The Lee County Listener

Breaking Bread

Matthew and Anna Claire Stinson, of Stinson Breads, join the show this week to share the craft of baking bread. While bread offers a tangible product to the community, the Stinsons see it as much more than simply a product. Bread is an opportunity to gather, to share a meal, to share a moment. To take part in the community around us by simply making time to share time. 
To learn more about Stinson Breads:
https://www.stinsonbreads.com/
https://www.instagram.com/stinsonbreads/
To keep up with local news and events:
https://opelikaobserver.com/
Thank you to our community partners:
https://www.colabopelika.com/
https://www.statefarm.com/agent/us/al/opelika/christie-hill-lylv161jvak

Auburn City Schools

Daniel Chesser, Auburn City Schools Public Relations Coordinator, joins the show this week to share about the successes of Auburn City Schools. A graduate of Auburn University, through various jobs Daniel fell in love with more than a college town. Now serving in the PR role with Auburn City Schools, Daniel is a man of many hats, taking photographs, talking to media, and promoting the school system wherever he can. We talk about the nuance of working in as a school system PR coordinator and the best food spots in Lee County. 
To learn more about Auburn City Schools:
https://www.auburnschools.org/
To learn more about the community and events:
https://opelikaobserver.com/
Thank you to our Community Partners!
https://www.statefarm.com/agent/us/al/opelika/christie-hill-lylv161jvak
https://www.colabopelika.com/
Listen to Make Sure!
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1oKM8dCpDEhjG0v75zqBcL?si=jVUCs6NUROmCogSuPzp8XQ

Modeling A New World

Farrell Seymore, the Opelika City Schools Superintendent, shares his journey into the world of education. How do we shape the lives of students? We live lives worth modeling. In public education, many problems assail students both in and out of the classroom, but the fight to educate is far from hopeless. Farrell speaks about his experiences in the classroom and now in administration. Board games, psychology, and just plain old fashion care; all that and more this week on the Lee County Listener!
For more on Opelika City Schools:
https://www.opelikaschools.org/
For more on community news and events:https://opelikaobserver.com/
Thank you to our community partners:
https://www.colabopelika.com/
https://www.statefarm.com/agent/us/al/opelika/christie-hill-lylv161jvak

Shared Experience

David Green, Adjunct Professor of Business at the Harbert College of Business, joins the show this week. Now a professor, David started his educational journey at Auburn before moving into the world of business. After a career in finance and real estate, David returned to the plains to take up teaching. Garrett and David talk about how colleges create room for deep community that often is lacking in the professional world. 
To learn more about community news and events:
https://opelikaobserver.com/
Thanks to our Community Partners!
https://www.statefarm.com/agent/us/al/opelika/christie-hill-lylv161jvak
https://www.colabopelika.com/
 

The DAC Way Story

Aubrey Reese and Jermele Brooks, the Founder and Community Liaison for The DAC Way respectively, join the show to share about the mission and story of The DAC Way. What makes a man? Discipline. Accountability. Commitment. Through his story, Aubrey Reese watched these three themes emerge. Now back in Auburn after a successful international basketball career, Aubrey saw a need for mentorship and role models in the community out of which he came. Through The DAC Way, Aubrey meets these needs by combining his passion for sports alongside his own experience growing up, wanting to show the kids in the community there are different ways to live. Now alongside Jermele Brooks, the two are working to bring in more young people from the community and reshape their stories. 
Learn more about The DAC Way:
https://www.thedacway.org/
Learn more about the community and events:
https://opelikaobserver.com/
Thank you to our community partners!
https://www.colabopelika.com/
https://www.statefarm.com/agent/us/al/opelika/christie-hill-lylv161jvak
 

Lifelong Learners

Patricia Butts, the Executive Director of the Lee County Literacy Coalition, joins the show this week to share about the importance and need for developing a lifelong passion for learning. Beginning her career in the military, Patricia travelled the world before moving down to Tuskegee to promote the park and history that changed Alabama. She now works to oversee the operations of the Literacy Coalition as it grows to serve more of Lee County. With the mission to see literacy change the world, the LCLC provides flexible tutoring services to help its learners continue to succeed.
To learn more about the Lee County Literacy Coalition:
https://www.leecountyliteracy.org/
To learn more about community news and events:
https://opelikaobserver.com/
Thanks to our community partners!
https://www.statefarm.com/agent/us/al/opelika/christie-hill-lylv161jvak
https://www.colabopelika.com/
 

The Need for Shared Spaces

Rosanna Mcginnis, the Library Director of Opelika Public Library, joins the show this week for a discussion on the need for spaces where we can all gather together. The library meets this need as space where we can gather without cost and access thousands fo stories that can open us all to new worlds. After moving with the military for many years, Rosanna ended up in Opelika because of Opelika's size on the map. In her short time here, she has not only seen the library through its transition to its new space, but also become an integral member in our community.
To learn more about the Library:
https://www.opelika-al.gov/917/Opelika-Public-Library
To learn more about community news and events:
https://opelikaobserver.com/
Thank you to our Community Partners who make this possible:
https://www.statefarm.com/agent/us/al/opelika/christie-hill-lylv161jvak
https://www.colabopelika.com/

Faith, Family, and Future

Damian Sinclair, principal of Sanford Middle School, joins the show to talk all things education. Having worked in most every high school role, Damien brings perspective on what it takes to inspire students to become the people they can be, even if they do not see that in themselves. Sam and Garrett share their own experiences with educators who changed their lives. Damien also speaks on the current struggles of education and the vital role that true community will play in ensuring that every child succeeds. 
For more on the community and events:
https://opelikaobserver.com/
Thank you to our Show Partners!
https://www.statefarm.com/agent/us/al/opelika/christie-hill-lylv161jvak
https://www.colabopelika.com/

Teaching Presence in the Age of Distractions

Katherine Apel, a 6th grade history teacher at Opelika Middle School, joins the show for the second week of our eduction series to share classroom experiences. In an age of digital distraction, Katherine talks about helping her students how to be present and what she has learned in her first year teaching. Katherine, Sam, and Garrett all share some of their middle school experiences.
To keep up with community news and events:
https://opelikaobserver.com/
Thank you to our show partners that make this possible:
https://www.statefarm.com/agent/us/al/opelika/christie-hill-lylv161jvak
https://www.colabopelika.com/
 

How Can We Learn Together?

Lisa Bufford, a lifelong educator, joins the show to share her experiences working with students with additional needs from pre-school all the way to high school. During her career, Lisa served in a number of roles in education, from a bus driver to job coach to a self-contained class teacher. Laughs abound as everyone shares their own experiences of early learning.   Keep up with community news and events at: https://opelikaobserver.com/ Listen to Make Sure at: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1oKM8dCpDEhjG0v75zqBcL?si=Fk0jXhdhRouB1X6UV_SBGA Thank you to our Community Partners! https://www.statefarm.com/agent/us/al/opelika/christie-hill-lylv161jvak