EdTech Journeys with Robert Yancey

Our Schools, Our Stories is back with a special episode featuring Dr. Youlonda Glaspie and Caroline Brown , as they share the story behind Blooming Into Success: Navigating Transitions in Education —a district-wide event designed to support families from Pre-K through 8th grade . Held at the Maxwell Center, this event offered expert-led workshops for parents, hands-on adventures for kids , and eve...

Join us for a special episode of Our Schools, Our Stories: The Wayne County Public Schools Podcast featuring Spring Creek Elementary’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, Kelli Sasser ! Kelli is making a difference through creativity, inclusion, and strong connections with students and families. In this episode, she shares how she’s creating a classroom where life skills meet meaningful learning—and how she...

In this episode of Our Schools, Our Stories: The Wayne County Public Schools Podcast , we sit down with Stacy Hersey, Media Coordinator at Northeast Elementary, whose passion for books is transforming the way students engage with reading. From creative challenges and book clubs to interactive library programs, Stacy is finding new ways to ignite curiosity, encourage lifelong reading habits, and ma...

In this episode of Our Schools, Our Stories: The Wayne County Public Schools Podcast , we sit down with Jamisha Raymond, a dynamic computer science and Adobe Graphic Design teacher, along with two of her talented students. One student shares his experience coding an app in his computer science class, while another takes us into the world of fashion, art, and history with a creative project inspire...

Across the country, schools are facing teacher shortages, but here in Wayne County, we’re taking an innovative approach to growing our own educators. Today, we’re talking about the Wayne County Public Schools Teacher Apprenticeship Program , a powerful initiative that helps instructional assistants take the next step in their careers and become certified teachers. Joining us are Dr. Felicia Brown,...

Step into history with Carver Elementary’s STEAM Pioneer Gallery Walk! 👩‍🚀🎨⚙️ In this episode of Our Schools, Our Stories: The Wayne County Public Schools Podcast , host Robert Yancey sits down with Instructional Coach Robin Casey, Principal Karla Smith, 4th-grade lead teacher Stephanie Lane, two student pioneers, and two proud parents to discuss how this incredible project brings historical fi...

In this episode, we’re thrilled to highlight a special event that brought families and learning together in an exciting way. We talk with Melissa Edgerton, principal of Meadow Lane Elementary, and Anna Bridgers, the school’s MTSS Interventionist, about their recent Family STEM Night. This event was packed with hands-on activities, prizes, and opportunities for students and their families to explor...

In this episode we’re shining a spotlight on one of the incredible programs from our Summer Enrichment offerings. We’ll be talking with Sharon Nethercutt, a CTE teacher at Norwayne Middle School, who led an amazing hands-on experience where students not only learned valuable skills, but also built something that will leave a lasting impact at their school. Stay tuned to hear all about this excitin...

Today, we’re diving into the exciting world of robotics and teamwork with Jan Bullock and Carrie Ocker, coaches of the First Lego League team at Meadow Lane Elementary. Their team recently competed at the Regionals, which were hosted right here in Wayne County at Norwayne Middle School. It was a fantastic experience where the students not only showcased their skills but also made new friends along...

‘Our Schools, Our Stories’ is about sharing the incredible range of things happening throughout Wayne County Public Schools—from the creativity and hard work of our students and staff to the powerful ways our community comes together. We want to capture it all, showcasing the people and programs making a difference every day. Whether you're a parent, teacher, student, or community member, we hope...

Welcome to another episode of EdTech Journeys! Today, we're thrilled to have Stacy Lovdahl, an Innovative Learning Catalyst for the NC Department of Public Instruction, joining us to dive into the world of artificial intelligence in education. Stacy is at the forefront of integrating AI tools into classrooms across the state, ensuring that our teachers and students use technology safely and ef...

Today we have a very special episode that shines a light on a groundbreaking initiative taking place right within the walls of our district’s high schools. In an era where technology intertwines with every aspect of our lives, four schools in our district have taken a leap into the future. Goldsboro, Southern Wayne, Eastern Wayne, and Charles B. Aycock High School have each established Student Tec...

