2021-22 school year.
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Math Course of Study
In this episode, Brooke and Whit talk with Rachel Stockard, math specialist at the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI), about the newly adopted Alabama Math Course of Study and how the new standards will improve math instruction.
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Kindergarten Readiness
If you're a parent of a child preparing to enter kindergarten, this episode is for you! Brooke and Whit interview Shae Harrell, 22-year veteran of kindergarten classrooms and current kindergarten teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary East, on strategies for parents to help lay the foundation for their child's academic and social growth as they enter grade school. Parents can also find the Vestavia Hills City Schools Kindergarten Readiness Guide on our website at https://www.vhcs.us/domain/2549.
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Jerell Horton, 2020-21 Secondary Teacher of the Year
In this episode, Brooke and Whit talk with VHCS Secondary Teacher of the Year Jerell Horton, Director of Bands at Vestavia Hills High School. Jerell discusses the concept of "Lego Leadership" and how he uses it to instill emotional safety and character in the band room.
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Heather Hurt, 2020-21 Elementary Teacher of the Year
March 2021 features two episodes highlighting the Vestavia Hills City Schools Teachers of the Year! In this episode, Brooke and Whit talk with Heather Hurt, VHCS Elementary Teacher of the Year. Heather is a fifth grade teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary East. Heather discusses how she felt led to change careers from a successful real estate agent to elementary teacher, and how she works to instill a spirit of adventure in her soon-to-be middle schoolers.
