SC Public Charter School District Kids First Podcast

On this episode of Kids First, Keven Cohen welcomes Debbie Vaughn, Development Director at Lakes & Bridges Charter School in Easley, joined by Superintendent Chris Neeley. Debbie shares what makes this school unlike almost any other in the state: every single student has a diagnosis of or characteristics of dyslexia. She explains how specialized, individualized instruction built on the Orton-G...

On this episode of Kids First, Keven Cohen sits down with Superintendent Chris Neeley for a special Freedom Week conversation as America marks its 250th birthday. The two reflect on how easy it is to take our freedoms for granted, sharing what they took away from recent trips through American history, from the Henry Ford Museum to Boston's Freedom Trail. Woven through it all is one idea: the endur...

On this episode of Kids First, Keven Cohen welcomes Curtis Baker, Principal at LEAD Academy, joined by Superintendent Chris Neeley. Now in his seventh year leading the Greenville charter school, Baker shares how LEAD Academy has spent fifteen years building something rare: a K-8 community where character carries the same weight as academics. The whole approach grows from a four-part mission that s...

Some schools teach children what to think. The best ones teach them how to grow. In this episode of Kids First, host Keven Cohen and Superintendent Chris Neeley welcome Lane Morris, state director for Summerville Preparatory Academy and the soon-to-open Discovery School at Myrtle Beach, for a conversation about what education looks like when a school refuses to settle for the factory model. With a...

There are schools that hand students a diploma, and then there are schools that hand students a head start. In this episode of Kids First, host Keven Cohen and Superintendent Chris Neeley sit down with Bill Robinson, principal of Midlands Middle College, to explore what happens when a high school is built directly on a college campus. Housed on the Midlands Tech Airport Campus, this small but migh...

There are moments when the work happening behind the scenes finally steps into the spotlight, and this episode of Kids First is one of them. Host Keven Cohen sits down with South Carolina Public Charter School District Superintendent Chris Neeley to break down a legislative session that delivered some meaningful wins for charter schools, students, and taxpayers across the state. From a landmark ac...

There is something special about a school that feels like home from the very first day. In this episode of the Kids First podcast, host Keven Cohen and Brad Henry sit down with Nanette Davis, Principal of Greer Preparatory Academy, to celebrate a first year that exceeded every expectation. From a robotics team that earned their way to Worlds to an outpouring of community support that showed up bef...

There is something deeply moving about walking into a school and immediately feeling like you belong. In this episode of the Kids First podcast, host Keven Cohen and Superintendent Chris Neeley sit down with Josh Trahan, Executive Director of Fox Creek High School in North Augusta, to celebrate what they call the Fox Creek Way. Since opening their doors in 2004 with just 98 students, Fox Creek has...

On this episode of Kids First, Keven Cohen welcomes Todd Helms, a retired Army colonel, passionate education leader, and founder of Mountain View Preparatory, who has helped launch seven charter schools across South Carolina. Todd shares his inspiring journey from recovering from a deployment injury while reading "The Blind Side" to accidentally writing a business plan that became Gray Military Ac...

When we think about the legacy we leave for our children, we have to ask ourselves if we are truly giving them the best possible start. In this episode of the Kids First podcast, host Keven Cohen and Superintendent Chris Neeley sit down with Dr. Oran Smith and Ryan Dellinger from the Palmetto Promise Institute for a deeply important conversation about the future of education in South Carolina. At...

When was the last time you thought about the true purpose of education? It is not just about handing a child a piece of paper on graduation day. It is about helping them find their unique garden to cultivate. On this episode of Kids First Radio on 100.7 The Point, Keven Cohen and Superintendent Chris Neeley celebrate a historic moment for our state. They share the beautiful story of Pee Dee Math,...

In this episode of the Kids First podcast, host Keven Cohen and Superintendent Chris Neeley are joined by special guest Sara Jane Arnett from the Military Child Education Coalition. Together, they celebrate the Month of the Military Child by diving into the unique and often unseen challenges faced by military-connected students and their families. Sara Jane shares her deeply personal experiences a...

