In this episode, I talk with Manassas City School Board member Sara Brescia about the evolving grading policies in the school district. Listeners will learn about the significant post-pandemic changes, including the controversial 50-100 grading scale and removing the 55 minimum grade provision. Sara Brescia provides a deep dive into the rationale behind these changes, the challenges faced, and the pushback from the community.
The conversation also touches on the broader implications of grading policies on student behavior and engagement, the importance of setting deadlines, and the balance between flexibility and accountability in education. Sara shares her vision for the future, emphasizing the need for productive dialogue and the importance of preparing students for the real world.
Additionally, the podcast explores the ongoing cell phone ban discussion, with Sara advocating for minimizing cell phone use in classrooms due to its negative impact on behavior and academics. The conversation highlights the complexities of implementing such policies and the support needed for teachers.
Finally, the episode covers the dynamics of school governance, teacher retention, and establishing a School of Excellence in Manassas. Sara’s candid reflections and future aspirations for the school district provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the current educational landscape in Manassas City.
Tune in to gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the Manassas City Public Schools and to hear firsthand from a school board member committed to enhancing student achievement.
Below, you'll find the the latest edition of our podcast, featuring a detailed conversation with Manassas City Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis. Hosted by me, Potomac Local Publisher Uriah Kiser, this dialogue sheds light on pivotal changes and the latest developments in Manassas. From educational policies to school board elections and community safety, Councilwoman Ellis provides an in-depth look at the strategic decisions shaping the future of our community.
This podcast is available on our website exclusively as a member-only feature. By supporting our journalism through membership, you gain early access to valuable discussions like this one. We invite our members to listen in and gain a deeper understanding of the issues and initiatives driving progress in Manassas.
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On this episode of the Potomac Local Podcast, we're talking about our local libraries.
Last year, 2022, was a busy year for libraries in Prince William County and Manassas Park.
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Tim Cox is hoping Prince William County voters will meet him in the middle.
The 34-year-old conservative is running for the 51st District House of Delegates seat. As it sits today, the district includes a large swath of the county, from the county's east side that favors Democrats, to the west side which largely votes Republican.
All political districts in the state will be redrawn soon as part of the decennial redistricting process. Cox hopes his campaign is enough to draw out both moderates and Republicans who don't feel represented in Richmond.
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Heather Michell is hoping the second time the charm, as the Republican makes her making a second run at the Virginia House of Delegates in a Special Election on January 5.
After current seatholder, Mitchell quickly became the GOP nominee, Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy (D) said she would resign from the position to focus full-time on her run for Virginia Governor in 2021.
Mitchell lost to Carroll Foy by more than 20 points in November 2019. Since then, things have changed, to include a global pandemic, and she’s now hoping to connect with voters during an abridged election season of less than a month.
We talked with Mitchell about her campaign in this edition of the Potomac Local Podcast.
Many who have chronic pain have postponed critical trips to their doctor to seek care.
Whether it’s for a sports injury, or injury from a fall, neck, back, or side aches, Dr. Kenneth May at the Sentara Therapy Center in Woodbridge treats it all.
I had the chance to interview May, who described his innovative approach to caring for his patients. In this recent sponsored post, you can see he was able to free a Woodbridge woman from her pain just when she thought all hope was lost.
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We don’t need to tell you people have been spending more time at home recently.
With the outbreak of the new coronavirus, those who provide water and sewer to our homes have seen more items being flushed into the sewer system that shouldn’t be there.
From those “flushable” wipes that aren’t so flushable to fats, oils, and grease, we talk with Kathy Bentz, of the Prince William County Service Authority, about what you can do to save the pipes in your home and the ones in your community.
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In this edition of the Potomac Local Podcast, the group “Reopen VA” plans to hold a protest on Wednesday, calling for Gov. Ralph Northam to reopen the state’s economy after ordering closures of non-essential businesses, and schools for more than a month ago.
The protest will come as legislators will return to Richmond for a special session.
Here is a video version of the Potomac Local Podcast.
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It’s tax season and that means you’re running around the home office looking for documents, receipts, and other pieces of paper that may have fallen behind your desk over the past year.
While it’s not ideal, trust us, tax time doesn’t have to be a hassle. We talked with Potomac Local Supporting Partner Chris Peden, of Peden Accounting Services about how to best prepare for tax season.
