“As a parent, you want the best for your child”
Written by Joanna Holbert Starting school is often an exciting, anticipated right of passage for a child, but for some parents – parents like Josh and Elizabeth Saucier – it’s an upcoming milestone for their son that comes with a deep sense of anxiety. “Nolan stopped talking at 18 months,” said Elizabeth. “Before that, he was…
Overcoming addiction and providing second chances
Written by Joanna Holbert Recovery. So many things are factored into that word for someone who is coming out of addiction – recovering from trauma, recovering emotionally, recovering physically. Ryan Nicholas was addicted to opioids at age 20. He would spend the next five years battling his addiction. Ryan got the help he needed to get…
“There’s so much more to our students than just a test”
Written by Joanna Holbert Khrysten Glass always knew she wanted to return to her hometown of Canton to give back to her community. Today, she walks the halls of her school worried. She’s worried about her students, not about their test scores, but worried about their safety, worried about their future, worried about their home…
When the love and joy of learning is sucked out of the classroom
Written by Joanna Holbert Education is Mississippi has become prescribed. That’s how Donna Akers a 30-year veteran teacher describes the public education system. Donna “accidentally” found herself in education as she was faced with the decision of declaring a major at Ole Miss. “I had to pick something, and I chose education because I thought it…
“Teaching was always what I loved to do”
Written by Joanna Holbert The passion to teach runs through the veins of Keeba Smith of Laurel. “I come from a family of educators,” she said, “my mom taught for 27 years. My aunt was a teacher and so are my two sisters. It runs in the family.” But Keeba ran from a career in education…
“As teachers, we were teaching to the test”
Written by Joanna Holbert “To walk away is the most difficult decision a teacher can ever make,” Crystal McKinnis said quietly of her decision to leave the profession – a profession that continues to hold her heart – after 11 years in the classroom. Crystal, a Jackson native, started as a “reluctant teacher” she described. “There…
Home-based business provides new career for entrepreneur
Written by Joanna Holbert Freedom in her career is what led Jolie Freeman to her house in Magee where she works as a home-based travel agent for her company Southern Baggage Travel. Jolie is an independent contractor and works with a number of companies planning trips for her clients. “I love being able to help people…
Ivy Green Academy: A learner-driven school
Written by Joanna Holbert “There’s no drill and kill here.” That’s how Dr. Donna Akers, Head of School at Ivy Green Academy in Pontotoc describes the freedom that her students have in the classroom. The students are receiving an education free from standardized testing and the traditional ways of doing school all while thriving and growing.…
The business of grace
Written by Joanna Holbert Heath Ferguson is in the business of offering grace. Why? Because grace is what helped him change his life. Ferguson serves as the Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care and Faith Relations at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. To look at Ferguson one might not see the former drug addict who found himself…
Delta Streets Academy: Changing lives. Shaping lives.
Written by Brett Kittredge Six years ago this fall, Delta Streets Academy opened its doors for the first time to 14 young men in the 7th and 8th grades. The school is housed at First Baptist Church in Greenwood. Its mission? To provide a well-rounded, high quality education to families in and around the city. A…
My kids are in public school. I support school choice.
Written by Brett Kittredge Amanda Felder has always wanted the best for her son Max. When he was younger, that meant paying for private school tuition at Magnolia Speech School. It also meant a yearlong transition in a smaller private school. And today, it means attending his local district school. We visited with Amanda two years…
Homeschooling Is My School Choice
Written by Brett Kittredge “We were not going be those people” was how Tracy Craig summed up her thoughts on homeschooling when her oldest child first entered school. The Craigs weren’t sure what school or schools their children would attend, they just knew homeschooling was off the table. But as it often does, life has a…
Finding The Right Pace For Her Son
Written by Brett Kittredge As you leave Cleveland and head toward the Mississippi River, you will go through the town of Pace. The expression, “Blink and you’ll miss it,” often gets overused when talking about small towns but it will certainly suffice when talking about this town in Bolivar County. Pace is small in size, less…