SPS Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Spokane Public Schools
Spokane Public Schools is the third-largest public school district in Washington State. With over 30,000 students and over 4,000 employees, every one of them has a story to tell. Welcome to the SPS Podcasts feed, where we'll share unique stories and tidbits to keep our community engaged.
What does it take to keep students healthy, supported, and ready to learn? In this episode of the Future Ready podcast, Superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard and Stephanie Slater sit down with Becky Doughty, Executive Director of School Support Services, to explore the growing network of health and wellness resources inside Spokane Public Schools.
From the school-based health clinics operating at four high schools in partnership with CHAS, to the brand new clinic opening at Logan Elementary through a partnership with WSU's College of Medicine and Nursing, Spokane Public Schools is redefining what access to care looks like for students and families. Becky also shares how the district has worked to staff nearly every school with a nurse and a mental health therapist, and why that level of care is far from the norm across the region.
We also hear from Addisyn Samuelson, licensed athletic trainer at Shadle Park High School, who is part of the district's partnership with Shriners Children's Hospital. Addisyn shares what it means to be a full-time presence for student athletes, from rehabbing injuries and reducing costs for families, to sitting with kids through the emotional toll of a season-ending injury. Her goal is as straightforward as it is meaningful: keep kids playing the sport they love, safely.
Together, these stories paint a picture of a school district committed to supporting the whole child, because when students are healthy, they are ready to learn.
In this episode of the SPS Future Ready podcast, Board Director Nikki Lockwood shares her personal journey as a parent of a neurodiverse child and how it inspired her to run for the Spokane Schools Board. The conversation explores progress and ongoing challenges in special education, including inclusion, family advocacy, funding, language, and the importance of collaboration between parents and educators. Listeners also hear a parent story highlighting the impact of connection and advocacy, along with a look ahead at Lockwood’s hopes for inclusive programming, transition services, and strong community for students with disabilities.
This episode of the SPS Future Ready Podcast explores Spokane Public Schools' Native Education department and its remarkable achievements. Hosts Superintendent Dr. Swinyard and Stephanie Splater interview Board Director Jenny Slagle and Director of Native Education Tamika LaMere about the district's equity-centered approach to supporting Native students.
The discussion covers the district's significant progress since 2020, including dramatic improvements in graduation rates (77% to 89%), attendance, and academic growth (over 200% increase). Key elements include elevating the Native Ed coordinator role to a director position, adding five staff members to work directly with students, and building strong partnerships with local tribes and urban Native organizations like the Native Project and American Indian Center.
The episode highlights the district's commitment to teaching hard history through place-based learning, including the Community School's Native Voices project where students explore local Indigenous history through guest speakers and field experiences. The conversation emphasizes the importance of creating culturally affirming spaces where Native students can bring their whole selves to school, while ensuring all students learn authentic regional Native history rather than generic curriculum developed elsewhere in the state.
In this episode of SPS Future Ready, Superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard and co-host Stephanie Splater dive into the transformative vision behind the Together Spokane initiative—a bold collaboration between Spokane Public Schools, the Parks Department, and community partners to reimagine shared spaces for kids, families, and neighborhoods.
The episode highlights:
- Over 200 proposed projects across schools, parks, and neighborhoods aimed at increasing equity and access.
- A focus on getting kids off screens and into real-life engagement through recreation, athletics, and outdoor experiences.
- The importance of local investment in facilities to ensure families can enjoy enriching activities without leaving Spokane.
Special guest Riley Stockton, Executive Director of Hoopfest, joins the conversation to discuss the impact of Together Spokane on the basketball community and youth sports. He emphasizes the urgent need for more court and field space to support programs like Hoop Town Youth League, which serves over 3,500 kids. Stockton shares insights on the proposed Franklin Park facility, a multi-use space near Madison Elementary that would support basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and more.
Together Spokane is more than infrastructure—it’s about building a future where students thrive, families stay local, and the community grows stronger through shared experiences.
Join Spokane Public Schools' Superintendent Adam Swinyard and Executive Director of Athletics Stephanie Slater as they tackle one of the biggest challenges facing today's students: getting quality sleep. In this inaugural episode of the Future Ready podcast, they explore how excessive screen time and late-night phone use are disrupting students' sleep patterns and impacting their academic performance and behavior.
The episode features insights from Dr. Anne Mason, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and Acting Dean at WSU College of Nursing, who breaks down age-appropriate sleep guidelines and explains the connection between daytime activities and nighttime rest. Rogers High School Principal John Hamill shares how the district's "Engage IRL" (In Real Life) initiative has successfully reduced phone dependence in schools and is now extending into healthy sleep habits at home.
Key topics include practical tips for establishing phone-free bedrooms, the importance of sleep routines, and how families can work together to create healthy boundaries around technology use. This episode is part of Spokane Public Schools' broader effort to prepare students for success by addressing fundamental wellness needs that impact learning, behavior, and mental health.
Perfect for parents, educators, and anyone interested in supporting student well-being in our increasingly digital world.
Stephanie and Nicole are joined by SPS Superintendent Adam Swinyard and Parks Director Garrett Jones to talk about Together Spokane, a bond/levy partnership between Spokane Parks and Spokane Public Schools.
By working together and with a range of private partners, we can make strategic, fiscally responsible investments that benefit every part of our city—whether it’s ensuring our children have safe places to learn and play, expanding recreational opportunities for all ages, or creating vibrant spaces that bring our community together.
