Kids First Podcast - A Charter School Podcast with Chris Neeley

In this episode of Kids First Podcast , we explore the essential elements that set successful charter schools apart—strong board governance, community engagement, and sound financial management. Our special guest, John Payne, who served on the founding committee of Bridges Preparatory School in Beaufort, SC, and as former Chairman of the South Carolina Public Charter School District, shares his ex...

In this exciting episode of the Kids First Podcast , host Keven Cohen and Superintendent Chris Neeley welcome Dr. Jean Graddick, Director of Felton Laboratory Charter School . Join us as Dr. Graddick takes us on a journey through the rich history and innovative approach of Felton Lab Charter School, where students thrive in a STEAM-focused, hands-on learning environment. Learn about the strong com...

In this captivating episode, hosts Chris Neeley and Keven Cohen explore the remarkable achievements of Dr. Michelle McDonald , who was celebrated as the PCSD Teacher of the Year . Join them as they explore her innovative journey at Liberty STEAM Charter School in Sumter, S.C., where her educational leadership inspires students and educators alike. Discover how Dr. McDonald's unwavering dedicat...

Chris and Kevin Cohen talk with Tom Cronin, Executive Director of GREEN Charter Schools, to explore his transformative journey in education leadership. Since 2021, Tom has expanded GREEN from a single school to multiple campuses across South Carolina, all while staying true to the mission of equipping students with the skills needed to make a global impact. Learn about all the fantastic things hap...

Welcome to a special episode of Kids First Podcast, where we dive into the powerful narrative of Katrina Simmons, a remarkable student from The Palmetto Excel Center Adult High School. Katrina's story is a beacon of hope and inspiration, showcasing the belief that 'Every adult deserves a second chance at education.' In our conversation, she sheds light on how The Palmetto Excel Center...

Join us on this week's Kids First podcast as we introduce Melissa Rabon , a dedicated advocate for equal educational opportunities and a National Board-certified secondary English teacher with over a decade of experience. Melissa has played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between general and special education, aligning perfectly with the mission of the South Carolina Public Charter School D...

Welcome to today's episode of the Kids First Podcast. Today, we focus on the trailblazing program at Fox Creek High School - the Renaissance Crew, or Ren-Crew for short. This initiative is a shining testament to the immense power of student leadership in fostering a positive and inclusive school culture. At the heart of the Ren-Crew are three extraordinary students - Jessica Olson, Colten Walk...

Get ready for a compelling episode of the Kids First Podcast. We're thrilled to welcome a very special guest, Erik Weir, the principal of WCM Global Wealth LLC. As a leader in wealth management, Erik serves an impressive roster of clients, including Grammy-winning artists, sports icons, international fashion moguls, and even Forbes-listed billionaires. His expertise ranges from finance to real...

In this episode of Kids First Podcast, we're joined by the multi-talented Doug Adomatis , an educator, pilot, amateur radio operator, and advanced open-water SCUBA diver. With a mission to mold the future trailblazers of aviation, Doug brings his passion for flying into the Greenville Technical Charter High School classroom. From his transition from successful entrepreneur to inspiring educato...

Welcome to a riveting new episode of the 'Kids First Podcast'. We're thrilled to bring you an inspiring conversation with Valerie Dix, the esteemed 2023 District Teacher of the Year . A passionate educator and a beacon in the realm of Spanish and Divergent Learning, Valerie's journey is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode, Valerie opens up about her fascinating path to beco...

Meet Betsy DeVos - Champion For Education Freedom! She's a leader, an innovator determined to open up educational opportunities for students of all ages. With over three decades of activism under her belt, she has been a major force in transforming public policy reforms to give students more freedom when it comes to where, when, and how they learn. From 2017-2021 she proudly served as the 11th...

This week on the Kids First Podcast, we have the privilege of introducing you to Dr. Thomas Hodges – Dean of the College of Education at the University of South Carolina! Dr. Hodges is a true champion for education and has dedicated his career to developing teachers and creating pathways for traditionally underserved candidates in rural communities to enter the teaching profession. He began his jo...

