Stephanie Acosta and Luis Audelo are both school principals, but they are also school parents! Creating a supportive home and school where children thrive has never been tougher. This podcast explores parenting perspectives on the challenges, fears, and joys of bringing up scholars. Tune in to this brand-new podcast and discover real-life stories and insights that empower parents to support their child's educational journey.
Welcome to Limitless Futures, the official podcast of the Menifee Union School District. In this episode, host Devina Ortega Castro is joined by Luis Audelo, and Stephanie Acosta to dive deep into the major milestones and transitions students face as they grow. Episode 2 is all about The Big Leap, taking students from elementary to middle school and all the way into high school, especially focusing on the very youngest learners. Stephanie shares updates on the recent Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten kickoffs happening across the district, where the newest little ocelots and their families got to meet their teachers and discover what school is all about.
Guest speaker Jesse demystifies the high school landscape, highlighting the massive amounts of resources available to families, including dedicated college and career centers, scholarship centralization, and academic counseling. Jesse also addresses a common trap parents often fall into regarding the pressure to overload their children with intense, straight-A schedules. Discover what research actually shows about academic rigor, and why earning a B in a challenging or Advanced Placement class is still a highly desirable indicator of college readiness because it exposes students to a higher level of rigor.
Listeners will learn why the best college is not a magical status symbol, but rather the school that is the right fit and aligns with a student's unique passions and values. The team discusses the importance of perseverance, emphasizing the value of positive risk-taking and teaching children how to safely navigate setbacks, struggle productively, and build character. Finally, the episode explores how parents and educators can work together from preschool and TK onward to keep a child's innate, natural curiosity thriving so they can grow up to be great human beings.
18 May 2026
Season 3 Episode 1 - The Unplugged Connection
Detaching from the Screen: Community & After-School Solutions
Are your kids spending more time staring at pixels than playing outside? You aren’t alone. In this episode, hosts Stephanie Acosta, Luis Audelo, and Devina Ortega Castro tackle one of the biggest challenges modern families face: reducing screen dependency. To help us find real, actionable solutions, we sit down with Jesse Ramirez, the Director of Expanded Learning at Menifee Union School District. Jesse breaks down how structured after-school programs, active community involvement, and intentional family engagement can successfully compete with the pull of smartphones, tablets, and video games.
Whether you are a parent looking to reclaim family time or an educator seeking ways to keep kids active after the final bell rings, this conversation offers the roadmap you need.
What We Discuss in This Episode:
The Screen Struggle: Why digital devices have a chokehold on after-school hours and how it impacts child development.
The Power of Expanded Learning: How Jesse and her team design community and after-school programs that are actually more enticing than TikTok or gaming.
Creating a "Screen-Light" Home: Practical strategies for families to boost engagement, set healthy boundaries, and rediscover screen-free joy.
Bridging the Gap: How schools and communities can work together to provide safe, enriching environments for students.
Connect with us on social media to share your favorite screen-free family activities! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review.
14 Oct 2024
Season 2 Episode 4 - Too Many Mental Health Days? w/ Morgan Singleton II
Jon, Stephanie, and Morgan Singleton (MUSD Board and Parent) look at an article that explores whether parents are giving their children too many mental health days, a concern raised by some educators. While increased awareness of mental health is positive, some worry that students are taking advantage of mental health days to avoid normal stressors, potentially missing out on valuable instruction and opportunities to build emotional resilience.
LINKS
Article from Ed Week
https://www.edweek.org/leadership/are-parents-giving-their-kids-too-many-mental-health-days/2024/10
BrightLife Kids (Get support for the tough stuff, so your child can thrive)
https://www.hellobrightline.com/brightlifekids/
CAREspace (Riverside County Officer of Education)
https://www.rcoe.us/departments/student-programs-and-services/alternative-education/carespace
26 Sept 2024
Season 2 Ep. 3 - Wellbeing for Educators in MUSD
The group gets to hear the very first question submitted for the podcast. We get a peek into how school leaders support employees with their wellbeing. Our staff work tirelessly to bring the very best learning experience for kids, but who takes care of them?
19 Sept 2024
Season 2 Ep. 2 - Get Ready for Parent Teacher Conferences w/ JESSICA GOMEZ
What do we do about parent-teacher conferences? What if my child's teacher only has negative things to say? What if I know my student is already doing well? Jon and Stephanie chat with author and MUSD director, Jessica Gomez, to answer these questions and more!