In the March episode of SPS Extra, Stephanie and Nicole are talking about the Spokane Public Schools and Spokane Parks joint bond/levy initiative called Together Spokane.
In this sneak peak of the episode, hear from Greg Forsyth. He explains how bond dollars are critical to keeping schools functional.
Tim Fortune joins Stephanie Splater and Nicole Hernandez in this month's SPS Extra podcast to talk about CTE opportunities across the district. CTE, which stands for Career Technical Education, provides students with hands on experience in potential career paths.
In this episode, we hear from teachers and students involved in Culinary Club and Construction Club. Both clubs teach students the basics of their field with hands-on classroom experience. Every year, students use their experience in CTE classes to secure part-time jobs or pursue full-time careers after graduating.
In the upcoming podcast, which releases Thursday, February 20th, Stephanie and Nicole talk about CTE opportunities available to students in SPS. Hear from students in culinary club and construction club, and staff about how beneficial these programs are for students.
In this episode of SPS Extra, Stephanie and Nicole talk with students and mental health experts about the benefits of participating in extracurricular activities. From elementary to high school, the students and their support systems see obvious benefits after being involved in their communities.
On every episode of SPS Extra, we feature student voice. Many of the students we've talked to told us they benefit from the extracurriculars they participate in.
On the January episode of SPS Extra, we're focusing on the benefits extracurriculars bring students. We're chatting with a student counselor and expert in youth mental health, as well as several student clubs.
Stephanie and Nicole sat down with all five SPS Engagement Navigators to talk about extracurriculars during the Fall semester. Hear from each of them about what activities have been popular at different schools and what the plan is to keep students engaged in real life as the school year continues.
The relationship between Spokane Public Schools and our numerous community partners is symbiotic, providing activities, support and community engagement for students, while bolstering the reach of our partners.
In the November episode of SPS Extra, Stephanie Splater and Nicole Hernandez chat about how important our community partners are. Hear from Hoopfest, Treehouse and Spark Central, and learn about how community partnerships are born.
"I think it's beneficial for everybody," Riley Stockton, Executive Director of Spokane Hoopfest said about the partnership between Hoopfest and Spokane Public Schools.
Hoopfest is one of many SPS partners, all dedicated to providing students with more access and opportunity within the community. On this month's episode of SPS Extra, Stephanie Splater and Nicole Hernandez discuss the importance of community partnerships.
Hear from Hoopfest, Treehouse and Spark Central, and learn what goes into developing and maintaining partnerships that are mutually beneficial.
From the football field to the classroom, research proves youth involvement in extracurricular activities is beneficial, particularly when started at a young age.
In this months episode of SPS extra Stephanie Splater and Nicole Hernandez talk about those benefits, including higher performance in academics, lower rates of externalized problems and increased success in the activity.
"I can dream about these big things, since I'm really young," 6th grader Juliette Stevens said.
Juliette has been participating in All-Star Cheer for five years. In just sixth grade, she is already attending the Ferris Cheer Clinic to prepare for the high school level. Not only does that participation help the Juliette, it also helps the high school teams whose participants come in with experience and knowledge.
The five high school football coaches will be learning that soon, as the district's middle school football program started this year. Hear from North Central's coach and a student-athlete who has been committed to football since Kindergarten in the October episode of SPS Extra.
In October’s episode of SPS Extra, Stephanie Splater and Nicole Hernandez are talking about the importance of getting students engaged in extracurriculars young. In this snippet from the podcast, hear from the North Central High School quarterback who has been playing football since he was in Kindergarten.
The full podcast drops in one week! You can listen by searching for “SPS Podcasts” on your preferred podcast app or online at spokaneschools.org/listen.
In this month's episode of SPS Extra, hear from students about their passions and teachers who see first hand how phones have changed their classrooms. We're talking about the districts new initiative Engage IRL (In Real Life).
We talk to students, teachers and staff about how critical it is to get students off their phones and engaged in extra curricular activities. Research shows anxiety and depression have more than doubled since 2010, and 95% of teachers say mental health is an issue in public schools.
To combat the mental health issues, SPS hired 5 new Engagement Navigators, whose jobs are dedicated to making sure every child is involved in at least one extracurricular activity. We talked with one of the Engagement Navigators about how they're planning on accomplishing that.
SPS Extra is back! Here’s a snippet from this month’s podcast episode, which will be available Thursday, September 19th.
In the episode, we talk to students about they’re involvement in extracurriculars and staff about their role in getting students involved. Here, you’re hearing from students and staff at North Central High School’s summer band camp.
SPS launched Engage IRL this year, an initiative aimed at getting kids off cell phones and engaged in real life activities, both inside and outside the classroom. Students we talked to said the activities they’re involved in keep them grounded, which is testament to how important extracurriculars are.
You can follow ‘SPS Podcasts’ on your preferred podcasting app to automatically have the latest episode uploaded to your library.
For this month's episode of SPS Extra, Stephanie and Taylor highlight the Northeast region of Spokane Public Schools.
In-field interviews feature Rogers Football, Communities In Schools and 21st Century Learning, as well as the Esports team at NEWTech Prep.
For this month's episode of SPS Extra, Stephanie and Taylor dive into leadership and what it takes to rise to the challenge.
In-field interviews feature North Central boys basketball, Shadle Park volleyball, the pickleball club at Ferris as well as the knitting club at Lewis and Clark.
