Episode 40: Forestry with Mike Harrell

Forestry is an age old profession that should be attractive to people who have a knack for business (managing resources, purchasing, marketing, selling, accounting, and running a money making operation) and like to be surrounded by nature.  

You may get dirty, be surrounded by some amazing machinery and even have a few run-ins with the wildlife that calls the trees and the brush their home.

Mike is the VP of Stuckey Timberland. His world is the forest. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Forestry program. Forestry is a life career that is in his family lineage.

You will hear Mike reflect on his career and his desire to be in the outdoors. He talks about the business and the misconceptions that those looking in often have about the business of growing trees for wood products.

I think that you will find this interview interesting as well as it might make you a little envious about Mike’s ability to be outside many of his work days.

If you know a young person who is thinking about future careers, ask them to take a look into forestry. It has a definite place in our future world, trained foresters are needed, and the profession offers opportunities to be engaged outside of a typical corporate office!

Here are some links that can provide you further information:

Sustainable Forestry Initiative

Stuckey Timberland

Logger Education

University of Georgia: Forestry

ABAC Forestry (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College-Forestry)

Georgia Forests

Georgia Forestry Association

Enjoy!

Length: 50:21

Episode 20: Classworks with Kristie Brooks

Kristie is a former special education teacher who eventually became a Special Education Director for a school system. She now is a Georgia Account Executive for Classworks.

Classworks is a web-based tool for assisting students in achieving more during their education. It has tools for assessment and instruction that are used to personalize learning and to support teachers as they help students achieve academic goals.

Kristie and I explore the following questions and many more…

·         How can software programs go beyond the “computer lab” to impact classroom teaching and student engagement?

·         How does Classworks use student data to form individualized plans? How can a teacher use this tool to help with differentiation?

·         What do you think is the greatest challenge for teachers working with kids? How can Classworks assist with these challenges?

Hope that you enjoy the conversation. 

Spend some time at their website or contact Kristie if you have any questions.

For more information go to…

www.classworks.com

or contact Kristie at

KBrooks@classworks.com

Length 26:32

Episode 17: The ACT with Carl Forbes

Carl has been working at The ACT now for the last eight years and is assigned to both secondary and post-secondary schools.

He helps secondary schools understand what their data is telling them and how to respond.

With post-secondary schools he assists them in looking at the student data with a focus on what admissions and scholarship decisions could be made from that data.

We discuss everything from understanding about the organization known as ACT, what the organization offers besides the college entrance test, what the ACT test scores mean, and what the fundamental differences are between the ACT and the SAT.

Carl states, “The ACT is focused on college and career readiness but also work preparedness.”

He explains the ACT standards and benchmarks and what they mean to an educator, parent, and a student taking the test. As Carl recalls, These components help “you understand what the scores on the ACT tell you about what you are ready to do.”

He also shared that there are ACT apps that students can use with their Smart phones and tablets.

We had an awesome conversation!

I think that you will learn so much whether a teacher, administrator, student, or parent you will want to listen again and then share this podcast with others. You will also want to take time to explore the ACT on the web.

www.act.org