For our season finale, Dr. Bond sat down with the 2024 ACPS Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Blair Hoffman, and three of her students.  Tune in to hear more about Mrs. Hoffman's career and her commitment to her outstanding students!

Starting kindergarten is a major milestone, but we are here for you! This episode is a must-listen for families getting their little ones ready to start kindergarten. Julie McClamroch, Inclusive Early Childhood Supervisor, joins Dr. Bond to discuss all the essential steps for kindergarten registration, including the required documents and tips for making the process smooth! This episode will help ensure you and your child are ready to embrace this exciting new chapter.

Tune in to this episode to hear all the details about the upcoming “Adventures at the Museum Night” event! The event includes a pizza dinner, free books, STEAM activities, and a chance to explore the grounds of the Frontier Culture Museum- all for free! Mrs. Jane Wright, Director of Elementary Instruction, tells listeners what to expect at the event and how to sign up! Be sure to sign up using the QR code at the end of the episode. We look forward to seeing you there!

Tune in to discover how ACPS fifth-grade students explored the idea of citizenship through service to others. In this episode, Dr. Bond interviews a variety of guests who made this unit of study come to life! Join us for an educational journey that goes beyond the classroom walls!

Tune in to hear about the incredible work that our maintenance department does each day to keep our schools safe and in good working order for our students and staff!  Mr. Greg Troxell, Executive Director of Operations and Maintenance, joins Dr. Bond to discuss the day-to-day operations of the department and the vestibule projects that were completed over the summer to keep our schools safe and secure.  

In this episode, Dr. Bond sits down with school social workers,  Donna Early and Jane Dowdell, and WMHS Assistant Principal, Steve Hom, to talk about the importance of school attendance and the Every Day Counts campaign in ACPS!

Join Dr. Bond and Dr. Shifflett as they talk about the addition of Weapons Detectors in Augusta County Public Schools and how they will be another layer of security to ensure a safe and welcoming learning environment for our teachers and students. 

In this episode, Dr. Bond chats with guests, including students, for listeners to gain various perspectives about the elementary STEM experience . Tune in to learn more about what STEM education is, why it is important, and how it affects our students moving forward into the future!

Tune in to this episode to hear all the details about the upcoming “Adventures at the Museum Night” event! The event includes a pizza dinner, free books, STEAM activities, and a chance to explore the grounds of the Frontier Culture Museum- all for free! Mrs. Jane Wright, Director of Elementary Instruction, tells listeners what to expect at the event and how to sign up! Be sure to sign up using the QR code at the end of the episode. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join Dr. Bond as he chats with Mr. Nick Collins- this year's school board chair and one of the longest tenured elected board members.  Tune in to hear Mr. Collins reflect on the past 24 years in Augusta County Schools and discuss current successes.  Thank you, Mr. Collins, for your dedication and continued support for ACPS!

In this episode, Dr. Bond highlights middle school sports by talking to key "players" in the BMMS program.  Tune in to hear from Julie Sanger (Athletic Director), Madison Carter (Volleyball Coach), Harper Carter (7th Grade Athlete), and Abby Bennington (7th Grade Athlete) about how beneficial the middle school sports programs are for their school communities and highlights from the season. We are very proud of our student athletes, coaches, and sports staff in ACPS!

Tune in to this episode to hear all about Stuart Draft High School's Cougar Crew- a peer mentoring program where senior crew leaders support freshman through their first year of high school.  Thanks to Dr. Nycum, Ashley King, and seniors Laura Gillespie and Isaac Martin for taking the time to highlight this amazing program!

To kick off Season 4, Dr. Bond chats with Mr. Shawn Baska, principal at Stump Elementary, and two students, Audrey Baska (5th grade) and Charlie Brevard (4th grade), about their new playground!  Tune in to hear all about the community effort behind the fundraising process and highlights of this new equipment!

For this exciting episode, Dr. Bond is joined by Mr. Brad Bryant, the 2022 ACPS Teacher of the Year, and two of his students!  Tune in to learn more about the Carpentry Program at Valley Career & Technical Center and how Mr. Bryant works to prepare students for the workforce and, more importantly, for life.

On this episode, Dr. Bond talks to Dr. Lee Ann Whitesell about the Shenandoah Valley Center for Advanced Learning which houses the Valley Career & Technical Center and the Shenandoah Valley Governor's School. Tune in to learn more about the program and the vision and goals looking into the future!

On this episode, Dr. Bond is joined by Mark Lotts, Director of Finance, to discuss all things budget!  Tune in to hear about the budget goals and highlights for 22/23. 

In this episode, Dr. Bond chats with one of the newest members of the ACPS school board, Mr. Troxell. Tune in to learn more about Mr. Troxell's experiences and what excites him about the future of ACPS!