Groovy Shoes and Rubber Chicken has come and gone once again for North Central, Shadle Park, Lewis and Clark, and Ferris.
This year, school pride and spirit was overflowing at the arena as North Central took home the groovy shoes for the eighth straight year, and Ferris won the rubber chicken for the first time in three years.
Let's not forget about the newest tradition in Spokane Public Schools though, and that's the Railroad Rumble between Rogers and Cheney. The Railroad Rumble will take place at Reese Court in Cheney on January 31st with a 5:30 PM tip.
SPS Extra is ending 2023 by celebrating the non-traditional extracurricular activities in our schools!
Taylor Scheib (Brooks) and Stephanie Splater dive into the unique and intriguing clubs across our elementary, middle, and high schools. They interview the Cooking Club at Franklin Elementary School, Saxon Snow Sports at Ferris, and the Pep Squad at Peperzak Middle School.
In October, the world celebrated Mental Health Day. This was a day to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to show efforts in support of mental health.
In this month's episode, we dive into the importance of mental health awareness and how extracurriculars statistically prove a better well being.
We have interviews with the Wellness Club at North Central as well as health and fitness teacher at Lewis and Clark, Heather Lefriec. We head to Hutton Elementary School and talk with school counselor Gretchen Snider and navigating teaching students social and emotional learning. Student athletes at Ferris High School have a candid conversation with Taylor Brooks (Scheib) about the pressures of high school and how they keep a positive attitude on the field and in the halls.
The start of the 2023-24 school year is here, and Spokane Public Schools is leveling up! On this month's episode of SPS Extra, hear from district superintendent, Dr. Adam Swinyard. He is encouraging students to participate in at least one extracurricular activity this school year!
Along with Dr. Swinyard, you will hear from North Central girls soccer and Ferris cheerleading. Both teams are in full swing right now as they anticipate their One Spokane Stadium debut in either late September or October.
Spokane Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Adam Swinyard, sits down with Stephanie Splater and Taylor Brooks from SPS Extra to start off the school year!
Dr. Swinyard is encouraging students to participate in at least one extracurricular this school year. This conversation dives into the importance of extracurriculars, and how to get students off the screen.
In episode eight of SPS Extra, Taylor Brooks and Stephanie Splater pump up the excitement around ONE Spokane Stadium. All Spokane Public Schools girls and boys soccer teams as well as football teams will play their home games at ONE Spokane Stadium. The stadium is set to open on September 28th with Shadle Park hosting Pullman in girls soccer with a 4 PM start. North Central and Clarkston will go head to head in football at 7 PM that night as well.
Building a new stadium to replace the aging Joe Albi Stadium is one of many projects funded by a school facility bond passed by voters in 2018. The new stadium is being built downtown near the Spokane Arena and new Podium Sportsplex. Also included in the $495.3 million district-wide plan are three new middle schools; replacements of three existing middle schools; adding space for option programs at two locations; safety/security and technology updates for the entire school district; and building, field or playground improvements for all schools.
This episode will feature Shawn Jordan, the Chief Operations Officer, as well as Shelly Radtke, North Central athletic director.
Happy Summer Break!
Stephanie Splater and Taylor Brooks jump into everything summer programming and how everything is going in our schools. Before we know it, the school year will be here, but for now, let's enjoy what summer has to offer at Spokane Public Schools!
This episode will feature Le'Andra Myers, the after school activities director as well as Shadle Park football.
In this episode, Taylor Brooks and Stephanie Splater dive into what's it like to be a senior in high school.
You will hear from Catherine Dietschak, a recent graduate of Lewis and Clark High School. She shares her experiences about Tiger Drama and how the program set her up for her future. Brooklyn Holbrook also just graduated from John R. Rogers. She spent four years immersing herself in the legendary dance program.
With all of this future talk, career and college readiness counselor, Dawn Hilsendeger, chats about how the world has changed when it comes to life after high school.
In this interview, Taylor Brooks sits down with Catherine Dietschak. Catherine is a recent graduate of Lewis and Clark High School. She immersed herself in Tiger Drama for the last four years, gaining experience on stage and off stage.
Catherine will head off to New Jersey in the fall where she will major in musical theatre at Rider University.
For the month of May, SPS Extra focuses on the building of programs and schools from the ground up. Spokane Public Schools opened two brand new middle schools named Denny Yasuhara Middle School and Pauline Flett Middle School. SPS also replaced Glover Middle School and Shaw Middle School with new builds.
In the fall of 2023, Carla Peperzak Middle School will open and Sacajawea Middle School will be replaced with a brand new school as well.
In this episode, Taylor Brooks and Stephanie Splater interview athletic director, Sarah Goodey, as well as seventh graders at Sacajawea Middle School.
Spring has sprung in Spokane! With the weather finally turning around for the better, Taylor Brooks and Stephanie Splater check in on spring sports around Spokane Public Schools. Unified sports also introduced pickle ball for the spring.
This episode features interviews from Lewis and Clark Athletic Director, Dave Hughes, as well as Hutton students who participated in Fit For Bloomsday. We also visit with Ferris girls track and field.
With spring acting like its here to stay, summer is on the horizon too as we talk about SPS summer programming. Check out: spokaneschools.org/summer for more details!
Spokane Public Schools offers so many different types of extracurriculars. Each school has the typical sports programs, but Taylor Brooks (Scheib) and Stephanie Splater dive into the non-traditional extracurriculars like Cyber Patriots, theatre and drama, esports, and so on.
