Spotlight 4 Success
We're shining a light on education success stories and talking about current trends and topics of importance to the education community. Join us in conversation!
Spotlight 4 Success
Juggling 10 Title Schools: One Coordinator's Journey
What happens when a passionate classroom teacher discovers new ways to impact education? Casie Barksdale never planned to leave teaching, but a desire to improve her technology skills led to an unexpected career evolution that ultimately brought her to the role of Federal Programs Coordinator at Limestone County Schools in Alabama.
Spotlight 4 Success Website: Spotlight 4 Success
Welcome to Spotlight for Success by American Book Company. I'm Devin Pintosi, your host. We are here at the Alabama Federal Programs Conference in wonderful sunny Montgomery Alabama. I am here with Casey Barksdale. She is the Federal Programs Director.
Speaker 2:Coordinator.
Speaker 1:Coordinator over at Limestone County. So nice to see you today, Casey. Thank you, Casey. Can you tell me a little bit about what brings you here to the Federal Programs Conference?
Speaker 2:Absolutely so. We have a team of three in our Federal Programs Department.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So we have 14 schools in our school district and 10 of our schools are title. So we have a large budget and so it takes several of us to manage that. So I have a federal programs director and I'm the federal programs coordinator. So we have different areas where we kind of have our specialty. I have our specialty and so we're here to find out all the new information coming down from federal guidelines and how we can help best support our principals as they're creating their budgets for the upcoming school year.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's wonderful. Yes, and what brought you into this role? Previously, you mentioned an educator.
Speaker 2:I was. I was I taught mainly 9th through 12th grade. I was a high school teacher and I love teaching. Never planned to be out of the classroom, that was always my passion. I had a teacher who I think think we all everybody in education has that one teacher. And I had that teacher who pulled me aside in about eighth grade and gave me leadership opportunities, and then I knew I wanted to pattern my professional career after her and I did that and I wanted to get a master's in instructional technology because macbooks were coming into our schools and I was very computer illiterate okay and I needed to grow professionally.
Speaker 2:I never realized that that would take me out of the classroom. So the computers coming into the schools brought me to Limestone County. So it took me out of the classroom, brought me into a different school district and I was an instructional technology facilitator. But I got into professional development so I really enjoyed professional development. I love going to professional development. I love providing professional development. So I really enjoyed professional development. I love going to professional development. I love providing professional development. But my goal was to help our teachers really integrate technology, not using it to replace a teacher and not using it as a digital pencil. And then I needed a little break and I went out on my own and spent five and a half years traveling across the state of Alabama to different schools and contracting to help more schools. But I did it more on my schedule, my timeline than an everyday as a school district requires. Limestone County also contracted with me. Okay, to do some contract work in federal programs, helping with mckinney vinto okay and then also um with professional development.
Speaker 2:And then in 2022 my federal programs director was promoted to assistant superintendent, so that opened up the federal programs director position. Federal programs coordinator went to director, so coordinator was open and it was just a good time for me to go back full time. Oh, wonderful. So I focused on the Title II budget, okay.
Speaker 1:And homeless. What is Title II?
Speaker 2:Mainly professional development.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So the growth of your teacher leaders.
Speaker 1:That is wonderful, yeah, and is there anything you'd like to share with the Alabama Federal Programs community?
Speaker 2:I mean I feel like it's a really great supportive community. Anytime we've ever had questions, even at the State Department, everybody's always helpful, they are willing to teach and our department has been fairly new. So, you know, mary was Federal Programs Director one month before I came on as coordinator, so we've just had a lot to figure out and they've supported us.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's fantastic. Well, thank you so much, casey Barkstaff, she is here with us from Limestone County. The Title I coordinator, is that right? Yes, federal.
Speaker 2:Programs Coordinator Federal Programs.
Speaker 1:Coordinator. Yeah, for several titles.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, since we do have so many, you know, because we have all the titles and we have, like I said, the 10 title schools. So we have a lot to juggle.
Speaker 1:Certainly do. Yeah, well, I hope this conference is assistance for you.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:And thank you for coming on with us.
Speaker 2:Thank you, I appreciate it.