All episodes

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 screening can make a life-changing difference for children across the Black Hills.
Ronda shares how LifeSight partners with Rapid City Area Schools to screen thousands of students for potential vision problems, often identifying issues children and parents don't even realize exist. From detecting common vision concerns to discovering serious conditions that could lead to...

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 the science of reading and how it's transforming classrooms.The two educators share how a research-based approach to literacy has helped South Park Elementary increase the percentage of kindergartners reading at or above benchmark from 34% to 79%, while first graders improved from 39% to 76%. They explain the five building blocks of literacy, the challenges...

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 own children leave the classroom.Holly shares what she learned while helping select the district’s Teacher of the Year, including the incredible work happening behind classroom doors and the innovation, creativity and dedication teachers bring to their students every day. The conversation also celebrates a remarkable year of recognition for RCAS staff and explores...

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 children succeed, the entire community succeeds.Jacqui shares how the foundation is investing in Rapid City families, from early learning and child care to workforce opportunities, basic needs and affordable housing. The conversation also explores the people and moments in public education that can change the direction of a child's life, sometimes...

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, to talk about Aspire by Sanford and the opportunities it is creating for local students.From job shadowing and hands-on healthcare activities to high school internships where students become actual Sanford Health employees, Aspire is helping students discover what working in healthcare really looks like. And that means far more than becoming a doctor or...

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 it already has? Where does lottery money actually go? How could the bond affect property taxes, and what happens if it doesn’t pass?Coy explains the projects included in the proposal, from HVAC and safety upgrades to a new elementary school and renovations at existing schools. He also discusses how bond dollars...

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 support helped shape the teacher, mentor and colleague she would become. From the educators who helped her find her footing to the students who discovered they could help each other grow, Katey reflects on why collaboration is about much more than meetings, committees or programs.It’s...

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 learning experience for their students. With support from the Rapid City Public School Foundation, Meadowbrook PTA and Nerdy Nuts, students took ownership of two hydroponic towers, learning how to plant, monitor pH levels, maintain the system, document their progress and eventually harvest what they grew.But the lessons went far beyond science. Students learned patience, teamwork,...

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 Rapid City Public School Foundation grant, Tiffany brought LEGO-based learning into her classroom to help students see concepts like force, motion, action and reaction happen right in front of them. She shares how the project has helped reach visual and hands-on learners, challenged advanced students and created opportunities for students to learn from one another in small...

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 the library is challenging the community to read 250,000 books, why giving kids the freedom to choose what they read can help reluctant readers, and why graphic novels absolutely count. They also talk about the library’s dinosaur-filled summer, kindergarten prep, book clubs, STEM activities, teen programs and the importance of creating...