If you want to see what schools have to offer, please visit spokaneschools.org.
We hit the court in the second episode of SPS Extra! The school district and AAU have combined their efforts with Hoopfest to create the Hooptown Youth League. This is a league where there are three levels: recreational, competitive, and advance competitive for youth participants grades K-6th.
In this episode, Stephanie Splater and Taylor Brooks talk about the importance of youth development when it comes to extracurriculars. Joining Stephanie and Taylor is Hoopfest Executive Director, Riley Stockton, and Gonzaga Strength and Conditioning Coach, Mike Nilsen. They talk about how successful the Hooptown Youth League was this season and where they want to see it go. Roosevelt Elementary hoopers also express how much they enjoyed HYL.
SPS Extra sheds light on all of the extracurricular activities that students engage in at Spokane Public Schools. Each episode will feature a main topic with in-studio and field interviews with students, coaches, and community members.
In this episode, Stephanie Splater and Taylor Brooks dive deep into the spirit games. This is a rich tradition across SPS as Lewis and Clark faces Ferris in the Rubber Chicken while Shadle Park and North Central go head to head in Groovy Shoes. Rogers also has a new rivalry with Cheney called the Railroad Rumble.
Each school competes in a spirit competition while the girls and boys basketball games are going on at the Spokane Arena.
“Every day is a reward, but seeing kids break through some of those things that are tough for them, that’s really what makes my heart happy.”
Homeless Community Specialist Danielle Duffey assists some of the nearly 700 students supported by our Homeless Education and Resource Team, or HEART.
HEART is holding its annual gift card drive for unaccompanied youth in our district who are experiencing homelessness. Learn more and consider giving at spokaneschools.org/heart.
"I don't know anything... And ultimately I don't really need to know. What I need to be able to do is to hear that story and to be able to pick up the things that they are in need of in that immediate moment, to just help, and provide caring and love."
Sarah Miller has been with the Spokane Public Schools Homeless Education and Resource Team for a dozen years. HEART is the district’s way of implementing the McKinney Vento Act – a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth.
HEART is holding its annual gift card drive for unaccompanied youth in our district who are experiencing homelessness. Learn more and consider giving at spokaneschools.org/heart.
Haili Andreas and her husband have two awesome girls. Her oldest, Temperance, was diagnosed with autism and sensory processing disorder when she was three.
“It’s very heart-wrenching when you get told your kid’s going to be in special education, because when you have that baby you don’t think you’re going to have those struggles. You don’t see your child like that. You don’t see your child as underdeveloped or below standards."
In this week's Friday 5, she shares some tips for other families as they navigate the special education process, and talks about her dreams for Temperance's future.
This drum chant was performed by Dr. Martina Whelshula and her husband, SPS Native Ed Support Specialist Martin Whelshula, in front of more than 100 community members during a dinner and award ceremony held at Shaw Middle School on Nov. 18, 2022.
“We are honoring our students who have shown some of the Seven Grandfather Teachings that come from my culture (Anishinaabe),” said Native Education Coordinator Tamika LaMere.
She called individual students up to receive awards for representing one or more of the following attributes: humility, honesty, courage/bravery, respect, wisdom, love, and truth.
Indigenous educator and consultant Dr. Martina Whelshula, a member of Arrow Lakes Nation of the Colville Confederated Tribes, spoke about the importance of holding youth up and providing them with opportunities to know and take part in Native traditions, cultures, and values.
She also shared the words of Pauline Flett, a Spokane Tribe elder who was instrumental in preserving and teaching the Salish language to younger generations before her death in 2020.
“She told me, ‘The thing that I want most for my grandchildren is for them to get up every day, look in the mirror and like what they see. That sense of strong cultural identity. To feel good about who we are as indigenous people.’ And so that’s what we’re here to do. To celebrate our children and that cultural character they’ve demonstrated in their day-to-day life.”
"It takes a village to support a child, and that village might be bigger or more complex if you have a student with a disability."
Mollie Weber is the district's Special Education Parent Liaison. Here, she shares where families can go for special education services, the greatest challenges and rewards of her work, and what working with special needs students has done for her perspective.
Welcome to the SPS Friday 5 - five-ish minutes worth of questions posed to experts on a given topic. Find all our audio stories at www.spokaneschools.org/listen.
Throughout the month of October we’ve talked to a range of experts about early learning. How important it is, what parents can do to set their little ones up for success, and more. But one group of experts we haven’t spoken with much is the kids themselves.
Meet Desmond and Gianna, who are in preschool and first grade, respectively. They share what they're learning now and what they're excited to know next.
Welcome to the SPS Friday 5 - about five minutes worth of questions posed to experts on a given topic. Find all our audio stories at www.spokaneschools.org/listen.
Rebecca Hill has taught early childhood education for the past 23 years. For the past six, she's managed a preschool that matches 3-and 4-year-olds with North Central High School students. The program has benefits for students in both age groups, like Salima, a senior who plans to pursue an education career.
Here, Rebecca and Salima share why preschool is a good idea for toddlers, and why they love it themselves.
Welcome to the SPS Friday 5 - five questions posed in around five minutes to an expert on a given topic. Find all our audio stories at www.spokaneschools.org/listen.
Bambi Howe is starting her 32nd year as a Spokane Public Schools teacher. She’s spent the past 20 of those years with Madison Elementary kindergarteners, mostly in a big, colorful space at the end of the hall.
