Public School Podcast
By Amy Rose
Categories: Education, Kids & Family, Education for Kids, Society & Culture
Welcome to The Public School Podcast, where real stories, real people, and real passion foreducation come together. Hosted by Sara Hornick, Executive Director of the Public SchoolFoundation, and Bobbi Schaefbauer, Community Relations Manager for Rapid City AreaSchools, we’re diving into the heart of public education.Each episode, we sit down with community members, dedicated school staff, and passionateadvocates to ask one simple but powerful question:Why do public schools matter?From classroom wins to community-wide challenges, The Public School Podcast is yourfront-row seat to the conversations that shape our students’ futures and our shared tomorrow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
78 episodes indexed on PodSearch.
Recent episodes
- How One Screening Can Change a Life
What if a child struggling in school isn't having trouble learning, but simply can't see what's being taught? On this episode of the Public School Podcast, hosts Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer welcome Ronda Gusinsky, executive director of LifeSight, to explore how a simple, free vision…
- Science of Reading
What if the secret to helping struggling readers isn't getting them to read more, but changing how they're taught?On this episode of the Public School Podcast, hosts Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer welcome South Park Elementary literacy specialists Joelle Neutzling and Erin George to explore…
- Why Public Schools Belong to All of Us
What happens when your kids graduate from public school? For Holly Knox, you keep showing up.Community advocate, nurse and parent of two former Rapid City Area Schools students Holly Knox joins Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer to talk about why supporting public education doesn’t end when your…
- Great Schools Don’t Happen by Accident
What does it take to build strong schools, strong kids and a thriving community? Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Jacqui Dietrich, president and CEO of the John T. Vucurevich Foundation, to talk about Education for Every Child, a community campaign built around the belief that when…
- You Can’t Be What You Can’t See
What if students could try on a career before deciding their future?In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Colleen Bsharah, senior career development consultant with Sanford Health and a new Rapid City Public School Foundation board member…
- What Rapid City Voters Need to Know
Rapid City Area Schools Chief Financial and Operations Officer Coy Sasse joins Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer to break down the proposed $107 million school bond and answer some of the biggest questions surrounding it. What exactly would the money pay for? Why can’t the district use the money…
- Who Will You Show Up For?
Rapid City Area Schools Teacher of the Year Katey Swank thought she had it all figured out when she walked into her first classroom. By the end of day one, she was sitting in a tiny chair trying not to cry.Then someone showed up for her.Twenty years later, Katey shares how that simple act of…
- Growing More Than Lettuce
What happens when three fifth-grade teachers decide to grow a garden inside their school? A whole lot more than lettuce.Meadowbrook Elementary teachers Katie Swank, Kylie Blank and Lacey Brown join Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer to share how a hydroponics project turned into a hands-on…
- Turns Out, LEGOs Are Homework
What happens when Newton’s laws meet a box of LEGOs? East Middle School science teacher Tiffany Wolla joins Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer to share how she’s turning science lessons into hands-on experiences that get students building, experimenting and problem-solving.With support from a…
- 250,000 Books and Counting
The library is about a whole lot more than checking out books. Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Aly Quinn, events coordinator at the Rapid City Public Library, to talk about the programs, partnerships and creative ideas helping make reading fun for kids and families.Aly shares how…
- Leading the Pack
West Middle School is welcoming a new leader, and she's ready to bring energy, connection and a student-first mindset to the school community. In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Executive Director Sara Hornick and Community Relations Manager Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with new West…
- Music Without Borders
In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer welcome Stevens High School Band Director George Dragoo to discuss an unforgettable 12-day journey through Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. After a nine-year wait for another international tour, 68 students…
- Building Better Schools
While students and teachers enjoy summer break, construction crews are hard at work preparing Rapid City Area Schools for another successful year. In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Construction and Planning Manager Jade Clement returns to discuss the major projects happening across the…
- The Teacher Every Kid Deserves
What makes a teacher unforgettable? For Rapid Valley first grade teacher Cassie Wood, it's creating experiences that inspire curiosity, kindness, and confidence long after students leave her classroom.In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Cassie shares how she unexpectedly found her…
- What Really Happens When School's Out?
School may be out, but the work never stops! In this special catch-up episode, Sara and Bobbi pull back the curtain on what summer really looks like in Rapid City Area Schools. From preparing for a new school year and planning future grants to major facility projects, bond preparations, and…
- More Than Lunch
Ever wonder what it takes to feed thousands of students every single day?This week, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer are joined by Christa Lechner, Student Nutrition Manager, and Assistant Manager Kayla Taylor for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the busiest departments in Rapid City Area…
- Rapid City Area Schools' "Print-cess"
Behind every worksheet, yearbook, graduation program, and student certificate is someone making it all happen.This week on the Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Angela Buskerud, the Rapid City Area Schools Print Shop Supervisor, whose work quietly impacts…
- The Morning Nest
What started as a simple idea to help students prepare for the school day has grown into one of Wilson Elementary's most impactful programs. In this episode, hosts Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Wilson Elementary Counselor of the Year Brittany Henry-James and recent Central High…
- Building Belonging One Spirit Award at a Time
What happens when schools focus on recognizing what students are doing right? In this episode, hosts Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with South Middle School educator Stacy Cole and Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings teacher Marie Herbert to discuss the impact of the Spirit Awards…
- Student Photographers Finding Their Future
Photography is more than taking pictures. It is about telling stories, capturing emotion, and seeing the world from a different perspective. In this episode, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Central High School photography teacher Roxanne Rathbun and graduating senior Kennedy Block…
- Brewing Confidence One Cup at a Time
This episode of the Public School Podcast shines a spotlight on the Raider Coffee House at Stevens High School, where students are learning far more than how to make coffee. Hosts Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with students Roberta and Devin, along with teacher Peggy Bias, to talk…
- Thrifted with Purpose
Central High School students are proving that a great idea can turn into something that truly changes lives. In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Central High science teacher and Thrift Club advisor Heather Kiplinger to talk about the…
- Healthcare Without Borders
In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Central High School healthcare teacher Brendon Sato to talk about the growing opportunities for students interested in the medical field. From hands on healthcare training and the district’s Certified…
- Substitute Supermom
This week on Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Rapid City substitute teacher and mom of three, Caitlin Scully, to talk about the reality of stepping into classrooms across the district. From comforting nervous students and navigating high school classrooms to…
- More Than Theater
After more than two decades leading Central High School’s theater program, Justin Speck sits down with Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer to reflect on a career that helped shape generations of students in Rapid City. From sold out productions and award winning student performances to hilarious…
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