Today, we’re joined by a panel of distinguished guests from our district: one of our EdTech Specialists, Heidi Barber, our CTE Director, Stephen Kelley, our District Math Lead, Andrew Bass, and our Title IV Enrichment Facilitator, Christy White. They're here to share insights into our diverse Summer Enrichment programs, designed to inspire and educate our students. From the innovative Audio Vi...

In the ever-evolving landscape of educational technology, staying ahead means not just adapting to changes, but embracing them. This summer marks a significant milestone for our district as we transition to a new Student Information System, Infinite Campus. This change promises to revolutionize the way we manage student data, communicate within our educational community, and, most importantly, enh...

Welcome to another enlightening episode! Today we are diving into the heart of elementary education with a special focus on STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, with a dash of the Arts to make it STEAM.  Joining me are two extraordinary elementary teachers who are not just embracing STEM; they’re leading the charge at their school. In today’s episode we will meet Ms. Jan Bullo...

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on the innovative use of Desmos, a dynamic interactive program revolutionizing math education. Join me as I sit down with a dedicated math teacher, Aletta Burton, who is harnessing the full potential of Desmos to enhance learning experiences for her students. From graphing calculators to interactive activities, she shares her insights, strategies, and the rema...

In this very special 1st Anniversary Bonus Episode we celebrate our first year of the EdTechJourneys podcast by shining our spotlight on the 4 student podcasts that have launched in our high schools. Join us as we travel to Goldsboro High School, Southern Wayne, Eastern Wayne, and Charles B. Aycock to share segments of their podcast episodes. Be sure to follow them to stay in the loop as they shar...

In this episode, we embark on an enlightening journey into the world of blended learning, guided by a dynamic 4th-grade teacher who is reshaping the educational landscape through innovative strategies. Join us as we delve into the classroom of Ms. Meko Artis, a forward-thinking educator, where blended learning takes center stage. Through the use of playlists and instructional videos, she's rev...

In this episode, we dive into the transformative journey of a 5th grade teacher who decided to flip her classroom this year. Our guest, Mrs. Heather Watson from Northeast Elementary School, shares with us her insights into the initial challenges, triumphs, and remarkable results she’s witnessed after taking this bold step. Join us as we discuss this pedagogical shift, exploring her motivations, th...

Welcome to our Season 3 Premiere! In this entertaining and engaging episode, we're stepping into the dynamic and inventive realm of high school engineering. We'll be talking to a couple of incredibly talented students and their teacher, Maya Fulton from Wayne School of Engineering, who are making waves in their engineering classes. These students aren't just learning about engineering;...

The students of Eastern Wayne Elementary were recently gifted with a virtual meeting with the best-selling author Alan Gratz. He has penned many of our students' favorite books, including The Brooklyn Nine, Prisoner B-3087, Ground Zero, The League of Seven Series, Refugee, and the much-loved Elementary Battle of the Books title, Ban This Book. In this episode, I’m sitting down with Media Coord...

Join us for a captivating episode where we explore a unique project-based learning journey recently undertaken by the entire 5th-grade at Northwest Elementary School. Mrs. Courtney Howell, Mrs Erin Nelson, and their students joined me to talk about their extraordinary experience of creating a life-sized cardboard zoo, integrating science, math, and art. Discover the challenges they faced, the joys...

In this episode we have the privilege of speaking with Brooke Ash, an Interventionist from Northwest Elementary. Not only does she lead the MTSS process at her school, but she’s also significantly contributed to curriculum development for K-2 in the District, establishing herself as a pivotal figure in educational technology integration in Wayne County Public Schools. Today she’s here to share her...

In this engaging episode of EdTech Journeys, we delve into the innovative world of elementary STEM education with a special focus on interactive learning. Our guest, a dedicated elementary teacher, shares her experiences and insights from the recent “wax museum” her students created for the Wayne County STEAM Festival in which they brought historical STEAM figures to life. She discusses the challe...

In this episode of EdTech Journeys, we delve into the world of high school Career and Technical Education with two dedicated CTE teachers who specialize in teaching Adobe software. They share insights into Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign courses, discussing the benefits of earning Adobe certifications, engaging projects, and the role of technology in preparing students for future careers. Joi...