17 Sept 2024
Season 2 Episode 1 - Welcome Back!
We are back for the 2024-25 school year! In this episode we talk about what to expect in season 2.
7 Jun 2024
BONUS - Ep. 10 - Child Mental Health & Well-Being Pt. 2 BRIANA BARINNO
Parent and School Social Worker, Briana Barrino, is back for one more episode to talk about supporting kids mental health and well-being. There are many simple moments in parentings that can be turned in to important lessons, especially when teaching kids how to fail well.
3 Jun 2024
BONUS - Ep. 10 - Child Mental Health and Well-Being
Parent and School Social Worker, Briana Barrino, joins us to give fresh perspective on supporting kids' mental health and well-being. In honor of Mental Health Month, Briana talks to us about what to listen for and how to check in with your child to keep an eye on their well-being. In this episode we learn helpful strategies for talking to kids about their experiences at school, on the field, or wherever they find themselves.
16 May 2024
BONUS - Ep. 9 - The App for Parent/Child Tech Talks DR. JOHN MORGAN
Parent and Tech Leader, Dr. John Morgan, joins us once more to talk about a special app made just for MUSD families! Allowing kids access to tech and the internet is a huge responsibility. This app helps to plan for having important conversations with children so that they remain safe, respectful, and responsible. Download the app here: musd.me/musdtech
7 May 2024
BONUS - Ep. 8 - Giving Kids the Attention They Want DR. JOHN MORGAN
Parent and Tech Leader, Dr. John Morgan, joins us to talk about challenges in giving your kids positive attention and constructive feedback. Each child requires attention in a unique manner, and sometimes parents feel pulled in multiple directions. In this episode we talk about balancing praise for a child's gifts, talents, and accomplishments with correction and feedback.
18 Apr 2024
BONUS - Ep. 7 - Lessons Learned Along The Way ARRONDA DOUGLAS
Proud parent and principal, Arronda Douglas, joins us to share about loving our children for who they are. Each child is unique and getting to know them and appreciate their unique ways is a worthy and rewarding endeavor. In this episode we talk about parenting through coaching, appreciating different personalities in our children, and holding them accountable to be excellent.
10 Apr 2024
Episode 6 - Participating In Decision-Making DR. JENNIFER ROOT
District Superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Root, joins us to talk about how families can be part of how decisions are made regarding their child's education. Sometimes getting involved in the decision-making process can seem complicated and overwhelming. In this episode we talk about formal and informal ways of getting involved, and how communication is key to ensuring a high-quality education for your child.
28 Mar 2024
Episode 5 - Making Time For Kids To Be Kids HEATHER S. & KATIE W.
Moms Heather Smeragliuolo and Katie Wiemann joins us to talk about how to make sure kids have time to be kids. It can be difficult to balance time for homework and time for sports, dance, etc. In this episode we talk about tapping into your community, helping your child advocate for themself, and tips on time management!
22 Mar 2024
Episode 4 - Supporting Children In Their Friendships MELINDA CONDE
Director of Student Success Services Melinda Conde joins us to talk about how to help kids make and sustain friendships. The way kids make friends today looks different from the past. In this episode we talk about knowing who your child's friends are, helping them with relationship skills, and of course, empathy!
13 Mar 2024
Episode 3 - Supporting Children To Do Their Best BRANDI WAITE
Assistant Principal Brandi Waite joins us to talk about how to support children at home so that they do their best in school. There are so many books, videos, and influencers that make this aspect of parenting sound easy, but the reality is... it's not. In this episode we talk about keeping it simple, modeling behavior for kids, and keeping open lines of communication.
6 Mar 2024
Episode 2 - Helping Children Manage Emotions TINA WILLIAMS
School Counselor Tina Williams joins us to talk about helping children manage emotions appropriately. It is hard to understand why our children feel the way they do, let alone help them through it. In this episode we talk about comfortable and uncomfortable feelings, not trying to "fix" everything", and helping children be excited about school.
28 Feb 2024
Episode 1 - Welcome to Limitless Futures!
In this episode, we meet Jon Mitchem and Stephanie Acosta, who are both principals and parents. We talk about some of the challenges in education that families are facing today, and the 6 key habits of successful school parents.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
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