Fashion Degree to Federal Funds

The unexpected paths that lead us to educational service often reveal themselves in surprising ways. Meet Mia Phillips, whose journey from fashion merchandising and business to becoming the Federal Programs Bookkeeper Director for Florence City Schools demonstrates how diverse backgrounds strengthen our education system. Speaking from the Federal Programs Conference in Montgomery, Mia shares valuable insights into how school districts are adapting to the post-ESSER funding landscape.

Spotlight 4 Success: Spotlight 4 Success

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome to Spotlight for Success by American Book
Company.
I'm Devin Pintosa, your host.
We are here in sunny Montgomeryat the Federal Programs
Conference and we are so excitedtoday to have our special guest
here today, mia Phillips.
Mia Phillips is with FlorenceCity Schools.
She is the bookkeeper directorfor federal programs and it's so

(00:27):
wonderful to have you here onthe show today.
Thank you, mia.
Can you tell me a little bitabout what brings you here to
the Federal Programs Conference?

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Okay, so this year, for this spring conference, I am
here just to gather moreupdated information about our
federal programs.
Just to gather more updatedinformation about our federal
programs.
We have gotten updatedinformation from several of our

(00:55):
associates that are located herein Montgomery and gathering
information helps us take itback to our schools to help
better serve.
Of course, the reason why we'rehere is our kids.

Speaker 1 (01:06):
Oh wonderful, and can you tell me a bit about your
journey, what brought you intothis role of being the federal
program's bookkeeper secretary,and the things that you've done
previously?

Speaker 2 (01:19):
along the way.
Wow, oddly enough, I reallycame from a total different
background.
I really have my degree infashion, merchandising, slash,
business, um and so on thisjournal.
I've worked in the mentalhealth um spectrum before and
then I came into the schooldistrict about three years ago.

(01:40):
Um started at the businessoffice, um central office, where
I worked, where I worked as abookkeeper for the Florence High
School, and a position cameopen in federal programs and I
was so excited.
I've been there in federalprograms for a little bit over
two years now, and so it's beena great journey.

(02:01):
I've learned a lot.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
Well, that's great, great.
Do you have any special moments?
Maybe you shared with studentsor faculty where you're like?
This is why I got into all ofthis.
Thank you for watchingSpotlight for Success.
I am Devin Pintozzi, ChiefOperating Officer of American
Book Company.
We are located here in ourheadquarters in Woodstock,
Georgia.
All of our materials areprinted in USA.

(02:26):
We have course books, e-booksand online testing in grades K
through 12 in mathematics, ELA,science and social studies.
These materials are alldesigned to help students
achieve higher scores on theirstate-specific high-stakes
assessments.

(02:47):
We guarantee score improvement.
You can get free samples of ourmaterials either in print or in
electronic formats atabck12.com.
We look forward to hearing fromyou.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
I don't see as many students.
I see more of the faculty,especially from our EL teachers
to our retired teachers.
We do a lot more with theretired teachers and we've got
four Title I schools.
Now that the ESSER money isgone, we focus more with the
Title I schools.

(03:23):
Now that the ESSER money isgone, we focus more with the
Title I schools.
So I have enjoyed just theinteraction with those teachers
and just the staff.

Speaker 1 (03:31):
That's wonderful.

Speaker 2 (03:37):
And do you have anything else you'd like to
share with the federal programscommunity here in Alabama?
Yes, I'd just like to say justcontinue to support the federal
programs, anything that you cando as far as the community is
concerned and our kids andthat's one reason why we are
here is to make sure that ourkids excel and excel to a level

(04:00):
that everyone has the sameopportunity.

Speaker 1 (04:03):
Oh, that's wonderful, Mia Phillips.
Once again.
Thank, that's wonderful, MiaPhillips Once again.

Speaker 2 (04:07):
Thank you so much, mia.

Speaker 1 (04:08):
Phillips.
Thank you for inviting me.
Mia Phillips is a federaleducation content specialist and
bookkeeper secretary associatedwith Montgomery Public Schools.
Thank you so much for joiningus today.
Thank you.