- December 14, 2025
Natalya Pilaski interviews with Debbie Yarborough at the first round of Osceola Gives Back. Photo by Jacque Estes
Cici Brown and Jermila Pompey shake hands at the beginning of one of the 2-minute interview sessions. Photo by Jacque Estes
Natalya Pilaski is perfectly composed as she is interviewed by Cici Brown. Photo by Jacque Estes
Chloe Crume starts her interview with a customary handshake from Jessica Glass. Photo by Jacque Estes
Michelle Carter-Scott interviews Rocco Anastasio. Photo by Jacque Estes
Dressed for success, Kyle Abbott talks with Cici Brown. Photo by Jacque Estes
Dr. Mark White welcomes Heidi Mrkus. Photo by Jacque Estes
Jacob Lloyd is animated as he speaks with Arthur Simpson. Photo by Jacque Estes
Erin Masters interviews Hannah Little. Photo by Jacque Estes
Sam Donlick and Leah Case talk during the first round of speed interviews at Osceola Elementary. Photo by Jacque Estes
Deb Treur’s tapped her finger on the small desk bell and a cacophony of chatter filled the Osceola Elementary media center, two minutes later a second tap of the bell and all sound ceased.
The pattern repeated for two hours on Monday, May 15 as fifth grade students participated in speed-interviews with nearly 25 successful local business people. It was all part of Osceola Gives Back, http://osceolagivesback.weebly.com/.
The adults encircled the room as, with each ding of the bell, the students rotated clockwise to each person. There were 25 rounds, each with its own set of questions. There were no right or wrong answers, the students were being rated on their interaction with each person, whether they made eye contact, shook hands, their body language and if they asked questions.
“A lot of people in this room have given a lot to our school,” Principal Kevin Flassig said. “All to get our kids ready for the work force.”
Natalya Pilaski and Jermila Pompey admitted they would have been out of their comfort zone to do this exercise earlier in the year. Now they, and five other students, Sam Donlick, Emily Glass, Chloe Crume, Rocco Anastasio, Connor MacNeil, have advanced to the second round, today, May 18, from 11:15 to 1 p.m. at Granada Plaza.
The students will be promoting items outside of sponsoring businesses in the Plaza and will be rated by customers, their advisors and store owners. Flassig is hoping community members will stop by to participate. The two with the highest scores will be interviewed on The VIBE 103.3 and the student with the most “likes” on [email protected] will win an iPad.
Natalya and Jermila both described themselves as shy, and said they had to work at looking people in the eye when speaking to them and to initiate conversations, something that was not evident as the two had animated conversations with each adult on Monday.
Treur got the idea to incorporate interview skills into the class study from a motivational conference led by educator Ron Clark who has an academy that bears his name.
“We do stand up and talk in the classroom,” Treur said. “But I wanted to make it real for them.”
