Oran Smith & Ryan Dellinger | Palmetto Promise Institute

Debbie Vaughn | Lakes and Bridges Charter School

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-Gillingham approach helps students who once struggled, and sometimes came in reading grades below level, build confidence, close gaps, and rediscover a love of learning. Along the way, Keven and Chris reflect on how early identification and the power of parental choice are changing the story for families across South Carolina. The conversation also celebrates just how far Lakes & Bridges has come, from becoming the first alternative education campus in the state to earn an "Excellent" on the South Carolina report card to Debbie's recent invitation to testify before a United States Senate committee on behalf of students with dyslexia. She offers heartfelt advice for parents who sense their child may be struggling, and shares a graduation story that captures exactly why this work matters. It is an encouraging, eye-opening look at how the right environment can unlock a child's full potential. 🔗 Learn more: https://www.lakesandbridges.org/ [https://www.lakesandbridges.org/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

America at 250 | The Spark That Carries Us Forward

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 enduring connection between our nation's history and the power of education to shape what comes next. The conversation then turns to the children who will carry the torch forward. Chris explains his belief that every child is born with a "spark" that educators and families are called to protect and grow. He calls kids our greatest natural resource, pointing to how far the South Carolina Public Charter School District has come, now serving more than 30,000 students with strong gains among students of poverty and students with disabilities. It is an optimistic, patriotic look at why encouraging every child's spark may be one of the greatest ways we can prepare for America's next 250 years. 🔗 Learn more: https://sccharter.org/ [https://sccharter.org/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Curtis Baker | LEAD Academy

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 students live out every day: be nice, work hard, serve well, and have fun. Baker explains how those words shape everything from the classroom to the culture families feel the moment they walk through the door, and why the school treats its nine years with each student as nine years to develop a leader. The conversation digs into the specifics that set LEAD apart, including daily "crew time" built on the idea that students are crew, not passengers, a required community service commitment that has produced thousands of completed service hours, and a deliberate move to pull back on screens and put great teachers back at the center of learning. Baker also talks about the school's career-driven partnerships with names like BMW and ReWa, the profile of independently responsible, critically thinking graduates LEAD aims to send into high school and beyond, and what local high schools are noticing about LEAD students once they arrive. It is a candid look at how one Upstate school is preparing young people not just to test well, but to lead. 🔗 Learn more: https://myleadacademy.com/ [https://myleadacademy.com/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Lane Morris | Summerville Preparatory Academy and Discovery School

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 an innovative approach that puts five teachers in open learning spaces, moves students fluidly based on their individual needs, and limits screen time to just 30 to 40 minutes a day, Summerville Prep is building something that feels genuinely different from the moment you walk in the door. The conversation also gets into the heart of what makes these schools tick, from a virtues-based curriculum focused on character development to the addition of a licensed mental health therapist serving students each week. Lane shares how middle schoolers are already earning high school credit, how a brand new science lab is bringing hands-on learning to life in Myrtle Beach, and why the team is already dreaming about what a future Columbia campus could look like. It is a conversation full of energy, purpose, and a deep belief that every child deserves to be seen. 🔗 Learn more: summervilleprep.org ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Bill Robinson | Midlands Middle College

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 mighty public charter school gives students access to the full range of dual enrollment offerings that most high schools could only dream of, from trade certifications in welding and HVAC to college coursework that can have a student walking off the graduation stage already ahead of their peers. The conversation gets into what makes Midlands Middle College the right fit, including a 10 to 4 school day, class sizes that never exceed 16 students, and a culture where every student is known by name. Bill, Chris, and Keven also dig into the real financial relief dual enrollment can offer families and what the future could look like if local businesses began partnering with schools like this one to build workforce pipelines from the ground up. It is a genuinely exciting look at what school choice can make possible. 🔗 Learn more: MidlandsMiddleCollege.com ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.