Best Love Your School West Virginia Podcasts (2024)

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68. The Write Journey with Kris Cordell 41:56

9h ago41:56

41:56

In this episode, we sit down with Kris, a dedicated homeschool mom, who shares her journey of teaching her four children. She recalls the excitement of discovering the "perfect" language arts curriculum, only to hit a brick wall a few weeks into each school year. This overwhelming experience led her to realize that her children didn't need to maste…

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67. Bridging Gaps and Empowering Futures at Middle College with Sarah Marshall 46:39

19d ago46:39

46:39

Today on We Have Hope, Kim talks with Sarah Marshall of KVC West Virginia. KVC West Virginia is a state-licensed child placement agency dedicated to strengthening families and preventing child abuse and neglect. After seeing a need for more educational options for youth experiencing foster care, KVC partnered with First Star Academy and Fairmont St…

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66. The Hope Scholarship and Microschools with Erica Wimmer Pt. 2 50:31

29d ago50:31

50:31

Welcome back to part 2 of our conversation with Erica Wimmer. In this episode, we are taking a deeper dive into the effects of the Hope Scholarship, exploring new educational possibilities, teaching kids to learn, and individualized needs of students. If you haven’t listened to part 1 yet, go back and listen to it first! We hope you enjoy this conv…

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65. The Hope Scholarship and Microschools with Erica Wimmer Pt. 1 36:27

29d ago36:27

36:27

We're thrilled to welcome Erika Wimmer back to today's episode. Erika, a former educator in the public school system for 14 years, taught every grade level in elementary education and served as an instructional coach and interventionist. Growing dissatisfied with the public school system, Erika learned about the Hope Scholarship and microschools. S…

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64. WIN Academy with Tina Spaulding 35:01

2M ago35:01

35:01

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 …

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63. Introducing Our Newest Member at Love Your School WV, Tiffany Hoben 25:05

3M ago25:05

25:05

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…

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62. Wisest Learners with Dr. Wallace Panlilio and Dr. Artyom Zinchenko 1:03:00

3M ago1:03:00

1:03:00

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, an…

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61. Wild + Free with Tiffany Dixon & Sara Sestito 40:01

4M ago40:01

40:01

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 u…

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60. Live Interviews from Our National School Choice Week Event 21:24

4M ago21:24

21:24

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 avai…

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59. Wild & Wonderful Enrichment with Jodie Witmer 33:36

5M ago33:36

33:36

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 …

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58. Join Us for Our National School Choice Week Event!: The Morgantown School Fair with Amanda Kieffer of the Cardinal Institute 32:15

5M ago32:15

32:15

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 lo…

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57. Education from a Mother’s Perspective with Estie Woodard 49:39

5M ago49:39

49:39

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…

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56. If You Build It, They Will Come: Teach to the Text with Ellen Finnigan 44:52

6M ago44:52

44:52

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. Thr…

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55. Raising the Bar for West Virginia’s Education with Heidi Treu 32:16

6M ago32:16

32:16

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 rew…

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54. Putting Faith in Action at Trinity Christian School 50:59

6M ago50:59

50:59

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 be…

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53. From Teaching to Homeschooling - Insights from Education Consultant Kristen Adkins 48:16

7M ago48:16

48:16

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 pro…

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52. Helping Students Capitalize on Their Strengths with Dr. Norrine Russell 50:49

7M ago50:49

50:49

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 mu…

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51. Embracing the Family’s Role in Education with Melissa Mohr of City On A Hill Christian Academy 42:01

7M ago42:01

42:01

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 n…

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50. Making Science Accessible with Scott Burns of Home Science Tools 29:40

7M ago29:40

29:40

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 qua…

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49. The Importance of Early Childhood Education with Mariah Burnley, Owner/Director of Ohio Valley Child Learning Center 55:31

8M ago55:31

55:31

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 ch…

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48. Meet Love Your School West Virginia’s New Executive Director, Buster Nicholson! 36:12

8M ago36:12

36:12

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, d…

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47. Parent Empowerment with ‘The Education Lady’, Virginia Walden Ford Part 2 40:52

8M ago40:52

40:52

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 spe…

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46. Parent Empowerment with ‘The Education Lady’, Virginia Walden Ford Part 1 37:25

8M ago37:25

37:25

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, filmmake…

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45. Advocating for Our Children with Kathie Hess Crouse 42:52

8M ago42:52

42:52

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 thr…

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44. A Peek into the WVSSAC with Executive Director Bernie Dolan 42:22