Corey DeAngelis is a well-respected and tenacious advocate of educational reform. As a senior fellow at the American Federation for Children and Executive Director of Educational Freedom Institute , DeAngelis has continually pushed forward innovative strategies to create lasting and meaningful changes in the space of education policy. Moreover, his stalwart work on this front has not gone unnotice...

Welcome to the Kids First Podcast! Today, we are honored to have South Carolina's Fifty-First Attorney General, Alan Wilson, with us. Alan was elected back in 2010 and took office in 2011. In addition to serving as Attorney General, he has been a Judge Advocate General in the National Guard providing legal support for soldiers and assisting in the prosecution of military crimes. Growing up, se...

Greg Thompson is the Board Chairman of Liberty STEAM Charter School and founder of the Thompson Family of Companies. He has dedicated his time and effort to the betterment of Sumter community, becoming the driving force behind the Liberty STEAM Charter initiative. He is the President and CEO of Thompson Construction Group, and Chairman of IndustrialServices, taking it from its inception with two e...

Shannon Erickson is a prominent figure in South Carolina politics, having served as a member of the House of Representatives from Beaufort County's 124th District for 13 years and currently Chairing its Education and Public Works Committee. She has also Chaired the South Carolina General Assembly Women’s Caucus, making it no surprise that she continues to be an influential voice in South Carol...

Chris Neeley sat down with Trey Walker, Chief of Staff to Governor Henry McMaster and his longtime friend, for this week's Kids First Podcast. Walker has a wealth of experience in government relations, political consulting, agency management, and crisis communications at the state and national level. His current duties include providing counsel and advice to the Governor, handling the office's dai...

This week we sat down to talk to a parent of the South Carolina Public Charter School District’s family. Harold Koffler and his wife Lisa are the parents of a wonderful 13-year-old daughter named Hope. Their family has moved all over the state looking for the right environment for their daughter to reach her full potential in education. After years of searching, they eventually landed here in Colu...

Jonathan serves as the Will Skillman Fellow in Education at The Heritage Foundation. His area of expertise lies in Education Policy, which he studied at the University of Arkansas. Butcher is an author as well as commentator, writing and researching education policy around the United States. Most recently, he published “Splintered: Critical Race Theory and the Progressive War on Truth” and wrote s...

Deion Jamison makes history not only as the first public charter school educator to be named State Teacher of the Year, but also as the first African American male honoree. He strives to contribute to excellence, collaboration, and diversity in his classroom. “I’m very thankful to my district family and to my Legacy Early College family for the encouragement and words of support that got me to thi...

Chi-Chi Abando first began her journey with Charter Schools when she was a single mother searching for a school for her 4-year-old daughter. Prior to enrolling her daughter at East Point Academy and becoming a team member here at the District she had no knowledge of Charter Schools. Here's Chi-Chi's "Why". "I learned over the 6 years; Charter schools are not all the same as traditional public scho...

For over 18 years she served as a classroom music teacher and an assistant principal. She was elected to four terms as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives representing Saluda County and portions of Lexington County (House District 39). While there she championed education and children's issues and was named Legislator of the Year by the American Legion and the Department of Hea...

Chris sat down to talk with our Lieutenant Governor, Pamela Evette. We're so thankful for all Pamela has done for education and school choice in South Carolina, and it was an honor to have her on the show to share her "why."

Ian Rowe is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on education and upward mobility, family formation, and adoption. Mr. Rowe is also the co-founder of Vertex Partnership Academies, a new network of character-based International Baccalaureate high schools opening in the Bronx in 2022; the chairman of the board of Spence-Chapin, a nonprofit adoption services organiza...

We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with our newly elected South Carolina Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver. We talk about Ellen's origin story, her "why", the benefits of school choice, and how it takes a village. You don't want to miss this one!