We Have Hope

Today, we are chatting with Tina Spaulding, Dual Enrollment Coordinator at WIN Academy at Bridge Valley Community and Technical College.  WIN Academy is the Kanawha Valley’s newest charter school that provides an accelerated, dynamic degree program for up to 120 high school juniors and seniors who are passionate and focused on starting a career. In our conversation, we dive into the heart of WIN A...

Welcome back to We Have Hope! We are excited for you to meet our newest member here at Love Your School - Tiffany Hoben! Tiffany taught for over a decade in the school system with a focus on Civics & Government. She eventually went on to secure a district position, helping teachers with instructional coaching and curriculum support. From there, she moved into a board of education role in Flori...

Join us as we interview the authors, Dr. Wallace Panlilio and Dr. Artyom Zinchenko, both esteemed educators with PhDs in Educational Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience. Together, they have crafted a modern and practical guidebook called Wisest Learners for parents, offering invaluable insights and strategies to nurture inquisitive, motivated, and triumphant lifelong learners. During the intervi...

In today's episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Tiffany Dixon & Sara Sestito from the Wild + Free North Central West Virginia Chapter. Inspired by Ainsley Arment's book "Call of the Wild + Free," Wild + Free is a dynamic organization dedicated to fostering connections among mothers and facilitating children's exploration of nature. Join us as we delve into th...

In this episode, join Kim as she conducts live interviews at the National School Choice Week event! You’ll hear from three different educational & extracurricular options here in West Virginia and learn more about the services they offer. The resounding message we hope you will glean from this episode is that there are many educational options available in West Virginia, and if you don’t find...

We’re excited to have Jodie Witmer, owner and founder of Wild & Wonderful Enrichment with us on the show today. Jodie started her career in education in the summers of her college years, working with kids in small groups. She graduated with a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Shepherd University.  When her son turned three, they started forest school, and she shares that it was their firs...

National School Choice Week is coming up, and we’ve partnered with the Cardinal Institute to put on a school fair!  On the show today, I’m chatting with Amanda Kieffer at the Cardinal Institute about National School Choice Week. We’re diving deeper into the meaning, the reason we celebrate, and sharing details about our upcoming school fair! We’d love to invite you to join us for our School Fair o...

Today, we’re sitting down with Estie Woodard, mom of 3, to talk about all things education and community. Estie Woodard was raised as a homeschooled student and has worked in multiple educational arenas from Montessori to a classical Christian school. She is passionate about the idea that parents can choose their children’s educational options from year to year based on what fits their needs. Tune...

After a decade of teaching in different settings, Ellen Finnigan began to ask herself, ‘What if I could teach how I want to?’.  Ellen had taught online, was a writing coach for homeschooled students, and taught in a hybrid school, but after several years, she was beginning to feel burnt out. From this inner wrestling, Teach to the Text was born. Through her program, Ellen aims to make classical ed...

We’re excited to have Heidi Treu back on the show with us today! Heidi is the co-founder and executive Director of West Virginia Academy,  West Virginia's first tuition-free wraparound community school.​ In just its 2nd year, West Virginia Academy was announced as a finalist for the prestigious 2023 Yass Prize Award for education. The Yass Prize rewards programs that are sustainable, transfor...

Trinity Christian School is more than just an educational institution; it's a nurturing community built on the belief that a strong foundation in academics, faith, and character development creates resilient individuals. At Trinity, students embark on a transformative journey where academic excellence harmonizes with spiritual growth.  The school believes that a strong partnership between stu...

In today's insightful conversation, we had the pleasure of speaking with Kristen Adkins, an education consultant and former foster parent deeply entrenched in the foster care system. Kristen's journey is one of immense transitions, highlighting the transformative power of community, compassion, and finding one's purpose. Kristen embarked on her professional journey as a dedicated me...