9M ago42:22

42:22

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, supervis…

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43. Education is Relationship-Based with Meredith Olson from VELA Education Fund 42:46

9M ago42:46

42:46

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 h…

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42. What Is The HOPE Scholarship? 22:42

9M ago22:42

22:42

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 …

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41. We’re Back for Season Two! 20:26

9M ago20:26

20:26

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 chall…

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40. Season 1 Recap 25:41

1y ago25:41

25:41

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 insp…

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39. Pathways Early College Academy with Alden Kiertzner 42:21

1y ago42:21

42:21

Welcome back to We Have Hope! We have a special guest on the show with us today. Alden Kiertzner, founding principal of Pathways Early College Academy is here with us to share about their program. PECA is an online High School Academy partnered with Pathways College. Pathways College started with a mission to bring affordable college to every stude…

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38. A Classical Christian Education at Emmanuel Christian School 47:31

1y ago47:31

47:31

In today’s episode, we are learning more about Emmanuel Christian School in Clarksburg, West Virginia. ECS focuses on providing a classical Christian education to their students. The school is in it’s 50th year! ECS is an extension of Emmanuel Baptist Church. They are first and foremost a ministry, so they are dedicated to helping families in any w…

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37. Selling Hope with Jamie Dickenson 49:33

1y ago49:33

49:33

The process of preparing, getting accepted, and choosing a college can be overwhelming for both students and parents.. but today’s guest prides herself in helping families along the way. Jamie Dickenson is a Certified Educational Planner in Charleston, West Virginia. She typically begins her work with students when they are in 8th grade. Jamie is e…

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36. A Look Inside West Virginia Academy: West Virginia’s First Public Charter School 43:50

1y ago43:50

43:50

In today’s episode, we are sitting down with Heidi Treu, executive director and founder of West Virginia Academy. West Virginia Academy is West Virginia’s first charter school. After moving to West Virginia, Heidi & her husband started their children in public school. One year into their public education, it was apparent to the parents that their c…

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35. Opportunity for Everyone at St. Mary’s & Notre Dame with Ashley Vernon 46:07

1y ago46:07

46:07

In today’s episode, we are chatting with Ashley Vernon, Development Director at St. Mary’s Grade School & Notre Dame High School. Ashley’s goal in her role is to continuously push the schools to move forward and grow. She has two daughters of her own that attend St. Mary’s. St. Mary’s offers Christ centered education for Pre-K 3 through 6th grade, …

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34. Reclaiming Our Children’s Future with West Virginia State Treasurer Riley Moore 35:29

1y ago35:29

35:29

Today on the show, we have special guest West Virginia State Treasurer Riley Moore. Treasurer Moore started out as a welder maintaining mining equipment. He worked his way through college, and went on to work on Capitol Hill on the House Foreign Affairs Committee as a National Security Advisor. Eventually, he left government and worked in the priva…

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33. A Parent's Perspective with Victoria Evans 32:10

1y ago32:10

32:10

Today on We Have Hope, we are chatting with our editor and friend, Victoria Evans. Victoria lives in Salem, West Virginia with her husband Travis and their two children. In our conversation today, Victoria shares about challenges her daughter had before, during, and after the school shutdowns, and how school choice made a way for them to find freed…

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32. Inspiring Hope in Children with Kristine Ayers Cline of Laurel Academy 41:30

1y ago41:30

41:30

Seven years ago, Kristine Ayers Cline saw a need. She was in a field in which she worked with people with disabilities and she started to notice a pattern: Many of those she worked with would come into her office asking for help to file for social security benefits. She had the ability to help them file, but she chose first to try to inspire them i…

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31. Linsly School with Head of School Justin Zimmerman 42:27

1y ago42:27

42:27

Welcome back to We Have Hope! In today’s episode, we sat down with Justin Zimmerman, Head of School at Linsly in Wheeling, WV to learn more about their school. Linsly is an independent day boarding school that offers grades five through twelve. They offer day time school as well as boarding school for the upper grades. Founded in 1814, Linsly is th…

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30. Mountaineer Homeschool Hub with Angie Channell 44:09

1y ago44:09

44:09

Welcome back to the We Have Hope Podcast! Today on the show, we are chatting with Angie Channell, founder of Mountaineer Homeschool Hub. In 2011, Angie’s son came to her and asked her to be homeschooled. He was in second grade at the time and was being bullied in school. After some research and support of friends and her husband, Angie took the lea…

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29. WVU High School ACCESS Early College Program with Rishira Dille 37:51