When you grow up moving from base to base, you learn very quickly what sacrifice looks like. On this episode of Kids First Radio on 100.7 The Point, Keven Cohen and Brad Henry sit down with special guest Beau Spafford to honor April as the Month of the Military Child. Beau shares his deeply personal journey of growing up in a military household and his own career in service. He knows firsthand the...

When we think about the future of South Carolina, we must consider the children who are quietly sacrificing for it right now. On this episode of Kids First Radio on 100.7 The Point, Keven Cohen and Brad Henry sit down with Superintendent Chris Neeley to reflect on the Month of the Military Child and the incredible resilience of families with deployed loved ones. It serves as a powerful reminder th...

When we think about the legacy we are leaving for the next generation, it is not just about what they learn in a textbook. It is about how they learn to navigate the world. On this episode of the Kids First podcast, Keven Cohen and Brad Henry sit down with Robbie Compton, Head of School at Riverwalk Academy in Rock Hill, to explore a truly innovative approach to education. Robbie shares how their...

Today on Kids First Radio on 100.7 The Point, tune in for a special conversation with Superintendent Chris Neeley and Elizabeth Simpson of Compass Collegiate Academy in North Charleston. We dive into the intentional, slow-growth model that has allowed Compass to thrive and outperform neighboring districts. Elizabeth shares how building trust within the community and focusing on both academic rigor...

When you have stood shoulder to shoulder in Afghanistan, building schools in the middle of a war zone, you learn exactly what it means to serve a community. In this deeply personal episode of Kids First Radio, Superintendent Chris Neeley welcomes his longtime friend and fellow veteran, Colonel Beau Spafford, to the South Carolina Public Charter School District team to continue that same missi...

On this episode of Kids First, Keven Cohen welcomes Jimmy Armstrong, Executive Director of Greer Middle College Charter High School, joined by Superintendent Chris Neeley. Jimmy shares how Greer Middle College's 535 students in grades 9 through 12 are thriving through a unique combination of project-based learning, dual enrollment courses at Greenville Tech's Benson campus, and hands-on workforce...

On this episode of Kids First, Keven Cohen sits down with Ricky Reyes, Principal of Palmetto Scholars Academy, alongside Superintendent Chris Neeley. Ricky shares the unique story of the school, which serves grades 6–12 on Joint Base Charleston and focuses on gifted and talented students and military families. The conversation highlights both the challenges and rewards of serving a highly mobile s...

In this extended special edition of Kids First Radio, host Keven Cohen welcomes South Carolina State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver for a full-hour conversation alongside Chris Neeley, Superintendent of the South Carolina Public Charter School District. Superintendent Weaver shares insights from completing her tour of all 46 counties and 82 school districts across the state, highlighting...

On this episode of Kids First, Keven Cohen welcomes Superintendent Chris Neeley of the South Carolina Public Charter School District to discuss the state of charter schools ahead of his testimony before the House Ways and Means K12 subcommittee. Chris shares the district's impressive achievements, including an 88% graduation rate and strong performance among students with disabilities and those in...

Keven Cohen sits down with Brad Henry from the South Carolina Public Charter School District to discuss National School Choice Week and what makes charter schools distinct. Brad shares how public charter schools across South Carolina give families more options, empower teachers with autonomy, and prepare students for college, careers, and the military through hands-on learning and strong community...

On this episode of  Kids First Radio  on 100.7 The Point, Keven Cohen and Superintendent Chris Neeley talk with Dr. Rhonda Gregory, Principal of Greenville Technical Charter High School in the Upstate. Dr. Gregory shares how the school's unique partnership with Greenville Technical College allows students to earn real college credits while still in high school. With a 100% graduation rat...

On this episode of  Kids First Radio  on 100.7 The Point, Keven Cohen sits down with Superintendent Chris Neeley and special guest Bruce Moseley, Middle Campus Principal at East Point Academy in West Columbia. Bruce shares the inspiring story of how East Point grew from a small K–2 school in a former hot dog stand to a thriving dual-campus charter school focused on academic rigor, langua...

In this New Year 2026 episode of  Kids First Radio  on 100.7 The Point, host Keven Cohen kicks off the year with Superintendent Chris Neeley from the South Carolina Public Charter School District to look back at the first half of the 2025–26 school year and preview what is ahead. They touch on rising reading scores, ongoing work to strengthen math, and how student mental health, family e...