Here, she shares what the ideal kinder student should know on day one, why early socialization is vital to learning how to “do school,” and a few reasons kindergarten is a magical place.
Welcome to the SPS Friday 5 - five questions posed in around five minutes to an expert on a given topic. Find all our audio stories at www.spokaneschools.org/listen.
SPS Early Learning Coordinator Angela Haberman works with a team of psychologists, pathologists, teachers, paraeducators and others to make sure brand new students get off on the right foot.
She walks through what parents can do at home to make sure their child's preschool experience is positive and gives some key reasons experts like herself believe preschool is vital for 3 and 4 year olds, especially those who may have special needs.
"The earlier that we can support with specific and individually designed interventions for kiddos with unique needs, the quicker they grow and develop and the more likely they are to not need such intensive interventions later on in life."
Welcome to the SPS Friday 5 - five questions posed in around five minutes to an expert on a given topic. Find all our audio stories at www.spokaneschools.org/listen.
"If you don't learn about it, certain aspects will repeat. Because a lack of knowledge creates arrogance, I feel, which can lead to more problems."
- Gus, a Rogers High School junior, who visited Gonzaga University with his classmates this week to view “Americans and the Holocaust.”
Gonzaga was among just 50 venues across the country selected to host the traveling exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. through October 6. Admission is free. Details at gonzaga.edu/holocaustexhibit.
Myo Myo Aye is a Class of 2021 grad who's now earning her Pharmacy Tech Certificate and AA at Spokane Falls Community College. She's among the first in her family to attend college. Here, she shares how programs like the College Success Foundation helped her navigate the postsecondary planning process and what she'd tell her freshman self.
Welcome to the SPS Friday 5 - five questions posed in around five minutes to an expert on a given topic. Find all our audio stories at www.spokaneschools.org/listen.
"Graduation is an amazing ritual, it’s not a stopping point. It’s really a launch into something else. And this High School and Beyond Plan that starts when they're younger is part of what will launch them into a meaningful life after high school."
For the past 36 years, Kitty Hennessey has served as a counselor at all grade levels within SPS. Here, she outlines the purpose of a High School and Beyond Plan and shares some tips for talking with students who may be anxious when discussing their future.
Welcome to the SPS Friday 5 - five questions posed in about five minutes to an expert on a given topic. Find all our audio stories at www.spokaneschools.org/listen.
Jeremy Day is the Graduation Assistance Specialist for SPS, working with students who need a little extra aid to make it across the stage and on to postsecondary success. Prior to this, he was a school counselor for 15 years, much of it at Rogers High School.
In this week's Friday 5, Jeremy shares his take on when families and students should begin considering life after high school (hint: it should start earlier than you think), and how parents can approach planning for the future while still letting their kid be a kid.
Welcome to the SPS Friday 5 - five questions posed in about five minutes to an expert on a given topic. Find all our audio stories at www.spokaneschools.org/listen.
Will Merritt is a Class of 2022 Lewis & Clark High School grad who's now at the University of Portland studying biology on a pre-med track. Here, he talks about what helped him plan for postsecondary success, what he'd tell his freshman self, and ways the adults in his life helped him start thinking about life after high school.
Welcome to the SPS Friday 5 - five questions posed in about five minutes to an expert on a given topic. Find all our audio stories at www.spokaneschools.org/listen.
Before he became the SPS Executive Director of Student Success, Scott Kerwien spent about a decade as a high school counselor. Here, he shares his take on how to talk to a teenager, the top three things parents of high schoolers should be doing to prep their student for a successful new year, resources for families, and more.
Welcome to the SPS Friday 5 - five questions posed in about five minutes to an expert on a given topic. This is the third of three episodes focused on preparing students to get back to school.
Find all our audio stories at www.spokaneschools.org/listen.
Welcome to the SPS Friday 5 - five questions posed in about five minutes to an expert on a given topic. This is the second of three episodes focused on preparing students to get back to school.
New Glover Middle School Principal Mike Stark came from 20 years as a principal in the Cheney Public Schools district, where middle school consists of 6-8 grades. As SPS begins the process of moving up our own sixth grade students to the middle level this year, Mike shares what parents should know about the transition.
He also talks through the top three things parents of middle schoolers should be doing right now to prepare for the start of a new school year, what traits the most successful students of this age have in common, and where families should go to find resources that will make this school year great.
Find all our audio stories at www.spokaneschools.org/listen.
Welcome to the SPS Friday 5 - five questions posed in about five minutes to an expert on a given topic. This is the first of three episodes focused on preparing students to get back to school.
Spokane Public Schools Director of Early Learning Karin Thompson talks through the top three things parents of young children should be doing right now to prepare themselves for the start of a new school year.
She also reveals why it's vital to get to know your kid's teacher, what traits the most successful elementary students have in common, and where families should go to find resources that will make the first day great.
Find all our audio stories at www.spokaneschools.org/listen.
We visited a new hire orientation this week to speak with fresh SPS teachers and other staff about who they are and why they're excited for the coming school year.
Arthur Wedge suffered serious injuries after he was hit by a car in September of 2021. With the help of his teachers, school counselor and family, he was able to recover and continues to be a model student at Shaw Middle School.
Students at The Community School worked with Generation Alive to raise funds for Spokane Public Schools' Homeless Education and Resource Team (HEART) and support their fellow students who may be experiencing homelessness.