1+ y ago37:51

37:51

Welcome back to the We Have Hope Podcast! Today, we are chatting with Rishira Dille - Program Coordinator for WVU High School ACCESS Early College Program. WVU High School ACCESS Early College Program allows 10th-12th grade students to take college courses while still attending High School. The only requirement is a 3.0 grade point average. Student…

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28. Learning in Nature with Katie Switzer of Monongalia Forest School 39:18

1+ y ago39:18

39:18

Welcome back, friends! Today on the show, we are joined by Katie Switzer, founder of Monongalia Forest School. Katie lives in Morgantown with her husband and four kids. In the summer of 2021, she began looking for a forest school for her kids to participate in. When she didn’t find an option that was the right fit for her family, she decided to sta…

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27. Anyone Can Code with Monica Say of Code With Nano 36:09

1+ y ago36:09

36:09

Welcome back to the We Have Hope Podcast! We have an exciting guest on the show today! Monica Say from Code With Nano is here to talk to us about coding and the one on one courses she has available. According to Monica - anyone can code! How exciting would it be for your child to learn to code and be able to look at their work and say ‘I did that!’…

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26. Being the Adult You Needed as a Child with Gabi Hayes Licensed Social Worker Pt. 2 27:02

1+ y ago27:02

27:02

Welcome back to part two of our conversation with licensed social worker, Gabi Hayes. In today’s episode, we dig deep into ‘Trauma Informed Care’ and what it looks like. We are so excited you decided to join us today! Episode Highlights: What is Trauma Informed Care? How Do You Determine if Someone is Trauma Informed? Simple Things You Can Do at Ho…

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25. Being the Adult You Needed as a Child with Gabi Hayes Licensed Social Worker - Pt. 1 35:17

1+ y ago35:17

35:17

Sometimes it just takes that one person stepping up to change the course of a child’s life. In today’s episode, Kim & Leah sit down with licensed social worker Gabi Hayes to discuss everything from implementing various tools & techniques to breaking unhealthy generational cycles. Children have complex emotions and they need someone who will advocat…

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24. The Transformative Power of Education with Dr. Joni Gray of Pierpont Community and Technical College 42:34

1+ y ago42:34

42:34

Did you know that your middle schooler could potentially take college courses? We are so excited to share today’s episode with you. We had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Joni Gray, Transitions Education Specialist with Pierpont Community and Technical College to talk about some of the educational opportunities they offer. As Transitions Educa…

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23. Focusing on the ‘Whole Child’ with Ashley Matheny of Whole Child Learning Academy 30:02

1+ y ago30:02

30:02

When Ashley Matheny was growing up, she always thought she would be a Public School Teacher. She imagined herself teaching for 30 years and then retiring. While she did end up teaching public school, it didn’t go exactly as planned. She taught for several years, but around year 4, she began to feel ‘burnt out’. After a medical leave of absence, Ash…

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22. Teaching from the Heart with Helen Bradley of The IDEA Center 25:48

1+ y ago25:48

25:48

Welcome back to the We Have Hope podcast! Today, we are chatting with Helen Bradley of The IDEA Center in Wheeling, West Virginia. Since 2019, Helen has been tutoring students one on one in this after school tutoring program. The I-D-E-A in IDEA Center stands for ‘Individual Development Education Assistance’. Something that really stands out about …

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21. Homeschooling = Freedom! with Roy Ramey of WVHEA 38:39

1+ y ago38:39

38:39

Welcome back, friends! We are excited to share today’s episode with you! We had the chance to sit down with Roy Ramey, President of the West Virginia Home Educators Association to talk about all things homeschool. Roy is a retired military officer. He spent 33 years in active duty in the Reserves and Guard. At a young age, Roy developed a passion f…

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Special Episode! Love Your School National School Choice Week Family Fun Day Event at Canaan Valley Ski Resort 10:25

1+ y ago10:25

10:25

Welcome Everyone! Please Join Us to Celebrate National School Choice Week in West Virginia! This event is completely free to you and the first 50 families get a free swag bag! Come learn about school choice, celebrate your options together, and have a blast! The event will take place at Canaan Valley Ski Resort in Davis, West Virginia on Saturday, …

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20. Transforming K-12 with Keri Hunter of Stand Together Trust 41:35

1+ y ago41:35

41:35

In this week’s episode, we are chatting with Keri Hunter of Stand Together Trust. Keri is a mother to a seventh grader and a senior. Though her children are only teens, Keri has been in the School Choice movement for over 20 years. Stand Together Trust is a broader philanthropic community looking to help solve some of the biggest challenges in Amer…

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Love Your School West Virginia Podcasts

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