In today’s conversation, we are chatting with Dr. Norrine Russell, founder of Russell Coaching for Students. Russell Coaching specializes in helping students with complex ADHD. This may look like a very unmotivated teen who struggles with homework, organization, planning, and more. Their coaches are experts in providing services to students with multiple diagnoses. Dr. Norrine shares about Russell...

In today’s episode, we are chatting with Melissa Mohr, Head of School at City On A Hill Christian Academy. Melissa has been in the private school setting for 19 years and in education for even longer.  City On A Hill opened in the fall of 2022 after Melissa and a group of educators saw a need for another schooling option and teamed up to fill that need. In its inaugural year, the school had over 5...

In this episode, we delve into the world of making science an exciting journey for families and students. Our guest, Scott Burns from Home Science Tools, joins us to explore the ways in which their company is revolutionizing the accessibility of science education. Scott shares insights into the challenges students and families face in accessing quality science resources and how Home Science Tools...

When Mariah Burnley couldn’t find the right childcare option for her 9 month old, the opportunity arose to open her own center. Within her second year of opening, her husband was able to retire from his 90 hour a week job and work alongside her.  We love Mariah’s story so much, and are so excited to dive deeper with her on the importance of early childhood education. We chat about quality of care,...

We’re excited to introduce today’s guest, Love Your School West Virginia’s new Executive Director, Buster Nicholson!  Buster has worked in the public school system as a teacher and administrator. He had his own tutoring center, and he & his wife of 33 years homeschooled their children from 1998-2021. In today’s episode, we dive into Buster’s past, discuss his hopes for the school choice moveme...

Welcome to Part 2 of our conversation with Virginia Walden Ford. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, we’d like to encourage you to go back in listen to episode 46 before diving into this episode! Virginia Walden Ford is one of America’s leading advocates for parent empowerment. As a student, a mother, an advocate, and a grandmother, Virginia has spent her lifetime fighting to create new educational...

Virginia Walden Ford is one of America’s leading advocates for parent empowerment. As a student, a mother, an advocate, and a grandmother, Virginia has spent her lifetime fighting to create new educational opportunities for children and families. Fueled by her passion for educational opportunity, Virginia Walden Ford has inspired families, filmmakers, and lawmakers to make positive educational cha...

Kathie Hess Crouse serves as a member of the House of Delegates. She is a mom of 5, past president of West Virginia Home Educators, the first female athletic commissioner for the West Virginia Athletic Commission, and she currently runs the largest Facebook group for homeschoolers called The Unsocialized Homeschoolers of West Virginia.  Kathie’s three oldest children graduated from public school....

We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Bernie Dolan, executive director of the WVSSAC. The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) is a private, voluntary, non-profit organization comprised of the principals or designees of West Virginia public and private secondary schools who have elected to delegate control, supervision, and regulations of their interscholastic, ban...

Today, on the show, we are joined by Meredith Olson from the VELA Education Fund. VELA Education Fund supports everyday entrepreneurs who are boldly reimagining education. The fund serves the largest community of out-of-system education entrepreneurs in the country. Meredith shares about how VELA was started, what they do, and the impact they are having on education. VELA is an incredible organiza...

We have some new listeners around here, so we thought now would be a good time to talk about the HOPE Scholarship! The HOPE Scholarship is an ESA (Education Savings Account) for eligible students in West Virginia. In this episode, we will talk about what the scholarship is, eligibility requirements, the application process, resources, and more.  We are passionate about this awesome program and lov...

Welcome back to the We Have Hope Podcast! Thanks for tuning in for Season TWO! We hope you had a great summer and are settling nicely into the new school year. We have a great lineup for you this season, and we’re so excited to share these interviews with you! Each year is a new opportunity for growth for you and your family. Parenting can be challenging, but your love and dedication are making a...

Welcome to our Season 1 Recap! We have had an amazing first season with some truly inspiring guests. Thank you so much to each of our guests for coming on the podcast and sharing your stories.  We’ve talked to educators, providers, an elected official, and parents on the show, and it was fascinating to hear each of their stories. You’ve brought inspiration, joy, and hope to countless others by sha...