Each year, the Spokane Symphony invites fourth and fifth grade students from across the city to the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox.
Last Thursday, 2,500 students from every elementary school in Spokane Public Schools had the chance to see this historical theater and learn about music in a way many of them have never experienced before.
Jefferson Elementary Music Teacher Tamie King taught fourth and fifth graders how to play chords on a ukulele. She was looking for a way to get them in front of an audience. But, you know, pandemic.
Inspired by the notion of a science fair, she opted to have students write an original song using chords or notes they felt comfortable and successful playing. Seeing that they were committed to the project, she created a venue for them to play in front of their peers.
Linwood Elementary Fitness & Health Teacher Fiona Zwiesler has been leading a school-wide Olympics for the past several weeks.
"We as a school have focused on the Olympic motto, 'higher, faster, stronger,' and also on the three values of the Olympics: respect, friendship and excellence," she said. "We made a medal chart outside the gym and every day will be adding the medal count from the olympics for each country."
During the week of Feb. 14, each class chose a country to represent and created flags and other regalia to bring to fitness class for an opening ceremony. Students rotated through stations simulating a range of winter Olympic events, such as curling, slalom, and others. At the end of each class, individuals who best represented the three values and gave it their all were presented with gold, silver and bronze medals.
Adam Gangelhoff's 2-4-3 program at Shaw Middle School promotes love and is a way for students to be seen, heard and cared for.
A group of Shadle Park High School students visited third graders at Westview Elementary School last week.
The older students handed out buckets of swag – water bottles, erasers, earbuds – as well as a handmade cookie with each students’ name, shaped like a puzzle piece.
Junior Evie Patel explained to the class.
“OK, so what that puzzle piece means is that between Shadle and Westview, we’re working together like puzzle pieces work together to make a puzzle, right? And it’s the kindness puzzle. So each of you guys is a piece to our kindness puzzle,” she said.
While they’ve been meeting virtually for the past few months – reading books and doing projects centered on kindness – this was everyone’s first time gathering in person.
“They’ve been coming up on Teams and they’ve been reading us stories of how to show ourself respect and other people kindness,” third grader Nyah said. “I think it’s important to be kind because, you just need to treat others how you would like to be treated.”
The partnership began with Shadle teacher Brooke Meyer, who wanted her Leadership students to work on thinking outside of themselves. She partnered with her sister, Tiffiny Santos, who teaches third grade at Westview.
“Westview is eventually going to be at Shadle,” said senior Sydney Tollefson. “We want them to know that Shadle is a kind place and we really care about everyone being included and being involved and everything.”
Their current project involves a kindness passport, which Evie introduced last week.
“So each passport has a variety of acts they can do, whether that’s at home, at school, with buddies, without buddies,” she said. “And then in the end they get a shirt that says ‘Kindness Crew.’”
Senior Emma Summers attended Westview herself and has two nephews in Mrs. Santos’ class.
“I’ve even seen just a difference in their behaviors and they still talk about the first book that we read to them like three months ago,” she said. “And so, I just feel like what we’re doing is really making a difference.”
Third grader Connor said at the start of the year, he was feeling invisible and out of place. The collaboration with Shadle has changed that.
“Yeah, it actually kind of helps me fit in,” he said. “Kindness is really important because if you give kindness to somebody you show an act of love, and then they want to be your friend.”
And after a year of distance learning, Shadle senior Jacob White says this project – these little acts of love – are reminding everyone what community looks like.
“These meetings, the goal is to project an idea of inclusivity so that they can have a connective relationship with each other and that no one gets left out,” he said. “I feel like it’s important to also remind each other in high school to be kind to each other.”
Frances L.N. Scott Elementary celebrated its new name on October 22, 2021. Prior to a dedication ceremony, select students had a chance to attend a Q&A session with members of the Scott family, including her daughter, son, grandchildren, and son-in-law. Questions included:
1. "Could you talk about how you are feeling right now?" -Karli
2. "What would your mother say if she knew a school would be named after her?" -Edgar
3. "What was the best thing about your mother?" -Justin
4. "What was your mom’s favorite game to play?" - Marthlynn
5. "What was your favorite subject in school?" - Greyson
6. "What did you like to do with your mom growing up?" - Abraham
7. "What was your favorite thing about your mom?" - Janayah
8. "What was your mom’s personality like?" - Amiyah
9. "What was it like to grow up in Spokane?" - Kituza
10. "What is the most important thing that your family cares about?" - Kaw Hla Hai
11. "How does it feel to be part of this amazing celebration?" -Lillian
Our gratitude to the Scott family for their willingness to share. See some highlights of the event at https://vimeo.com/639747618/7436b0cd96.
Students at Garfield Elementary School put on eyeshades and perked up their ears this week to learn goalball, a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment.
SPS Vision Services Teachers partnered with visually impaired students, representatives from the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes, and Fitness & Health Teacher Donavon Hodgson to offer students this opportunity as part of Blindness Awareness Month.
Goalball is the only Paralympic sport with no able-bodied equivalent. It was originally devised in 1946 to assist in the rehabilitation of visually impaired World War II veterans. Learn more at www.usaba.org/sports/goalball.
For Hispanic Heritage Month, 3rd grade students from Libby Center's Spanish Immersion program learned about "El Grito", a battle cry that helps mark the beginning of independence festivities in Mexico.