Tune in to hear details from Dr. Bond and Dr. Shifflett regarding the school board's recent mask optional decision and for an update on our continued mitigation strategies.

Welcome back to Season 3! In this episode, Matt Baraclough, band director at Wilson Memorial High School, shares how his students have used their musical talents to give back to the community during the pandemic. Tune in to hear more about their recent trip to Augusta Health and the band program at WMHS.

Hip, hip. hooray! In this episode, Dr. Bond chats with the Augusta County Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Erica Cason. Tune in to learn more about Mrs. Cason's innovative approach to teaching and her positive reflections on this school year. Two of Mrs. Cason's fourth-grade students join Dr. Bond as well to help celebrate their teacher. Congratulations to all the 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year representatives.

Dr. Bond and guests discuss the school board's decision of moving to a four-day in-person learning model starting April 15, 2021. Tune in to learn about the guidance and data that led to this decision and what the rest of the school year will look like in ACPS. This episode also features accompanying slides which display important CDC information and data points from March 13, 2021.

Dr. Bond discusses employee COVID vaccinations with Dr. Shifflett, Deputy Superintendent. Tune in to discover the planning and preparation that took place to vaccinate about 75% of ACPS staff. A very special thank you to all involved in this process, especially the school nurses! 

On this episode of the podcast, Dr. Bond is joined by Dr. Laura Kornegay from the VDH along with Ms.Carol Cash, Dr. Douglas Shifflett, and Mrs. Miranda Ball from ACPS to discuss how the hybrid/virtual model is being managed and maintained through the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in to hear ALL that the Division is doing to sustain learning while keeping students and staff safe!

Dr. Bond is joined by Mrs. Kiracofe and Mr. Howdyshell as they explore the world of Canvas. Tune in to learn more about the Canvas platform as well as some family tips for utilizing this learning management system. 

Tune in to learn more about plans for instruction, transportation, and health and safety for the 2020-2021 school year. This episode features accompanying slides as Dr. Bond and Mrs. Kiracofe discuss the division’s plan.

Principal of Fort Defiance High School, Larry Landes, joins Dr. Bond as he celebrates his upcoming retirement of more than 40 years in public education. A mentor to many, Mr. Landes shares his experience over the years, as well as provides an overview of graduation plans for the division’s high schools. Tune in!

This episode shines the spotlight on the Augusta County Teacher of the Year, Ms. Emily Hewitt. Innovation, creativity, and strong student relationships are at the heart of this teacher’s lesson plan. Hewitt shares her background and beliefs of education, and even shares a special message for her students! Tune in to this episode as Dr. Bond recognizes not only Ms. Hewitt’s outstanding dedication to the division, but the other teacher of the year representatives, as well! Special thanks to Principal Tina Bowersox of Stuarts Draft Elementary School for joining the episode from a distance.

Thanks to the amazing dedication of Augusta County School employees and the “How can I help?” attitude of community members, the ACPS meal pick up and delivery service served 42,204 meals to area children last week. This episode explores the overview of the program, safety precautions, and the extraordinary #AugustaCountyStrong efforts of so many people.

Thanks to our special guests Dr. Ron Abernathy (School Nutrition Program Supervisor), Mr. Terry LaFon (Executive Director of Transportation), and Mrs. Fonda Morris (Principal of Clymore Elementary School) for joining Dr. Bond for this episode!

Dedication! In this episode, Mr. Collins enthusiastically discusses his tenure as a member of the school board. Currently serving as Chairman of the Board, he not only shares his reflections, but goals for pushing our division forward. Thank you, Mr. Collins for more than 20 years of service (and counting!) to Augusta County Public Schools.

Join Dr. Bond and his special guests as they discuss Augusta County’s plan for “Continuity of Learning” as we finish out the school year from a distance.  Tune in to discover about equitable learning experiences for all students, WiFi opportunities, and a special message to high school seniors. We know that working together during this unprecedented time will continue to make us #AugustaCountyStrong. Thanks to Mrs. Kiracofe, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Technology, as well as Mrs. Ball, Executive Director of Student Services for joining this episode!

Safety is the guiding principle when it comes to transporting our Augusta County students. This episode highlights the work of the Transportation Department and how they keep students safely "rolling along" the roads of Augusta County. Executive Director of Transportation, Mr. LaFon, joins Dr. Bond to discuss topics ranging from bus driver shortages to the procedure for delaying or closing schools due to inclement weather.  Interested in joining the transportation team as a bus driver? Make sure to listen to this episode to learn how YOU can join this incredible staff!

Instruction is what it’s all about! Dr. Bond is joined by Mrs. Tina Kiracofe, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Technology, to discuss a variety of topics related to instruction. Tune in to discover more about the “Three E’s,” 1:1 technology initiatives, and the process of developing the school calendar.