This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're getting cozy with Iola Elementary's 4th grade teaching team just in time for Thanksgiving! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with ELAR teacher - Brinley Bennett, Math teacher - Michele Sullivan, and Science/Social Studies teacher - Shayanne McKown for a heartwarming conversation about traditions, gratitude, and what makes teaching 4th grade so special.

These three teachers share their journeys to Iola and what keeps them here—from Ms. Sullivan calling it "the best district I've worked in by far" to Ms. McKown's incredible nine-year connection with this group of students (she taught many of them in 1st, 2nd, and now 4th grade!). They discuss what makes 4th graders so fun: they get your humor and you can be real with them.

The conversation turns festive as they reveal their Thanksgiving traditions—from pumpkin pie and "the pink stuff" to fajitas instead of turkey and grandmother's legendary dressing. The decorating debate heats up as they confess whether they're "before" or "after" Thanksgiving Christmas decorators, with tree counts ranging from one to five!

The episode wraps with heartfelt reflections on what they're most grateful for this season: family health, togetherness, and the blessing of teaching at Iola ISD.

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