"We learned about how Mexico started their independence," said teacher Nancy Gonzales, "and so in order to inspire them to go and fight and really get them motivated, they yell things like, 'Viva la independencia!' So, they're fighting for independence, they're fighting for democracy. Historically, they then relive that moment at midnight, every year. The president will come out of his balcony and he'll go through all of the heroes who fought in the war and it's a huge event. The president says all of his people, all of the ideas like democracy, honesty, quality, and then at the end, he rings the bell and then there's fireworks."
Learn more about this special recreation at www.spokaneschools.org/readmore
Welcome to another episode of Spokane Public School’s monthly podcast series, where we are sharing the great work of our amazing community partners.
This month, we’re featuring Communities in Schools – a non-profit whose mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
Communities in Schools has been an incredible partner to our district, and we are grateful for how they’ve been able to help countless SPS students through the years.
If you’d like to learn more about Communities in Schools in Spokane County, head to spokane.ciswa.org
Host/Producer: Ally Barrera
Guests: Nakia Arquette & Sarah
Listen to more episodes at www.spokaneschools.org/listen
Welcome to another episode of Spokane Public School’s monthly podcast series, where we are sharing the great work of our amazing community partners.
This month, we’re featuring College Success Foundation – a non-profit that empowers students, families, and communities with the resources they need to ensure students are prepared for college, or any other post-high school academic endeavor, and complete their degree.
CSF has advisors at three SPS middle schools and at our five largest comprehensive high schools, helping eleventh- and twelfth graders prepare for a successful post-high school experience.
If you’d like to learn more about College Success Foundation and their student programs, head to collegesuccessfoundation.org.
Guests: Shannon Demant, Mayah LaSol, Julie-Ann Pearson
Producer: Ally Barrera
“How’s everybody doing today, did you have fun at recess?”
“It’s too hot!” students shout.
Paraeducator Phil Saunders stands in front of a group of fourth through sixth graders at Audubon Elementary’s summer camp.
“So, I’ve got some questions to start off, OK? What is sound?”
All eyes are fixed on an antique wooden box he’s brought from home.
A student in the back row leans forward. “Vibrations in the air current makes it so you can hear people,” he says. Saunders agrees, then leads a brief discussion on the nature of sound waves that segues to Thomas Edison, often described as America's greatest inventor who took out more than 1,000 patents before his death in 1931.
“So, Edison is most known for what? Does anyone know what his most known invention is?”
“The lightbulb.”
“That’s right, he invented the lightbulb. And this an Edison player.” Saunders opens the box to reveal an Edison phonograph cylinder player. It’s the earliest commercial medium for recording and reproducing sound and a precursor to the record player. This one is circa early 1900s.
The class talks through the dynamics of amplification and what life was like prior to widespread electricity before considering the invention’s usefulness in a time when many people couldn’t read, write, or travel cross country to see loved ones.
“So, [Edison] thought, well this would be handy, because somebody on this side could say, ‘Hi Aunty, we’re doing great, we just planted the crops.’ And it’ll record on a cylinder that looks just like this. And you can each take one.”
Students choose from a box full of hollow cylinders, then line up at the player to hear what they hold.
“What you’re holding in your hand is 100 years old, at least!”
Saunders winds up the machine, places a cylinder onto the rotating chamber, then carefully releases the stylus.
A violin crackles to life.
Welcome to another episode of Spokane Public School’s monthly podcast series, where we are sharing the great work of our amazing community partners.
This month, we’re featuring Spark Central – a nonprofit that sparks the creativity, innovation, and imagination that allows people to carve the path to their best future.
They partner with our schools in the West Central neighborhood by offering kids a welcoming space to engage in fun, hands-on programs and access to innovative technology at no cost to their families.
If you’d like to learn more about Spark Central and the opportunities they have to offer, head to spark-central.org.
Welcome to another episode of Spokane Public School’s new monthly podcast series, where we are shining the spotlight on some of our amazing community partners.
This June, we’re featuring The ZoNE – a community initiative that’s for people from Northeast Spokane, by people from Northeast Spokane.
The ZoNE has a hand in helping so many different causes around the NE – from expanded learning (which we’ll talk about in depth in this episode), to help with employment and healthcare, to access to healthy food. Their reach is bigger than most people probably realize.
If you’d like to learn more about The ZoNE and how they help in the NE, head to thezonespokane.org.
Producer & Host: Ally Barrera
Arabic Interpreter: Areej Al Abbasi
Welcome to another episode of Spokane Public School’s new monthly podcast series, where we are shining the spotlight on some of our amazing community partners.
This month, we’re featuring the NATIVE Project, which provides wrap-around health services for both Natives and Non-Natives in the Spokane community.
I learned a lot about native American healthcare and culture while putting this episode together, as well as what a lot of members of the native community are doing to support the youth and help them succeed. I hope the listeners learn a lot as well.
If you’d like to learn more about the NATIVE Project and the services they provide, head to nativeproject.org.
Welcome to a new monthly podcast series from Spokane Public Schools, where we’ll spotlight some of our amazing community partners.
You might know about some of them already, and there might be others you’ve never heard of. We want everyone in Spokane and beyond to know about the great work these local organizations are doing in our schools and in the community. And not only will you hear from folks within these organizations, but you’ll also hear from the people who use and rely on these organizations day in and day out. Whether it’s for food, clothing and other essentials, or to help them get into college, or through after school programs that help keep their kids out of trouble.
