Unbridled

Pete Stone is a 10th-grade English, journalism, and public speaking teacher at Lewisville High School in Chester County, South Carolina, who received the prestigious 2026 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence. He is one of only five public school educators in the nation to receive this national honor that recognizes educators who demonstrate excellence in the classroom, community engagement, a...

Chris McNutt is the co-founder and executive director of Human Restoration Project, a nonprofit organization focused on student engagement, well-being, and motivation. His work centers on realizing systems-based change, examining how progressive pedagogical shifts (e.g. PBL, ungrading) reimagine school to best suit the needs of students and teachers alike. He was a public high school digital media...

Ann Marie and Todd dive deep into mindfulness practices and how they can support classroom/school culture.

Ann Marie and Todd dive deep into mindfulness in education.

Meka Childs is a South Carolina native, former middle school teacher, and longtime education leader with deep experience in policy, school improvement, and educator development. A Duke University graduate, she has spent her career supporting schools, districts, and communities to ensure every child, regardless of zip code, has access to high-quality learning opportunities. Meka is also a military...

Ann Marie and Todd explore accountability with John Payne , Deputy Superintendent of the South Carolina Public Charter School District. John oversees authorization, data, and accountability for more than 40 public schools statewide. He previously served as Deputy State Superintendent at the South Carolina Department of Education, leading major initiatives including protecting $80 million in IDEA f...

On this episode of Unbridled, Ann Marie and Todd talk about teacher well-being with Tish Jennings, Ph. D. Tish is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of social and emotional learning (SEL), mindfulness in education, and teacher well-being. A Professor of Education at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development, her research focuses on promoting well-being...

The Unbridled Crew explores Teacher Leadership with Dr. Trevor T. Ivey, founder of Liberty STEAM Charter in Sumter County, South Carolina. Now in its fifth year, Liberty STEAM is transforming education and opportunity in the region with a focus on innovation, social-emotional learning, and career-ready pathways in business, health, engineering, and technology. A proud Sumter County public school g...

On this episode, Ann Marie and Todd discuss teacher recruitment and retention with Dr. Ann Byrd. Ann is the executive director of SC-Teacher , an organization that provides comprehensive research about South Carolina’s educator workforce. Through her work with SC-Teacher, Dr. Byrd partners with researchers, educators, district administrators, and other state education officials across South Caroli...

In this episode of Unbridled, Ann Marie and Todd talk with Matthew Bowerman about creating trauma-sensitive spaces. Bowerman is a trauma-responsive, culturally competent servant leader who prioritizes collaborative, discovery-based learning for K-12 and higher education staff, students, and families; also a passionately creative, critical thinker and solution-maker with over thirty years in educat...

In this episode of Unbridled , Ann Marie and Todd sit down with Dr. Jon Eckert, Professor of Educational Leadership and the Lynda and Robert Copple Endowed Chair for Christians in School Leadership at Baylor University. With more than two decades of experience as a classroom teacher, policy advisor, and researcher, Jon brings a deeply human and hopeful perspective to what it means to teach and lea...

Springhouse Community School in Pilot, VA got its name because its purpose is very similar to an actual springhouse. A springhouse is built around a fresh spring of water that comes up from the ground. Its purpose is to protect the precious resource of water, making it useful to others. The school Springhouse has the same intention – but with people.  "We know that if we protect and take care...

Tammy Pawloski (Ph. D. University of South Carolina) is Professor of Education and Director of the Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty at Francis Marion University.  She has spent the last twenty-five years of her career using educational neuroscience to inform her work in schools across the nation that is centered on understanding why learners struggle and how to strat...

On the premiere episode of Unbridled, Ann Marie and Todd connect with Sarah Morris, Horse Creek Academy's Chief Impact and Communications Officer. Together, they explore how Horse Creek Academy has evolved over the past few years.