We’re so happy that this series’ first episode is about the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Outreach Center in East Central Spokane. The center has been around for over 40 years and has left an indelible legacy as a regionally recognized community social service center providing comprehensive education, social services and cultural enrichment programs for children and families.
I spoke with one family in particular who says they consider the MLK Center a home away from home, and that the impact the Center has made in their lives is immeasurable.
If you’d like to learn more about the MLK Family Outreach Center, you can go to their website mlkspokane.org.
Find more episodes of this series at spokaneschools.org/listen.
Welcome to what will be the last episode of the Spokane Public Schools podcast series on mental health and wellness. Hosts Ally Barrera and Kristy Mylroie speak to the director of SPS's mental health services department, Dr. Dave Crump. We have a great discussion about the behavioral and emotional health reactions we experience following a crisis – like a pandemic, for example – and how we can turn any feelings of disillusionment we may have into feelings of resiliency. Plus, we chat about the REST model – R E S T – that our district has been using to improve staff’s mental wellbeing and how you can use it in your own life.
If you didn’t catch some of our other episodes, we have them all up on our district website at spokaneschools.org/listen. Make sure to continue following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and stay tuned for future podcasts. Take care!
Hosts: Ally Barrera and Kristy Mylroie, SPS communications
Guest: Dr. David Crump, Director of Mental Health Services
Hello, and thanks for listening to another Spokane Public Schools podcast on mental health and wellness. In this episode, I’m speaking with Danielle Allen, who is the therapist at Adams Elementary. The conversation is only ten minutes long, but we cover a lot of ground from the importance of knowing you’re not alone to the one simple thing parents and guardians can do to help their student through a tough time.
Be sure to follow SPS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information on our next episode. You can find our past episodes at spokaneschools.org/listen
Host: Ally Barrera, SPS communications
Guest: Danielle Allen, mental health therapist, Adams Elementary
Thanks for checking out our latest episode of the Spokane Public Schools podcast series on mental health and wellness. I’m sharing a special conversation I had with Kristi Mathistad, who is one of the district’s chemical dependency professionals. She help students struggling to control their substance abuse. We go into what her job entails, the common issues she sees, and how she helps her clients achieve their goals of sobriety.
You can find our other podcast episodes on our district website at spokaneschools.org/listen and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Host: Ally Barrear, SPS communications
Guest: Kristi Mathistad, chemical dependency professional
Thanks for checking out another episode of the Spokane Public Schools podcast series on mental health and wellness. Today I’m talking with Natalie Sarria-Wiley, who is one of the therapists at Rogers High School. Natalie is a Rogers grad herself – as well as a woman of color – and we had a great chat about some of the mental health challenges she’s seen in her community, as well as why we put so much stock into our physical wellness but not our mental wellness.
If you’re interested in learning more about that New York Times opinion article and video, you can find it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/opinion/alexi-pappas-depression.html
Warning: This opinion article and video contain discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation
Host: Ally Barrera, SPS communications
Guest: Natalie Sarria-Wiley, mental health therapist, Rogers High School
Thanks for listening to another installment of the Spokane Public Schools conversation series on mental health and wellness. Today we’re talking about the holidays! This is a stressful time of year for lots of reasons and to help us get through it is Kati Kelsey, who is a mental health therapist at North Central High School. Apologies in advance for any audio glitches you might hear. Sometimes when working in your basement, you don’t get the best reception. 2020, am I right?
You can find all of our past mental health conversations on our Listen page, that’s spokaneschools.org/listen.
Host: Ally Barrera, SPS communications
Guest: Kati Kelsey, mental health therapist, North Central High School
Thanks for checking out the third episode of the Spokane Public Schools podcast series on mental health and wellness. Today, you’re getting two therapists for the price of one. You’ll hear from Michelle Owen and Tara Brown who work in our Map program, which if you’ve never heard before, is a wonderful program for our students facing significant mental health issues. They do great work and I hope you enjoy our conversation.
If you're like to watch the Map graduation the three of us spoke out, go to https://youtu.be/Dix9qGnaDhA
Host: Ally Barrera, SPS communications
Guests: Michelle Owen and Tara Brown, Map High School mental health therapists
Today, we’re continuing our conversation series with several of the district’s in-school mental health therapists. In this episode, I'm talking with Brittany Haugen, who works at Salk Middle School. We even got a special surprise visit from her daughter around the nine minute mark.
My main takeaway from our conversation was that whether your problems are big or small, they are still your problems, and luckily people like Brittany are around to listen and help you through whatever life is throwing your way.
Host: Ally Barrera, SPS communications
Guest: Brittany Haugen, Salk Middle mental health therapist
Listen to our last episode at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1522507/6674246
Hello, and welcome to the first-ever Spokane Public Schools podcast! We're going to talk with some of our district’s mental health therapists in a series we hope sheds light on the struggles we’re probably all experiencing mentally this year and what we can do to help us or our loved ones feel a little bit better.
We also have a new blog on our website about how SPS administrators and staff are working on ways to support mental wellness by following the REST model, which stands for Reward, Establish, Share and Trust. You can find that by going to spokaneschools.org/readmore.
If you feel like you or your student are struggling and need to talk with someone or understand your options, don’t hesitate to reach out to your school’s counselor, a teacher or principal, or the main office. Be sure to follow SPS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information on our next episode.
Host: Ally Barrera, SPS Communications
Guest: Jenny Keenan, mental health therapist, Willard Elementary